Izunuma Marsh’s Yearly Guests
- At December 09, 2020
- By admin
- In Annes Letters
0
Dear Family and Friends,
“Noriko, by chance, I have tomorrow off. Would you like to do something?”
“Sure, I’d love to. Where shall we go?”
At first, we thought of train hopping on local lines from Sendai to Fukushima in the south. But connections were both bad and infrequent. So, Noriko said, “If the south is not good, how about going in the opposite direction? Let’s go see birds.”
Being north, we figured it would be bitter cold, but to our delight it was warm in the sun. So much so we were able to have lunch outside. Noriko had bought a plant for her home, so we put it in the center of our table to add to the day’s beauty and joy.
And after lunch, we headed for a hot spring bath. Being in the countryside, where the locals know every field and road, there were no signs. Before leaving, we had asked in the Visitors’ Center. By using the floor map, the guide literally walked us through the route. We thought we were fine. But we weren’t. So, we stopped by a farm to ask. No one was home. But finally, we met an old man and asked him.
“What an honor to speak to such gorgeous women,” he said, whipping off his hat and smiling. In strong local dialect, he continued, “Now what was your question again. Oh, yes, that’s right. The spa is just down the road a piece. Now, if I walked it, it would take an hour or so, I imagine. So, in a car, ten minutes.” We giggled, thanked him, and drove off.
It was not ten minutes. Or twenty, for that matter. We drove and drove, figuring since it was the only road, it would have to be right. To reassure Noriko, I volunteered, “I get the feeling they don’t live by clocks here. Why bother if you have the sun, times of hunger, and the morning departure and evening return of birds to tell you the time of day?”
Eventually we came upon the spa, had a delicious bath, and reluctantly headed home. It was approaching dusk, with no road signs or lights, so we felt a bit vulnerable. But suddenly when we rounded a bend, we saw the sun setting and a cluster of birds magnificently silhouetted against the water and the sky.
“Noriko, by chance, I have tomorrow off. Would you like to do something?”
“Sure, I’d love to. Where shall we go?”
At first, we thought of train hopping on local lines from Sendai to Fukushima in the south. But connections were both bad and infrequent. So, Noriko said, “If the south is not good, how about going in the opposite direction? Let’s go see birds.”
And indeed, in northern Miyagi Prefecture there are several mashes where avian guests arrive every winter. They come from far away Siberia. Among many others, too numerous to name, there are ducks, geese, and occasionally gracious and beautiful swans. Locals have welcomed them for thousands of years.
This year, as every, they were very polite and kept social distance between one another, and us.
As soon as we arrived at Izunuma Marsh, we headed to the Visitors’ Center. It had a wide glass-walled room filled with educational displays. They were all good. But what probably delighted me most was the flooring, showing the aerial view of the whole locale, literally a birds’ eye view.
Another guest this year, unwanted, is Queen Corona. Because of her, the small library had all the books removed. But surely, they will be returned when this horrible Queen is finally dethroned.
Being north, we figured it would be bitter cold, but to our delight it was warm in the sun. So much so we were able to have lunch outside. Noriko had bought a plant for her home, so we put it in the center of our table to add to the day’s beauty and joy.
As we ate, we watched birds flying in perfect formation overhead.
And after lunch, we headed for a hot spring bath. Being in the countryside, where the locals know every field and road, there were no signs. Before leaving, we had asked in the Visitors’ Center. By using the floor map, the guide literally walked us through the route. We thought we were fine. But we weren’t. So, we stopped by a farm to ask. No one was home. But finally, we met an old man and asked him.
“What an honor to speak to such gorgeous women,” he said, whipping off his hat and smiling. In strong local dialect, he continued, “Now what was your question again. Oh, yes, that’s right. The spa is just down the road a piece. Now, if I walked it, it would take an hour or so, I imagine. So, in a car, ten minutes.” We giggled, thanked him, and drove off.
It was not ten minutes. Or twenty, for that matter. We drove and drove, figuring since it was the only road, it would have to be right. To reassure Noriko, I volunteered, “I get the feeling they don’t live by clocks here. Why bother if you have the sun, times of hunger, and the morning departure and evening return of birds to tell you the time of day?”
Eventually we came upon the spa, had a delicious bath, and reluctantly headed home. It was approaching dusk, with no road signs or lights, so we felt a bit vulnerable. But suddenly when we rounded a bend, we saw the sun setting and a cluster of birds magnificently silhouetted against the water and the sky.
We stopped, stood in amazement, took photos, and finally climbed back into the car and headed, a little more confidently, into the night.
Love,
Anne
Love,
Anne
