Japan Story 29th March

 Away we go. We are leaving Kentoji, the basecamp of our Kyoto visit. 

The adventure of travelling by public transport.  

Firstly the subway. Always threatening to be a squeeze, but no problem today. Into the big Shin Kyoto station to catch a bullet train and train number three for the day to take us to our final destination, Kanazawa. This was a long trip, we past an enormous lake and some beautiful snowcapped mountains, 

which, thinking about it, should have been a clue. We piled into taxis, thanks Lyle, and in short order we arrived at our very Japanese hotel. Our beds are futons on a wooden platform and the shower arrangement is very strange. The nozzle isn't over the tub

We strolled around the neighbourhood and discovered we are in the same city block as the upmarket shops. Tiffany's, Chanel and well, Louis Vuiton, very us.

Dinner was a special treat, we walked to an Izakaya. It is a type of family run restaurant.

We had ten incredible courses, which were challenging for some. First of all was a little rectangular pot which contains 3 snails and their toothpicks. Then our waiter proudly served the sashimi. It was magnificent. Lots and lots of pieces of cold seafood - raw, of course. Various fish octopus and prawns which were all served on a bed of the thinnest threads s of radish set on ice. The courses kept coming. I loved their hot radish soup with mushroom and jelly. Hot jelly? I don't know. 

And the courses kept coming. We actually said "no" to dessert. So our final course was ramen noodle in a clear smokey stock. Delicious, but cold. We were sooooo full it was hard to eat. Weirdest course? Seaweed and vinegar soup, with finely grated ginger - cold, of course. We all made our way home, on foot. It IS getting cold here. Thanks for a great night, Lyle 

Japan Story, 30th March

 Later breakfast. Thank goodness the plans have been tweaked. It's freezing cold. We took off mid-morning on the loop bus and explored the markets. Enormous fish markets- They are under cover - so interesting, so crowded with locals and tourists.

Then the next bus to the gardens but first 

we had a craft lesson in gold leaf. We decorated a black plate in the motif of our choice. Really fun and very well run. I'm the expert now.

Wow and wow.The Kenrokuen Gardens are the most beautiful so far. There were vistas out to the surrounding areas. The light was beautiful..... soft sunlight that shone on white petals. There was an exquisite picture at every turn. There are many waterscapes (is that a word?) with reflections, sounds and gentle movement of water. The trees are especially pruned with high "skirts". So the lines of sight were clear and the place felt open. Every shrub has been pruned into a perfect sphere. Wrapping up the park, coen in Japanese. It was pretty cold at our rendezvous point and I was glad to "steal" the wifi connection from a parked bus. So I could let Lyle know I would be ready early. However, that bus took off and I lost my connection. But, hallelujah there they were Lyle and Lin coming down the garden path - a sight for sore eyes.

Back to our hotel on the taxi. Don legged it through the castle grounds where he took a couple of photos. He arrived home just as we did. I was able to tell the cabby that he was my otto, my husband. In fact, most of our group arrived back early - earlier than the three princesses in the taxi.

Drinks at the bar was complicated. Our local was closed. So we tried the Enoteca in the posh department store. It was a Bottle O. So plan c, then plan D. Don went back for my coat. Thank you, Don. 

We landed in a fashionable modern yuppie type bar. The rest of the evening was very relaxed. Even Lyle was "having the night off". Lots of great stories told. I'm almost certain that some of them were even true. A very chilly walk home was a fit ending to another great day.