Tulips on Tulips on Tulips

Well my friends, I have recovered from the Shimanami Kaido. No longer sore, it was time to embark on another adventure!

Luckily, I have made friends with some really great people who help that happen. On Sunday, I went to the Tulip Festival just outside of Yonago City in Tottori prefecture. Driving there was a little nerve-wracking- at one point it was hailing! But it wasn't long before we made it to the most delicious brunch spot: Bistro de Suzuki. The food was French, as the name implies. It was a fantastic meal of four courses: cold meats including beef, salmon, pork, duck, octopus, squid, white fish, and a mystery seafood item; salad and potato soup; main course - I chose duck confit; and creme brulee, chocolate cake, and a slice of fruit cake. And then you got a drink with dessert, I chose rose soda. Is your mouth watering yet? Oh ma gersh. It was so delicious. Here are pictures to drool over:

After that, we headed over to the Tulip Festival at Hanakairo Flower Park. As with many attractions, there was a discount for foreigners- score! The opening terrace had a number of arrangements with different kinds of tulips and some other flowers. I especially enjoyed the fake instruments with flowers all around them. We walked along a creek sort of thing, saw some koi fish, but mostly saw zillions of beautiful flowers. It is pretty difficult to describe everything because it was mostly walking around, looking at really fantastic nature. I think in this case, the pictures can say more than I can.

"Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park"

Street organ- why not?

A different variety of sakura- this one was in full bloom!
The blossoms only last about a week, so it was nice to see some blossoms again :)

That dome is the greenhouse with the exotic flowers oooOOooo just wait

Inside the greenhouse we found a duet of alto sax and piano performing.

Tunnel of Orchids

There was a little museum of sorts with some framed art

A man was making straw animals

And he gave me one!

We got to see Mt. Daisen for a bit!
Also called Hoki Fuji, because it bears a resemblance to Mt. Fuji and Hoki is the region.