ルミナリエ

Luminaria was a bunch of fun last Sunday. It's a festival of lights in Kobe that happens around Christmas time but actually commemorates the Great Hanshin Earthquake Disaster, which we know as the 1995 Kobe Earthquake.

I went with Pat and Kimiko and Kenta, my homestay brother. You know how sometimes you meat someone who seems to know all your friends, but somehow you've just never met until recently? Weird thing about Kimiko - she was in my group at the Canadian conference seminar last last weekend, she flirts endlessly with Pat, and she's studying German with Erika. (my, uh, girlfriend)

The line was long, but moved quickly.

First shot of the grande promenade. Not that they call it that.

Beyond the main street there was a park with a courtyard encircled by a wall of lights.

Inside this dome a number of small, brass bells were suspended from red string. People would throw coins at them, and a clear tone meant good luck. I missed.

The commemorative flame, hidden at the very end of the park, away from the festivities and carnie stalls.