JT15- Day 4

Konbanwa,

Well I didn't spend all looking at floats but I definitely spent about 4 hours on that pursuit. The highlight was going on to the Naginata Boko which is the first float in the procession and carries the sacred child who cuts the rope to start the procession. What was truly amazing that where other floats were charging ¥1000 ($10) to go aboard, access to the most important float was free. 
On the way to Shigo Karasuma ( street corner nearest where the floats are lined up I went up the Kyoto Tower for the first time. It is 100 metres tall and gives a great 360° view of the city and surrounds. On a clear day you can see all the way to Osaka 45 km away. I think I could see it
By the way I forgot to mention that our lovely lady guide at the Imperial Palace explained that the most inauspicious direction is the Northeast and consequently the outer wall at the NE corner is cut out and a monastery was built on top of Mt Hiei to deflect the evil spirits from the city. 
Tomorrow I will catch up with Paul D'Agostino ( Alex De Petro's mate) who I met up with last year. We will go for lunch & coffee in the Shijo Karasuma area and tomorrow night I will go and see the floats all lit up at night.
I messaged Yoichi and even though he is working Sat 24/7 he will pick me up from a station and I will spend the night with the family. Yay. 
I also messaged Shigeo (who has the coffee shop (Vemillion) near JR Inari station. He said they are opening every day now and that there is a local festival in the area this weekend. So I will probably go Sat or Sun to catch up with him. I'll have to find out if there is a time when both he & Miwa san will be there.