Japan.It's Bloomin marvellous.

[drron]

Thursday and the nicest weather of our stay.Fortunately the day we decided to walk to the Philosopher's Walk one of the best blossom viewing sites around Kyoto.The Westin is close to several nice viewing areas with it's own gardens and the Keage Incline just across the road-

.

.

.

.

A popular place for photo shoots.

.

.

It was then a turn under the incline and a pleasant walk to our destination past many temples and shrines....and the odd cherry tree.

.

.

.

.

 

[Pushka]

Arigato gozaima****a drron san.

Katakana is much easier but my phone doesn't seem to have it.

Oh. That isnt playing nice. Oh well, incorrect form then -
Arigato gozaimus drron san.

And this is why I need Shi (J) ta (7?) on my phone.

 

[drron]

Domo arigato gozaimasu Pushka samu.
There being very polite and honouring you Pushka.

But off now to the tour hotel.May not have internet access.Tomorrow board ship and due to Japanese regulations will not have internet access.Sp probably a break in posting.

 

[Pushka]

Yay. Did it.
どういたしまして
Doitashima****e in hiragana.
(You are welcome )

Why does one always remember a third language (in my case French) when recalling a second one. Why did I learn Japanese? MrP has a book published in Japanese.

Looking forward to the cruise review!

 

[OATEK]

Domo arigato gozaimasu Pushka samu.
There being very polite and honouring you Pushka.

But off now to the tour hotel.May not have internet access.Tomorrow board ship and due to Japanese regulations will not have internet access.Sp probably a break in posting.

Bon voyage!

 

[drron]

A hotel with free wifi for all guests.Amazing.So back on the path to the Philosopher's Walk-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Good to see a limit placed on selfie sticks-

.

.

.

The temple's mail arrives-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Nearly there-

.

.

.

.

Finally at the Walk-

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

All trees are numbered-

.

.

.

.

.

Some of the trees really are old.

.

.

The birds also enjoy this time of year-

.

.

.

 

[drron]

A few other blooms and a delicious snack-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Time for a snack-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

Mrsdrron found a reason to take a break-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A picture from the 1950s.
On the walk back to the Westin a little reminder of home-

.

 

[drron]

,

,

Now I wouldn't want to be tired and emotional and be trying to tell the taxi driver where I wanted to go-

.

.

The Westin's in sight-

.

.

The canal at the bottom of the Keage incline.The zoo on the right.

.

.

The Keage incline was a rack and pinion railway used to transport boats from the Lake Biwa Canal down to Kyoto and on to the sea.Now known as a good cherry blossom viewing spot-

,

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

We crossed the road to the Kyoto International House and had a coffee there.They had their own garden where this really pink specimen was.This though is definitely second rate to the Japanese who prefer the very pale Yoshino cherry which are the majority seen.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[irv]

A bit OT but I liked how selfie sticks were completely BANNED at Disneyland.

 

[drron]

Back to the Westin.Mrsdrron feeling tired so has a rest.I decided to do a walk.First the Westin shuttle to Gion.leaves every 15 minutes but traffic is mad so waited 35 minutes and 2 came together.You are dropped at a station across the road by the river.Lined with cherry trees.Then a walk up a short road with lots of blossom plus couples having their wedding photos.Most are happy to pose for you.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Lot's of people out walking and one lonely tulip-

.

.

 

[drron]

Beauty was everywhere-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Then down a little backstreet-

.

.

 

[drron]

There are times when a lack of Japanese will tell-

.

.

The No English sign usually means tourists are not encouraged here.Fair enough too.Sometimes as I have said the English is close but not quite right.Though some of those spirits do pack a mean punch-

.

.

On to themain street and the Yasaka shrine comes into view.Crowds going to and from the shrine.

.

.

.

I have never seen as many women in Kimonos as this trip to Kyoto.Through the Torii gate and a festival is taking place.Plenty of food offerings.

.

.

.

Though the crab was obviously the processed seafood stick.A pity that the last stand had not discovered the word vegetarian.