It has been about two weeks since I have been in Sendai. Today I took the opportunity to look around the area where I live and also down-town Sendai. The weather was warm today (compared to before) so I got quite warm while walking!
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| River. Stadium and mountains in the background |
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| People enjoying the river |
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| View of the stadium from inside the park |
I went past the Izumichuo subway station, which is what I take to go to work. Then I walked towards the direction of the next station, Yaotome（八乙女）. I passed the Yurtec Stadium Sendai, which is a big football stadium. The Nanakita River （七北田川）also runs by this area. I saw some fishermen and a family enjoying the warmth and the water.
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| My first entry into the park proper |
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| Looking towards Izumichuo |
Next to this is a medium sized park. The weather was really warm and there was no wind so it was a very nice atmosphere. There were not many people in the park either, so I took my time walking around and looking at the trees. It is almost spring so there is more green around. Also, because there were hardly any clouds in the sky, you could see far in the distance. The mountains were very clear in the distance, and you could see the snow on them. I am not sure what the mountains are called, though.
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| Far away mountains |
After exploring the entire park, I headed back towards the subway station and rode into downtown Sendai. I got off at Hirosedori 広瀬通り station and had a look at the shopping arcades in Ichibancho. I bought a kind of satchel bag from a department store. It was a little expensive, but I liked it and I needed it to take my things to work (my other folder fell apart!). I also went into a book store and bought a Japanese book and looked around the Daiso (100yen store) there, too. I headed towards Kokubuncho, which is more or less the drinking area of Sendai. There are lots of karaoke bars, small bars and food places.
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| The Yaki-something Set |
I was looking for something nice to eat but everything seemed to be closed. It is hard to look for places, because often there are multiple shops or restaurants on each floor of the small buildings, and of course you cannot see anything from the outside so I don't want to walk into somewhere and have to turn back out again! Eventually, I stopped at a Chinese restaurant chain and had quite a nice meal (even though I didn't have a clue what I ordered. Turned out to be rice, dumplings, chicken and salad).
At home again, I turned to chores. Monday is the day when I clean my apartment, do clothes washing and other things, as well as getting ready for work the next day. I did fall asleep for a while, too. Maybe worn out from all the walking!
