Coupla trains, well a few really, but a fair amount of walking.
I must be getting used to the weather because they said it was 33.6° today and it sorta felt a lot cooler than yesterday. Who am I kidding? But seriously 3° makes a huge difference. Anyway my story sticking to....
Train from Kujo to Kyoto ( only one stop but saving the walking legs for later- don't want to blow out early), then JR Nara Line from Kyoto to Inari to visit Shigeo san- just an aside for Angela and anyone else who may have forgotten. Shige san was a friend of my mate Yoichi who I will visit in Osaka on Saturday. I met Shige San when he was living and studying in Melbourne. He is the 9th generation of a family that runs a cafe/ souvenir shop about halfway up the 4.5 km trek that is Fushimi Inari-taisha. He lived in Melbourne working in the finance business for Daiwa Securities and was looking to open a coffee shop in Fitzroy or thereabouts but decided the cost was too high so after a barista course in Melbourne he headed home about 2 & a half years ago firstly working at the family business which is where I saw him with Yoichi and Leia in October 2013. By the way, I know I told Mum this but I am sure Yoichi said they couldn't have children and what a pity for the continuation of the male line as far as family bidness and all went. Well not true they have a son named Gosei (https://www.facebook.com/
So with that aside aside spent nearly 2 hours talking to him about this and that. I had also taken him one of the Melbourne roll up maps that I bought for Paul and Yoichi ( one to go). He was very happy and said he will try to find a place to put it up at Vermillion although the place is small and even though it's not a huge map would take up valuable wall space. I had also bought a pair of pretty cute neko socks for Miwa san from QBF (Quick Brown Fox) a boutique in Flinders Lane near Degraves St I thought she may be familiar with. Didn't matter either way they were damned kawaii. Also I found a tshirt for Gosei that had on the front something like: "Someone who thinks I'm very special bought this from Melbourne" with a tram (of course) and a couple of either landmarks I think- not sure but it was definitely kawaii to the max.
The man makes a damn fine double expresso and now has 6 people working part time. He said if Vermillion is open 365 days a year he can get a local government grant as an information centre and if he isn't working ( which at the moment is Thursdays) then his stipulation is there must be at least one English speaker working. He is such a nice guy. I wish it weren't quite as far to visit him. Long way for a flat white. Incidentally he explained why the Imperial Household Agency was closed yesterday. Should have tumbled to it- National Public Holiday- Sea Day would you believe
Train from Inari back to Kyoto then Karasuma Subway to Imedagawa to book for the Sento Imperial Palace tour which I will do on Thursday at 11am. Today they're open and booked I am. I had a bowl of udon with grated ginger at the Imperial Palace Cafe which I posted to Instagram. Oishii
Now comes the walking part.
From the Kyoto Goen (the gardens surrounding the Imperial Palace- which incidentally up until the time the capital moved to Tokyo wasn't actually a garden it was covered with over 200 houses for the nobility) I walked south along Teramachi dori to Teramachi Shopping Street which covers a lot of territory. The Shopping Streets are a godsend in any weather and provide great respite from the heat. I had walked some of it last year with Paul and he had also whizzed me along Nishiki dori, which is the food/ fruit/veg/fish, etc buying epicentre of Kyoto. Today a bit more leisurely saunter including a look at a few temples that were relocated from various parts of the country to form part of the new Great East Boundary Road of the capital during Toyotomi Hideyoshi' remodelling of the capital in the 16th Century.
I had something quite amazing in Nishiki Market. This guy cuts a hole in the top of a blood grapefruit and then uses like a drill stand to pulp the innards into juice. He then presents it to you with a straw out the hole and because they are in like a cool chest when he chooses one for you they are chilled juice and extremely tasty. Could have drunk many more than one. For the adventureous and another ¥200 you could have it with rum or shochu. ¥400 for the plain jane was ok with me.
Out of Nishiki Market at about 5:30pm just as most of the stalls were starting to close & went to the Yoshinoya opposite Daimaru on Karasuma dori for Unagi setto- 3 delicious pieces of eel on rice to which you add the special pepper and as is my wont lots of their pickled ginger. I really think their pg is da bomb. The setto includes the Unagi and rice as well as a bowl of miso soup and a side dish if pickled veg. Also you get refills of iced tea from jugs on the counter. Sooooo civilized.
Walked to Shijo Subway Station and train back to Kujo for the last leg walk to the Ryokan via Family Mart for the mandatory watermelon ice.
Obviously there will be a photo or three of my perambulation so that's something to look forward to, huh.
Tomorrow will probably head to Saga Arashiyama to check out Bruce 2 and tomorrow afternoon/evening I will check out the charmingly titled "Posterior Procession" floats (of which there are 10) and hopefully this time see them lit up and get to eat some more street food as well.
Another day awaits,
Lotsalove,
Tim
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