“The same people who last week were screeching about the government having concentration camps now want me to give my AR15s to that same government.

“The same people who last month were hyperventilating about the government slaughtering black people now expect me to surrender my guns to that same government.

“The same people who last year were setting stuff on fire and yipping about the government rounding up the gays and Muslims for liquidation now think it’s a good idea for me to just hand over my rifles to that same government.

“You chuckleheads need to make up your damned minds.”

— A helpful reminder from Lawdog

Just because it's sacred...


…doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.

Kids playing at Kitano Tenmangu shrine

One common place you'll hear -sama used outside of set expressions


At the airport, when airline employees are calling customers up to the counter for checkins and upgrades.

A touch of class


Not all of our adventures were outdoors. One wonderful evening was spent at Gion Hatanaka, with a Geiko and a Maiko. Great fun, and I absolutely smoked the maiko in a traditional drinking game. Sadly, while the customers had to drink a beer if they lost, the maiko merely handed over a pair of souvenir chopsticks.

Maiko dance at Gion Hatanaka

Down the Hozu again!


I still want to take this trip in the Spring, with white-water and cherry blossoms, but I was not the least bit unhappy to see it again in Autumn, especially since this time we took the scenic train up-river first.

Boatman on the Hozu River

The road less traveled


There were a lot of people at Hikone Castle (more on that later…), but when we came down the hill after seeing it, there were two paths, and the lady at the booth tried to dissuade us from heading off to the right. Not because of a problem with our tickets, or because it was off limits, or even just a longer walk, but because the other way was more popular. I’m glad we didn’t listen, because we ended up having the place to ourselves, making this the only popular tourist site where we didn’t have to worry about people getting in our pictures.

Around the back side of Hikone Castle

Cherry blossoms in November


Nikizaki Sakura (二季咲桜) trees at the Kyoto Botanical Garden.

Twice-blooming cherry trees at Kyoto Botanical Garden

A walk in the park


Toei Studio Park is a very strange place.

Cosplayers at Toei Studio Park, Kyoto

"Had a great time, wish we were there."


I’ve barely started looking at the pictures we took, but this makes a decent vacation postcard.

Kinkakuji

“Need a clue, take a clue,
 got a clue, leave a clue”