Saturday, March 30, 2024

30 March 2024 Osaka: Nishinomaru Gardens at Osaka Castle

 


Another nice spring day brought us back to the Osaka Castle grounds,  It was busy with tourists and locals alike.  The tourists were mainly going to the castle and the locals were spread out on tarps having a ball drinking and eating at Nishinomaru Gardens.  We did have to pay to enter but this small fee was worth it for the best views of the castle and moat.  We saw three different professional level cameras with crews getting footage of the cherry blossoms.  It is still in the early stages of the bloom but a few trees were full bloom and most had a bloom or two.  We found a park bench right in front of the castle and we sat there and soaked up all that was going on around us.  


Lots of folks heading into the castle


Two beautiful trees


The castle in the background plus seven food trucks


A monkey show?


The golden boat cruised by several times


Our park bench over looking the moat


Best view in town


Blooms too


Our bench


Look a bloom!


A nice way to spend a Saturday


A Eurasian Wigeon with a blonde Mohark



So delicate


More filming


A very peaceful setting


The cruise could only have  been inside the moat


Tarps picnics everywhere


WWJD? Wine, whiskey, Japanese drink1


The reception was inside this 


A bridal party to boot!


The reception was set up inside the Geihinkin, a former guest house for the palace


Smokers must stay inside the tent


A most enjoyable afternoon


Festive lanterns


NHK roar!


A odd UFO pastry


Eggs anyone?



It has been 1 year and 299 days since we began our Migration

Friday, March 29, 2024

29 March 2024 Osaka: Cherry Trees are Starting to Bloom


It is finally starting!  Although the majority of the cherry trees are still barren we saw many with a few blooms. a couple half full and two trees that were in full bloom.  We walked from the Museum to the river and then down river past the mint to the train station.  It was a delightful day, sunny and warm and we shared the walkway with dogs, birds and people.


As we emerged from the museum we saw this.  A shrine being carried in a festival?


Once we reached the river we found a walkway


Lots of construction across the river


A scattering of blooms here and there


Daffodils 


Lots of daffodils


We are seeing bigger and bigger clumps of blooms


A shrine and a pyramid


Flag in front of the pyramid


Low bridge


Three quarters in bloom


Japan is a mysterious place


Another mystery along the wall


The second tree in full bloom


A large billed crow


White Cheeked Starling


Thanks to the bird feeding lady


Lots of food stalls along the walk


We hear some singing coming from the rover


Mobile entertainment


They were expecting lots of  business


The pedestrian bridge


It was such a nice bridge that we walked over and back


Here we go


The next bridge is the one we need use to cross over


Just shy of three miles!


It has been 1 year and 298 days since we began our Migration