Waifu Thoughts K and B from Portland are here now, and boy is it exciting! We are touring around, and have done a lot of things we have never tried before. We went to the Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, and got crushed by the crowds, but experienced the sweet, shrieking sound of the traditional Gion Matsuri music during the parade. The next day we visited Nijo Castle in Kyoto, the opulent digs of the first shougun, showing off his power by means of ninja-proof squeaking floors, golden paintings, fantastic gardens, and endless tatami. Apparently furniture in this time period was virtually non-existent. We also went to Ishiyama-dera, the birthplace of the Tale of Genji, by Murasaki Shikibu. The temple is the oldest in Shiga prefecture, and is surrounded by the rest of the mountain, and is exceedingly beautiful. The sound of cicadas (called semi) is quite deafening. We went to the sento in Yasu, and got nekkid together in hot baths. Delightful. Yesterday we went to Nara, and they all visited the Dai-butsu (giant Buddha) inside Toudaiji Temple, while I ate strawberry-sugar shave ice and was attacked by deer. The Husband and B attained enlightenment, for they made it through the Buddha's nostril. Well, that was bound to happen anyway, because the Husband had given me the backpack to carry. The weather is a little warm. Ten minutes and sweat is pouring off us, and we yearn for air conditioning. We have been actually closing off all the windows in the apartment and attempting to funnel the A/C from the bedroom throughout everywhere else. It is a poor coolness, but less deadly than the external humidity. Ah, for rain!!! Yesterday in Nara we were yearning for showers by the time we left Kibukawa station, only the first leg on our route out. However, this time around, we took the opposite way around the mountains, taking the little country trains to Nara instead of bustling through city to Kyoto. What fantastic countryside! We have also been attempting to expose K and B to as much Japanese cuisine as possible. We have gone out for kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt restaurant sushi bar place), ramen (I of course forced gyoza and goma-dango on them!), yakiniku (yum, 6 kinds of beef! and... beef! aaand... chicken fat??), Unagi (eel--we went to the restaurant in Seki that is melt in your mouth delicious!), and we have yet to feast on tenpura, kaiseki-ryouri, and okonimiyaki. Gastronomic tours are fun!!! And we're not gaining weight, because we're hiking around in a sauna. Today the crew is in Kyoto, hitting the flew market at Tou-ji, and wandering through Gion. I am at work, but it's cool. Friday we head to Himeji Castle and Hiroshima by shinkansen. I made reservations for a minshuku (Japanese B&B) in Hiroshima BY MYSELF IN JAPANESE!!! I am too proud of myself to worry that I can't join them until dinner time. Coming soon... PICTURES!!!