Monday, May 12, 2008

Final days

We're down to our final day and a half. Thank God! We're road weary, sore and are ready to come home :)

We decided to go easy today. The only places we went were to the Imperial Palace and to the Handicraft center. The Imperial Palace is a huge park that includes the Kyoto residence of the Emperor. Think of it as an upscale central park with Royalty. It was very nice and soothing.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Kyoto Imperial Palace

From there we decided to get lunch. Yes we got a very late start today. The place we found is some kind of new chain. Kinda neat. Best food prices in town so far. And as an added bonus it was pretty good.

I really don't know what to call it...

From there we decided to hit the Kyoto Handicraft center and do some last minute shopping.

Along the way we crossed over the Kano river. Guess what? The raptors are still there. I think we spent an hour watching them play along the river from the bridge.

Raptor

A brief word about the Kyoto Handicraft center. They have some excellent items...and some real crap. (don't buy swords here, go across the street to Meirin or Tozando) The stuff is also a bit overpriced. Still, it's an easy way to pick up items at the last minute, and some of the stuff is pretty good. After a couple of hours there we split. Jo went to the hotel. I followed shortly thereafter. Becky and Mark went to see the Maiko dance at Shimogamo shrine. And ended up seeing part of the upcoming festival.

Funny thing was, they didn't get to see Maiko. But I did. There was one performing in the lobby when I got here. Now if my Iai was half as smooth as she was....

So here are the plans for the last days. Tomorrow we all go separate ways to see things we want to. Wednesday we get until noon before we head for the airport. Then it's homeward bound for us. I'll post tomorrow night and again sometime after we get back. And I recover enough to think :)

And before I forget. Jason, I'll get you directions to the shop that I picked up a Bizen-yaki Muzusashi for a hundred bucks when I get back ;)