"This tea house is older than your country."

So many things to share....

Friday at work, I went to get lunch, and a rather shabbily dressed man approached me and said, "Oh so beautiful! Do you speak English?". He was clearly Japanese. I momentarily froze, and didn't speak. He asked again. "Do you speak English? Are you American?". I said, "Canadian" and walked off. I don't know why hahahaha.

Heather and Ken came down from Nagoya on Friday night with their friends Mike and Geoff. We went out for a drink at Papa's, and Heather and I ordered Mexican Nachos (is there another kind? Italian nachos? French nachos?) which in Japan, to a Moroccan bar owner, means Doritos with cheese and salsa. Wish I had taken a picture. I'm not going to lie, they were damn good.
Two guys were playing music, and they started playing "I will survive". This old man comes up and yells, "I LOVE THIS SONG!". Wow.

Saturday after work, I stopped by a small matsui in Minatogawakoen. I believe it was related to the rice harvest.

Takoyaki stand. You know I love some takoyaki...

Sunday, I met up with Vince, Yuko, and Kyosuke (two students of Vince's) in Seishin minami to go on a trip to Kyoto. Kyosuke was born and raised in Kyoto, so he wanted to show us "not famous" places. He drives a BMW 3 series. He accelerates fast. I like the way he drives :) We ate lunch at a really fancy traditional Japanese restaurant. We sat on the floor, which were tatami mats, and had about 25 very small dishes. I loved it!

Vince at the restaurant! The pot was in the middle of the table and had tofu in it.

Vince, Me, Kyosuke, and Yuko.

The view from our table.

Armor in the entryway.

In the garden, looking at the restaurant.

The restaurant.

500 Monks. Each one has a unique face.


This one has a booger.


I need a wider lens. The front of the restaurant.

Vince in front of Kyosuke's car. I love his car. BMW 3 series.

Coteachers in front of 500 Monks.

A bajillion stairs in Arashiyama.

The view from the top! Looks like Boone, NC to me.

The bamboo forest. Probably one of my favorite things all day. Kyoto is known for it's abundance of bamboo. It was really dark and cool (temperature wise) in here.


Someone carved their name into the trunk.



I love this photo. Shot straight up.




Ancient moss.


Haha Kyosuke caught me taking a photo of people taking photos.

We stopped by a very old and famous tofu store in Kyoto. They let me take some photos.



I asked her to smile. She tried.


We drove to a tiny village that Kyosuke used to live near. In the summers, everyone would sit by the river and watch the fireflies.





20 years ago, this was a luxury inn.

Walking through the "village".


Please take a moment to realize what you're witnessing. This is a Dodge Neon. In Japan.

Goya, a Japanese vegetable.




Tommy Lee Jones is all over vending machines in Japan. Even in very rural villages.

Super long one way tunnel. I was thrilled.

I had so much fun hanging out with them! We went to many places "off the beaten path", including a tea house that is 400 years old! Kyosuke pointed out that "it's older than your country". Touche, sir...

Huge tori in front of the 400 year old tea house. I would have a photo of the actual tea house, but I need a wider lens.

Moss covered roof.

Stickers on the door frames.

Tea room.

Outside, in a garden. Very cute.

Beautiful tea room with a view of the river. Very calming.

Me and Yuko!!!

Coworkers.

Tree inside the tea house.

Seriously. I need a wider lens.

View of Kyoto from the Parkway.

You can see the rain over downtown Kyoto.

Kyosuke and Yuko.

When we got back from Kyoto, Vince and I ate dinner at an okanomiyaki restaurant with Yuko and her husband and son. I love that family. The food was great!

Papa, Keigo, Vince, Me and Yuko at the restaurant. I NEED A WIDER LENS!

Then I went to Sannomiya to hang out with Jenn, and see Oli and Nika before they went back to England.

Gordon is such a rock star.