くのっちょ
First of all, I would like to express my condolences to those affected by the earthquake that struck Tohoku last night. As of 8:00 on the 14th, there were no reported deaths, but over a hundred people were injured, and many homes and buildings suffered significant damage. It has been ten years since the last major earthquake, and many of those affected had finally begun to return to their normal lives, so this new disaster must be disheartening for them. From my visit to Matsushima, Ishinomaki, and Onagawa during a trip to Sendai about three years ago, I witnessed the devastation caused by the tsunami and the ongoing efforts for reconstruction. When the pandemic is over, I hope to visit those areas again and contribute in some small way to the economic recovery.******************************《 January 2021 Revisit 》It had been almost ten years since my last visit in the fall of 2011, so this return visit felt like a long time coming. As I mentioned in my previous review, this stylish café may seem a bit intimidating for a solo middle-aged man, and the sight of many cars parked outside always made it difficult for me to enter. This time, however, I was returning from photographing the Steller's sea eagles and white-tailed eagles gathering at the mouth of the Shizunai River, an annual event. It was a weekday afternoon, and there was only one car in the parking lot, so I took the opportunity to go in. Inside, the first-floor seats were empty, and there was no sign of anyone on the second floor either. It seemed that the car in the parking lot belonged to the staff, so the place was practically empty. I arrived about two hours before sunset, and the sun was already quite low in the sky. I chose a table at the back of the first floor and ordered the French-style "Classic Blend" coffee and the "Ripe Banana and Chocolate Cake." The coffee was meticulously brewed using the Nel drip method, which took a bit of time. Like last time, the coffee came in a cute cup shaped like a tulip flower, but I wondered about the portion size. The cake, served on a wooden plate, was accompanied by cream and decorated with powdered sugar and cocoa powder, giving it a stylish appearance. Honestly, not really something an old man like me would usually eat (laughs). I had other plans afterwards, so I left after about 30 minutes, but if the place is empty like this, it might be nice to add another drink and enjoy reading a book leisurely until sunset. By the way, the café's closing time is until sunset, but on clear days, it might be nice to extend the hours by about an hour after sunset to enjoy the changing colors of the sky during the magic hour.