Festivals in Sendai, Japan

Yesterday there were festivals going on everywhere in Sendai.

It was great to see all of the beautiful costumes and performances in the various suburbs of Sendai. Isaiah (although very sleepy) wanted to run around and go on stage. He didn't appreciate me holding him back from his attempts to steal the show. In the photo you, if you take a good look at his expression... he isn't exactly smiling at the camera. That was taken after he got upset with me for not letting him run out with the other children.

I went on my first Japanese "road-trip" yesterday with Iku and a Romanian woman named Roxanna. We went to Niigita (I may have spelled that wrong) for Mike's basketball game. It's a two hour drive from Sendai by car. Isaiah slept most of the way there... we passed many rice fields and the countryside on the way there. The stadium was very big, and there were vendors outside with all kinds of foods cooked fresh in front of you. Isaiah ate Yaki Sobi. I had some type of shrimp dumpling. I wish I had tried this cabbage dish though... my friends all got it and when I sampled it, it was delicious!

Midori, Yuko, Junko, "Kenichi's Wife" (her name begins with a Y, but I can't remember it right now), Iku, Roxanna and I all had a really good time. The 89ers had a 20 point lead for most of the game, but in the last quarter they lost by 3 points. We couldn't believe it! But, it happens...

I didn't get home until late because after we drove back to Sendai I still had to catch the subway back to our house. Me, Mike, and Ryan had a casino night. I was the dealer and we played Blackjack for 10 cents a hand for a couple hours. In the end, the bank went for bust... they took all my money! Who says the house is at an advantage???

Well, I must get my nerve up for our hot spring visit in a couple hours. Thanks for all the moral support to those of you that have left messages about the hot springs!! LOL

Sayonara for now!
Mai