hanami

lins, tomoks and i celebrated hanami in hakusan park on sunday. i was really convinced that there wouldn't be anyone there since it was so cold out. but, lo and behold, practically the entire population of niigata was there, spread out on their blue tarps, swigging back their chu-hi, and acting rowdily. the only time you see this behaviour is during hanami or at an enkai, and it's always fun to watch. the cherry blossom trees at hakusan park are white, not pink. i think i like this even better. when they are lit up at night they look like they are snow covered leaves instead of flowers. it's very beautiful.
there were vendors galore selling the usual festival foods. candied cherries and foot long hotdogs, takoyaki, yakitori, okonomiyaki and yakisoba. everyone was very lively and cheerful, and lindsay even got a marriage proposal from a short, bald yakuza member.
true to niigata-form, the heavens opened up in the early evening and we began to get wet. we hopped on a bus and headed to an izakaya near the eki. a nomihodi and several cassis-orengies later, we were red-cheeked, giggly, and ready to tackle the train back to shib. a very nice end to a very nice weekend.