Kanazawa Weekend

Hey folks. So, Kanazawa was amazingly wonderful. The city has the reputation of being like a more manageable version of Kyoto, and you know, it's kinda true. It really is a fantastic place to go, even for just a weekend. Highlights included:

• Kenrokuen, one of Japan's most famous parks and a *perfect* place for picture-taking
  
• Ninja-dera, Edo-era hideout for the Maeda clan, complete with 23 rooms, 29 staircases, pitfalls, trap stairs, and a well that is rumoured to contain a secret tunnel to Kanazawa Castle
  
• Yasue Gold Leaf Musem, an informative place to learn about Kanazawa's most famous craft (and drink tea with real gold leaf in it!)
  
• Yakiniku *three times* in three days
  
• The new Harry Potter movie
  
• Renaiss Aqua Park, home to spas, pools, food, and amazing massages (and a perfect place to end a great weekend)

Anyway, Chan and I had a lot of fun. Despite my desire to see as many different places as possible, I wouldn't mind going back again. Highly recommended. Here are some of the pictoral highlights:


Yakiniku in Kanazawa
Originally uploaded by kristi-san.

Kanazawa Station
Originally uploaded by kristi-san.

Ishikawa-mon Gate, Kenrokuen
Originally uploaded by kristi-san.

Japanese Wedding, Kenrokuen
Originally uploaded by kristi-san.

Kotojitoro Lantern, Kenrokuen
Originally uploaded by kristi-san.

Kenrokuen, Kanazawa
Originally uploaded by kristi-san.

Demonstration at the Yasue Gold Leaf Museum
Originally uploaded by kristi-san.

Yasue Gold Leaf Museum
Originally uploaded by kristi-san.

Click here to check out the full set if you have time. I had lots of fun with my camera. Anyway, it's time for me to get some dinner and figure out how I'm going to teach "does/does not" tomorrow morning. Oh, and shore up those Berkeley essays, which are finally coming along. Why does the first app have to be simultaneously the most difficult and the most important? Figures. Take care, people.