Sakura Matsuri 2009

Yesterday I felt like I was coming down with a cold. Today, I felt like I was getting over a cold. I’m happy to have skipped the middle part of actually having a bad cold. Since today was sunny and windy and nice, and because I was feeling much better, Chad and I headed down to Penn Quarter to visit the 49th Annual Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival. Although I’ve been to see the cherry blossoms every Spring I’ve lived in the DC area, this was my first Sakura Matsuri. We had a fantastic time, watched a lot of martial arts (open hand, swords and archery!), some performing arts, and walked down to the incredibly crowded tidal basin to see the trees in bloom. I also learned that if you stick your camera above the crowd, you can still take a decent picture (even if it is a little over exposed – it was VERY sunny out today).

Highlights of the day: The weather, the demonstrations, dragon kite, and the sakura!

Low points of the day: The crowds were huge so the food lines were very long. The taiyaki vendor was sold out before I could get one. =(

Pictures are up in the 2009 – Sakura Matsuri Gallery – check them out!