Japan: Day Ten, Kyoto, Part One

We intended to prepare for our trip to Kyoto beforehand, get the tickets, seat reservations, hotel. Well, few days before we were leaving Lena was on the phone calling each hotel recommended by the guide book one after the other. Online reservations fell through - everything was booked already and travel agent gave up. Finally it seemed that we lucked out, one place, a guest house, agreed to put us up on the requested days. However, Lena's closer inspection the next day revealed that the place only had communal bathrooms, which we found unacceptable (yes, we are spoiled) and she had to spend some time at work looking for a hotel with the bathroom, now specifically checking for that amenity. But she came through and the Gion Hotel offered almost everything I could ask for from a hotel room: clean room, clean bathroom, good location, and a comfortable bed. Although, after sleeping on Lena's couch for a week and a half any bed where no part of me would be hanging off every time I turned would have been comfortable.

( Kyoto )

Complete album:
Kyoto, Day One

Japan: Day Eleven, Kyoto, Part Two

Saturday morning greeted us with pouring rain. Disappointed but not discouraged we dragged ourselves out of the room and in search of umbrellas. Search ended very quickly: hotel lobby sported an umbrella dispenser. BTW, umbrellas in Japan are ubiquitous, you can buy them on practically every corner, most public places have umbrella stands at the entrances (you just stick your umbrella in and when you come back it's still there!), and places that don't have stands give you special umbrella bags. After arming ourselves we slightly revised our planned itinerary and headed to Nijojo (Nijo Castle).

( Pictures )

Complete album:
Kyoto, Day Two

(no subject)

Just went to get some water and glanced out of the window: there is an ice rink in Bryant Park! Are they planning on competing with Rockefeller Center? Going to bring my camera along tomorrow.

Пойти что-ли покататься? А то я давно себе ничего не ломала.

Japan: Day Twelve, Nara

According to the guide book it takes 40 to 60 minutes depending on the train to get to Nara by JR and the trains run every 15 minutes. We must have gotten extremely lucky because our train ride took over an hour. In addition to that we missed one train by a minute and the next one was scheduled in half an hour. On the other hand, it gave us a chance to get some breakfast, which consisted of Belgian waffles that we smelled out in the station and some freshly squeezed juice.

( Lots of pictures of Nara )

Complete album:
Nara