On our free day from the Shady Acres Retirement group we went to the Ryoanji temple, a rock garden. It is believed to have been built sometime in the 1400's. Who knew a rock garden could be so peaceful & beautiful?
Carving on top of the temple...
We then visited the Kyoto station & went up the staircase to view the city & garden. We got snacks from Mister Doughnut & coffee from Cafe Du Monde (they didn't have beignets).
We then caught a taxi with a crazzzy taxi driver up to the Ninenzaka Slope to find the Ohagi shop my cousins had recommended. It was the tiniest shop that only served azuki bean & mochi treats. It was neat to be sitting in a shop where my cousins, aunts & grandmother had been.
Ohagi-rice balls covered in sweet beans
We took a walk down Ishibe koji the 'prettiest alley' in Japan.
We loved their English translation for example:
"the combustion egg was sliced to chicken's sunshiny scorch coming and one container"
Geiko walking down a street in Kyoto. She then got on her cellphone & ruined our touristy moment. Many of the women in Kyoto wore Kimonos.
Later that afternoon Josh & I went for a long walk around Kyoto. We found hidden temples & while people watching at Starbucks we saw the Yakuza (Japanese Mafia). Did you ever Black Rain with Michael Douglas? We were sitting outside of Starbucks & I noticed a fancy tinted car parked with a man sitting in the back & his chaeufer in the front. They waited in their car until a man in a suit entered Starbucks & gave him a nod. The man then got out of his car & when he passed me I noticed he had no pinky! Eeek!
We had a Japanese style crepe for dinner called Okonomiyaki (pictured upper left hand corner). They served us Americans lots of food. Mom & I thought we were going to die because we couldn't feel the air conditioner & stove was hot!
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