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Our guide is Chiko. 5' 0" Japanese lady who can't pronounce R's and loves counting from 1 to 18. Up @ 6am for traditional Japanese beef breakfast. After some group orientation we headed off at a brisk pace to Nijo-jo castle, first of a million UNESCO heritage sites in Kyoto. Castle was the home of the shogun in the 17th century. Has really cool floors called nightingale floors which chirp like birds as you walk on them. It was protection from assassination. Really hot today in the high 20's. From Nijo-jo we caught a bus across town to the Temple of the Golden Pavilion. It's a Zen Buddhist Temple built in three levels each one depicting one of the styles of shinden, samurai and zen. Busy place and full of Japanese tourists. From there we caught another bus to Ryoanji Temple which is a Zen Temple famous for QE2 visit some time ago. Shabu Shabu for dinner in the Gino Geisha district. Not quiet Wagyu beef but pretty good all the same. Wandered through go back streets in search of Maiko or Geisha but at $200 a pop they don't make a habit of being seen on the streets so had to make do with Japanese girls in Kimono dress instead. Busy area but no stress or concern about being in the wrong place at the wrong time as crime is non existent. Liking Japan so far ....
Alphaville - Big in Japan...
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Sandra I'm exhausted just reading it!!