azaleas at Nezu shrine and a family picnic

i'd staggered home after a lovely but boozy night at Sal's wanting soooooo badly to just flop into bed but i knew i was meeting the boys for a picnic the next day so i dragged myself to the supermarket on the way home for provisions. i was not so much happy.

but the next morning was GLORIOUS. although i'd gotten into bed much later than i usually do, i was up and going by 8 am. i did my laundry and made a curried chicken salad and a dilly egg salad. i packed it up, threw in a couple bags of chips, washed a bag of water cress, grabbed a couple of cheeses and my picnic blanket.

i met the boys in front of Nezu shrine which was PACKED. i was thinkin' it was gonna be a nice quiet day with part of my urban family. but it is golden week and i didn't realize what i was getting myself into.

The rain that had hammered down for the past couple of days really did a number on the flowers. They were a bit destroyed. but they would have been a riot of colors if we been a week earlier.

a giant crow eyes lakritze for lunch:

sops stayed behind with the baby while alain and i went in for a closer look:

the view from the hill was great!

alain loves it here. he's been several times before so he knows all the info. apparently there are 600 bushes on this hillside alone.

so many vibrant colors:

these azaleas have been growing for over 60 years:

we pay our respects through the tori which all have kanji asking for donations:

on the reverse side, you see (not just a handsome guy!) but also who gave donations and what they were for:

answered prayers and wishes fulfilled on the way out:

praying at the main shrine:

i know it's NOT the nazi sign but i still feel a bit uneasy whenever i first see it:

kritz is happy to be on our way to lunch:

looking for a place to picnic, we walked by this shop that had a massive tree growing out of it:

Finally! a park! we unpacked our lunch and went at it like ravenous french bull dogs:

i think kritz was a bit bored of just watching us:

he's happiest on someone's lap, especially sop's:

and a pat on the head from daddy:

i love the look on both of their faces:

so tired and sleepy!

thank you for a beautiful day! i'm glad i got up for it!