Kyoto with Goto

Meet our new Japanese friend Kazuhiro Goto, or Goto for short (pronounced go-toe).  He was a very nice tour guide and never ran out of energy!  We actually went to all of the destinations on our tour and he took us around to other sites because he said his wife would be upset if he came home early! We went to several World Heritage sites (shrines and temples) and had a traditional Japanese lunch with him.

Our first stop was the Fushimi Inari Shrine, built in the early 8th century, was dedicated to the gods of rice and sake.  It has endless numbers of red gates (torii) spread across a wooded hillside.  One of the oust impressive sights in Kyoto.

While at Fushimi Inari, we tried our luck at wish stones.  Legend has it that you make a wish and then lift up the stone, if the stone is lighter than you expected your wish will come true.  Um, that stone was heavy.

When I came out of the bathroom, there were several schoolgirls waiting for me...I thought, yeah--they know I'm famous!  Asking me questions for a school field trip about my thoughts on Japan.

Then, I came out of the bathroom again and there were school kids asking Greg the same questions! He is famous too!

Goto had us taking buses throughout many small neighborhoods in Kyoto.  He also had us walking all over the place to get to those buses which was awesome because we really got to see Kyoto up close.  This is a typical street in old Kyoto...small, narrow and with an assortment of wooden houses and stores.  There's me teaching Goto some things about Kyoto! (Kidding)

Our second stop was the Kiyomizudera Temple, a World Heritage Site.   It is a Buddhist Temple located in the hills north of Kyoto.  Visitors can drink water that is believed to bestow health and longevity.  We didn't, we weren't feeling thirsty.  :)  Oh, the orange color at the first shrine and at this temple is supposed to ward off evil.

Kiyomizudera Temple pagoda.  Oh, and by the way...as if the entire structure wasn't already impressive, no nails were used in its construction.

A view of the city of Kyoto from Kiyomizudera Temple.  This temple is set up so high on the mountain you feel close to the gods.  We had to walk about a half-mile straight up hill (literally) to get to the steps that take you even higher.

The third spot, Kinkakuji Temple, another World Heritage Site.  This was absolutely breath taking.  It is Kyoto's famed Golden pavilion, built in, oh...just a mere 1397.  It was built as a retirement villa for a shogun whose son turned it into a temple.  They say the sun setting on the golden temple reflecting off the pond is an incredible sight.

While this may not be one of our funniest blogs, oh my goodness Greg and I could not stop laughing all day.  Like those belly laughs where you cry and the people around you just stare.  Part of the reason is we have perfected our Spa-Jang-Lish.  Spa-Jang-Lish is our ability now to speak really good Japanese Spanish and English in the same sentence.  Wait until we get back to tell you the stories, they will crack you up!

In any case, here is a picture of Greg's quiet new girlfriend.  Because, I'm not.

The last stop was an amazing Zen Buddhist Temple with an aesthetic sand and rock garden.  We were not allowed to bring our camera inside to show pictures of the sand and rock garden, but it was incredible.  A true art form.  While inside, we got to meet one of the highest holy men at the temple.  He was taken aback by us saying, "....you two are so happy.  The happiest couple, the best.  Stay happy."

Nothing sums up the day better.  Happy.

We are so exhausted we did not proof-read.  Zzzzzz.