Recap, Odds & Ends...

If today is Friday, this must be Kanazawa.

A week ago today...or was it a week ago yesterday...tomorrow, this adventure began? 

This is the problem with time travel (crossing the international date line).

Oh well...Trip so far: Vancouver, BC; Tokyo, Kawagicho (Mt Fuji), Matsumoto, Nagano (4 hour stop) & now Kanazawa. Today I have a private guide to take me around the city. Wonder how many steps THAT will be?!

A quick recap on yesterday: I stopped off at Nagano, site of the 1998 Winter Olympics. Walked from the station up towards the Temple.

The above marks the spot where crowds would celebrate the winners

While walking the grounds around the temple, passed numerous monks along the way...I came upon what appeared to be a photo shoot:

Photo shoot

Things learned along the way:
- In Tokyo, there are designated “pink” train cars during rush hour, for women only. 
- Some rail lines/stations where there aren’t conductors/guards, music plays instead of bells or whistles, to warn passengers that the doors are closing.
- oddly, while we are very sensitive about cultural appropriation, here, you can rent kimonos.
- on the roads, sidewalks, train platforms, and inside buildings there are raised patterns on the ground,  for the blind.
- I’m not sure if it is everywhere, but taxis are flat rate in Matsumoto. 
- Train conductors bow when they enter a carriage, and before leaving, turn and bow.

Enough random thoughts...for now...