Timeless

I have a feeling that this blog is posting in UK time...

I'm now inhabiting Monday the 6th. Sunday is a day that appears to be the busiest shopping day hereabouts. On Saturday Kouichi and Louise took me to Nagoya to research a camera; if I hadn't forgotten my passport I could have purchased tax-free there and then. As it was, I had to return Sunday morning - solo- to get myself a lovely Japanese bit of kit; the latest Canon PowerShot with WiFi and all the bells and whistles. The exchange rate has been very helpful....but I'm most proud of negotiating the trains and crowds to make it there!

But it hasn't all been about consumerism-on Saturday we visited Atsuta shrine in Nagoya just at the time a wedding was taking place. Very picturesque.

Sunday was a day of feasting....Louise and Kouichi took me to a rather brilliant restaurant where you choose your selection at the door and pay for it at a kind of vending machine that gives you a ticket to present to your server. You can relax, not having to catch the waiter's eye! And then a beautifully presented selection appears....potato croquettes (top right) and tofu ( bottom right) were particularly good!

In the evening, great research was done to find a place that served nabe - a stew that is cooked on a gas ring at the table. Ours had motsu - beef small intestines, cabbage, chives, garlic and latterly udon noodles in the most savoury broth. Yum....but who would have thought my once squeamish daughter loves offal!

We have to own up to walking back to my hotel via JR station and going for a Baskin Robbins ice cream after (but mine was sweet potato and maple....)

 And as a small ablutory addendum- the toilets in the station precinct have heated seats!

So, my last night at the Dormy Inn Gifu, I availed myself of the onsen once more - this time sharing with two ladies who were giving each other thorough back scrubs. I've got the hang of this shared bathing - go early and it's quiet, clean - but pretty hot!

I've just had an early bath (alone!) at my ryokan in Gujo where Lou and I travelled by bus today. This is a countryfied town on the edge of hills and forests. A complete contrast in architecture to the cities I've seen. As I wandered around most of this afternoon taking pictures with the new camera - and haven't worked out how to transfer them( largely because manual is Japanese!) - those images may have to wait...but I did capture my tatami mat room and the local waterfall on iPhone.
Just having a refreshing green tea and then it's out for supper with Lou and her JT (the Japanese teacher she works alongside). Actually, as I walked past the school today, I could hear Louise enthusing to the kids.....
So, while she works this week I'm looking forward to walks and reading and maybe a little light artwork!

Seriously clever semi-type duvet cover - I will research!
Pillow's pretty firm however!