Another day in the fair city of Kyoto. We set off in good time this morning, once again Rose had mapped out a precise and impressive route to get there. Train here, another train there and here we were at the market. It was a fun market with lots of variety and we made our way through it. Kyoto is such an alive and busy city. Specially over the weekend when it seems that everyone is out and about packing in as much enjoyment as possible. From the market we jumped on a bus to the Gion district and then paced our way through the gardens, temples and shrines as well as, most enjoyably for me, the ancient streets of wooden houses and narrow lanes. The only problem was pacing it out with everyone else!! Still it was loads of fun poking our noses into shops along the way and browsing along. Eventually we started to make our way back, stopping for a quick lunch. Then Rose got the call that her friend Matt and his partner Chris had left Osaka and were making their way to meet her/us. Yikes. We rushed for the subway but that was too complicated so we had one of our very rare taxi rides back to the beer bar where we had been yesterday and where we were meeting them.
This is where the fun really began. They are a couple of beer drinking boys just like our Rosa and I joined in (a testament to my improving health). I (bless my soul) had 4 beers, albeit small ones!! We were there for more than 2 hours and it was really fun. They are just lovely guys and certainly embraced my presence. Then we decided to move to a place where I could get a vino as well as where they could continue their beer drinking. We found such a place that also had some nice food for us to enjoy including another of those beautiful, enormous oysters, a pizza to ensure Rosa was happy and a moussaka- type thing. All delicious and we drank on. It was fun. We walked the boys to the subway and they headed back to Osaka and we came home. A little the worse for wear but a very enjoyable night had by all.
Tomorrow we’re off to the Bamboo forest. My leg (just FYI) is still red and angry looking and a bit swollen. I just have to hope it lasts out til I get home where I can trot off to the doctor !!!