Tuesday 1 May
Today was set aside for a full day trip to the old Imperial capital of Nara. The weather forecast promised 30 degrees and suitably attired with hats and suntan lotion (except for Mr S) we headed to Kyoto station and having consulted a very helpful lady in the Tourist Office supplemented by Lonely Planet we headed to the JR Ticket office. He sold tickets and we climbed aboard the next train to Nara. A 2 carriage Limited Express. It seemed we were in a reserved seat carriage without reserved seats. So we moved. As we set off the conductor appeared and it came to light that our ticket was only good fr the Local Express - consequently 1500 yen was paid with the aid of a calculator.
Arriving Nara we followed the hordes and realised it was a Public Holiday. On the way to the park Stuart a French restaurant which specialised in galettes so we stopped. Fully refreshed we set off to the main temple complex which was crowded but impressive.
The highlight was a hole that had been cut through a tree trunk holding up the roof which game visitors could try and squeeze through Joy was up for challenge however the attendant looked somewhat aghast and was concerned that we might need to push and or pull or indeed alert the Nara Fire Department who could require their cutting which could have resulted in collapse of the 1000 year old ceiling. Deciding discretion was the better part of valour we decided to move on swiftly.
We followed the path through temples and a climb up a 370 m hill. Joy was less enthused so we moved on through tingly dells.
One of the attractions of Nara are the free roaming Japanese deer who are fed copious amounts deer crackers at 100 yen a pop by the tourists. As we had none we were of no interest apart from one nosy deer who across to check us out during a photo opportunity.
Overall we were in the park 4 hours before heading to the railway station making we board the Local Express not the Limited.
The search for dinner was not that successful so we ended up in yet another Italian restaurant where Stuart ordered caprices once more. joy and Trevor were more adventurous with caponata. We followed with 'spag bol' and Stuart risotto which regrettably included the wrong kind of fish.
Today was set aside for a full day trip to the old Imperial capital of Nara. The weather forecast promised 30 degrees and suitably attired with hats and suntan lotion (except for Mr S) we headed to Kyoto station and having consulted a very helpful lady in the Tourist Office supplemented by Lonely Planet we headed to the JR Ticket office. He sold tickets and we climbed aboard the next train to Nara. A 2 carriage Limited Express. It seemed we were in a reserved seat carriage without reserved seats. So we moved. As we set off the conductor appeared and it came to light that our ticket was only good fr the Local Express - consequently 1500 yen was paid with the aid of a calculator.
Arriving Nara we followed the hordes and realised it was a Public Holiday. On the way to the park Stuart a French restaurant which specialised in galettes so we stopped. Fully refreshed we set off to the main temple complex which was crowded but impressive.
The highlight was a hole that had been cut through a tree trunk holding up the roof which game visitors could try and squeeze through Joy was up for challenge however the attendant looked somewhat aghast and was concerned that we might need to push and or pull or indeed alert the Nara Fire Department who could require their cutting which could have resulted in collapse of the 1000 year old ceiling. Deciding discretion was the better part of valour we decided to move on swiftly.
We followed the path through temples and a climb up a 370 m hill. Joy was less enthused so we moved on through tingly dells.
One of the attractions of Nara are the free roaming Japanese deer who are fed copious amounts deer crackers at 100 yen a pop by the tourists. As we had none we were of no interest apart from one nosy deer who across to check us out during a photo opportunity.
Overall we were in the park 4 hours before heading to the railway station making we board the Local Express not the Limited.
The search for dinner was not that successful so we ended up in yet another Italian restaurant where Stuart ordered caprices once more. joy and Trevor were more adventurous with caponata. We followed with 'spag bol' and Stuart risotto which regrettably included the wrong kind of fish.