around the neighborhood

Saturday was kind of overcast with drizzles here and there. Satoshi and I not wanting to stay indoors walked to Suigetsu Park.

On the way, we crossed a bridge and Satoshi notice something white in the water. It was a huge koi (carp)! We figured someone threw it into the river because it got too big...poor thing!

At Suigetsu Park, hanashobu (iris) and ajisai (hydrangea) are in season now. I think most of the flowers need another week to be in full bloom.

Since it was lunchtime, we walked to Grill Nana. We've gone for dinner but were interested in trying their lunch menu. There were two lunch specials: (a) ika goujon and (b) hamburger.

Satoshi chose the goujon. Goujon is apparently a dish served in France with a type of fried carp. This version came with lots of crispy fried ika (squid).

I chose the hamburger. This came on a sizzling plate. I was really disappointed with this though. The hamburger was mostly filler (bread).

Both lunches were 820 yen a piece (about US$8.20). For the price, Satoshi got his money's worth.

Tummies filled, we walked back home. Along the way I saw many flowers. One looked like lantern ilima, but when you looked closely at it, it looked more like tiny hibiscus.

There were also these beautiful purple flowers from a type of cactus.

Despite the crappy weather, the flowers around the neighborhood helped to make the day a nice one.