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| Kenrokuen Garden |
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| Advice on How to Work Better Number 10 is definitely my favorite! |
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| Tim and Tess in The Swimming Pool |
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| Right at home in the Irish pub--bellied up to the bar :) |
Saturday, September 25, 2010
It's Kanazawa Time!
As we walked out of the train station, I knew this would be a great stop as it seemed we had our own welcoming band waiting for us (turns out it was Jazz Fest 2010). We were back to a Western hotel with beds and into a beautiful city. Once we arrived and dropped off our bags, we headed to the Kanazawa Castle and the one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan, the Kenrokuen Garden which covers over 25 acres. In addition to hearing more jazz music, the garden was visually stunning with numerous ponds, varieties of trees, waterfalls and an infinite shades of green surrounded by the imposing castle walls. Just a few short blocks away we stopped at the 21st Century Musuem of Contemporary Art. Although our Japanese is limited, I think we definitely have learned the hand motions for "no" or "don't touch" by now. We were definitely impressed with "The Swimming Pool" which appears to be filled with deep water, however it is only a few centimeters deep and below is an empty space in which you can enter. I also appreciated the first piece of artwork as you enter the museum being the "How to Work Better" poster.
After a night stroll through the samurai district we came across The Cottage, which may be the only Irish pub in Kanazawa. A fabulous evening followed as Van Morrison played in the background and pints of beer were readily available. The fabulous owners--the husband from Galway and the wife from Kanazawa--made us feel right us at home and fell in love with the family as they continued to feed us for several hours. Food was definitely a highlight in Kanazawa as the following night I experienced my first sushi conveyer belt restaurant. Not only does it involve a constant conveyer belt that travels by your table with the freshest sushi and sashimi imagineable, but if you decide to order off the menu the food arrives via bullet train to your table. Everyone was happy :) Our second day we ventured over to the geisha district and gold leaf shops, a staple of Kanazawa culture.
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My local bar when I lived in Italy was an Irish Pub - the Public House - run by two awesome Italians. I went there almost everyday to write in my journal before dinner. The owners did not speak one word of english, but when i told them i lived in Virginia, they asked if was Richmond and pulled out their trusty Marlboro Lights - sure enough on the side of the pack was my hometown! I love Irish in the world!!
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