Thankful

View of Waves From the Balcony

Each evening at dinner, Ryan prompts us to say what we are thankful for. Tonight I was thankful that I wore my down coat today. A front came across the East China Sea early Sunday morning, bringing rain, colder temperatures, and 25mph winds with gusts in the mid 30’s.

Thank goodness we’d gotten back from Kumejima before it arrived. Our ferry ride was delightful, we sat in the sun all by ourselves on the upper deck and looked for whales. I spotted two, and Grant saw another one. For a long while, a brown booby glided along side the boat, I assume riding the air wake.  

Cantadoro  

Now the seas are rough, and waves crash the seawall below the apartment. We tried to visit Zakimi Castle yesterday morning in capris/shorts and tshirts, not realizing the front was about to reach Okinawa. The cold rain changed our minds, so we shopped at the commissary instead, then spent the rest of the day inside. Lunch was at Tacos and Coffee, entertained by a Mexican singer who said, “arigato” after each song. Throughly cross cultural.

Making a Wish  

Today we bundled up and tried again, even though the wind was still blowing like stink. What we would call a fort, Zakimi Castle was built in the 15th century by the local lord, or more accurately, his servants. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. On our climb to the top of the wall, we passed a bride and groom having pictures taken. A tad chilly to be in a strapless wedding dress. Bella threw a yen into what we assumed was a wishing stone.

Creating a Shisa

Afterwards, we stopped at a nearby shisa workshop where we found a pair that I am seriously considering. They are shaped by hand, not molded. The artist was working on a small shisa amidst lots of 3’ dragons and other fanciful beasts that I cannot imagine having around me. In fact, my hesitancy about buying is not so much the price (¥25,000), but that his shisa are a little scary, especially when the eyes are light against a dark face. Grant liked ones that were glazed a cream color, which made them a little more welcoming. We are going to a pottery show this weekend. Perhaps we will find shisa we like better.

Scary Shisa with My Glasses For Scale