(Tuesday 3rd April 2018, Nagoya)
I believe this was the day of the ill-fated trip from Arashiyama ('Where the Cherry Blossom is so Beautiful, Even Business Sense Goes Out The Window!') to Nagoya.
 |
| I think I get it |
We woke up after a decent night's slumber, got packed, left our key in the box as instructed, and made our way to the station, where we said our fond farewells to the sunny cherry blossom and boarded a train to Katsura, where we would change to some other line retracing our steps back to Kyoto, and the bullet train (seats booked on the 10:26) would fire us off to Nagoya. As soon as we got on the carriage, I took off my backpack that had all my important stuff on it including MacBook, hard drive, passport and wallet, and put it on the overhead luggage rack.
 |
| The steps to enlightenment are many |
On reflection we decided that the only place the owners of the guest house had gone wrong was not having the room cleaned, aired and tidied by the time we arrived (6pm). If it had, everything would probably have been fine. All they need is a receptionist and a trustworthy cleaner and their business would sky rocket, because their building is in great nick and in a perfect location and they could greatly increase their reputation, prices and profits.
 |
| Water to purify hands before entering the shrine grounds |
When we got off the train at Katsura, changed lines and boarded the second train I realised I felt quite light. Something was missing. A weight had been lifted from my shoulders, literally. Then it hit me. I'd left my backpack on the other train.
 |
| Another solar field whisks by |
But because this wasn't the first time this had happened to me I wasn't particularly worried, despite now being an ID-less illegal, when I went up to the train office in Katsura to attempt to explain my predicament. It was doubly fortunate that the line between Arashiyama and Katsura was only a few stations long and the trains just go back and forth all day. They'd found the bag, he said, just hop on the next train and pick it up. Which I did. At the train office there I said, "I'm the foreigner who forgot his bag on the train," and the guy immediately switched on, asked me to sign something (probably an autograph book) and gave me my bag back.
 |
| The Golden Clock in Nagoya. Not to be confused with the Silver Clock |
The only question now was would we get to Kyoto in time for our Bullet train? Yes, is the answer, with seconds to spare, but we made it. Thirty minutes later we were in sunny Nagoya.
 |
| A 3D Kabuto Mushi (horned helmet beetle) gift from a friend |
It's amazing how much better for the soul it is to meet old friends in person than on social media. There's no substitute. Social media is like Post-It Notes for the soul. Meeting in person is the full Dolby 5.1 surround sound 4K 360 degree HD experience. Had a great afternoon and evening catching up with old friends, and the intervening years just stripped away as if they'd never happened.
 |
| A glass of heady stout in Kirin City, Nagoya |
We checked into our hotel which looked nice and clean and welcoming, and carried our bags up to our room and collapsed on the bed.
 |
| The unmistakable but very cylindrical Twin Towers of Nagoya Station |
 |
| The Upside Down Whirlpool |
In the evening we wandered the warm city streets seeking nourishment, and found it in the form of fried meat fondue.
 |
| Fried meat in cheese fondue! Genius! |
 |
| A foyer to rival all foyers |
No comments:
Post a Comment