Just a Mooch Day ......

Day 11

Well, today was a proper just mooch around kind of day today.  It's been a hectic few days and we are both feeling it today, so we decided to take it nice and easy..... Starting with a lazy morning and a nice lie in.... Heaven!!!

We then decided to go to Arishiyama to have a wander round the Bamboo Grove. We had no specific plans for today, but we both liked Arishiyama and the Bamboo forest and Scott promised me a green tea ice cream at the top of the grove..... What more incentive did I need!?!?!?!

However, it appears that the rest of Japan also had the same idea as us as it was absolutely heaving. The bamboo grove was really busy and once again, Scott has accidently bombed sooooo many photos today. People will be getting home and wondering who this strange man is on all of their photos!!!

As promised, Scott got me my green tea ice cream at the top (he had a boring vanilla) and we discussed the plans for the rest of the day. We decided to try Kiyomizudera again to see if it was any better than last week, so back on the train and back into the city.

We made our way back through Maruyama Park where we stopped for a coffee. Now, since day 1 when we were waiting for the Geisha Dance to start, we have been stopping for a coffee at this place in the park. It's very quiet and the lady serving is really nice.  Today is about the fourth time we have stopped for a coffee..... On the way over, Scott joked about having our loyalty card ready so we would get our free drink....... Silly boy!!!

I went over to order and pay for the coffee and the lady obviously recognised us as she didn't even tell me how much the coffee was - I just handed over the cash.  A few minutes later, she came over with the coffee.... Then another few minutes later, she came over with two cups of green tea - for free!! She must have heard Scott talking haha!!  Again, Scott has surprised me by having a go of the green tea... He didn't drink it all, and poured most of it into my cup, but at least he had a go!!!

So now, it's back over to Kiyomizudera ........ Oh My God .... How many people!?!?! It was worse then last time!!! There were sooooo many people in such a small space. It was only 5pm, but people were already starting to queue to get into the Temple for the illuminations..... Again this was not going to happen. I have made my peace with the fact that I will not be in the temple for the illuminations.... Though I have seen them from the outside!!!  Bugger !!!

However, I still managed to hit the shops and got myself a lovely new kokeshi doll - this is the first one I have bought so far, but I do have my eyes on another one ..... Might be going back for that later hehehe!!!

So, with Scott coming to the end of his rapidly fraying rope, I thought it would be a good idea to get him away from the gentle slope area and get him home.

We went home via the 7Eleven where I indulged in my favourite food at the moment ..... Dumplings!!!! Got my usual curry one and then went wild and got an orange coloured one, which turned out to be a bolognese/cheese one .... Not what I was expecting but still good!!!

So back to the apartment to sort out tomorrow's adventure ...... Miyajima. I know, we have been there before, but Scott loves it and as he wants to go back..... Who am I to argue??? But it does mean another early start (we'll need another holiday when we get back) and a three hour Bullet ride!!!

So until next time ..... Oyasumi Nasai xxxx