There's a big 祭り (matsuri, festival) in Kyoto called Gion Matsuri that goes throughout July and Masao and I heard sounds of some sort of procession or celebration while we were driving, but didn't see anything. Masao taught me that a common misconception is that Gion Matsuri happens in the middle of July, but events actually take place throughout the entire month! The biggest and most popular events just happen mid-month.
pictures: Kamogawa
The errands Masao had ended in Kyoto, and I was meeting Etsushi there later for dinner, so he dropped me off at 四条駅 (shijyou eki, Shijo Station) in the afternoon and I walked to the スターバ (sutaaba, Starbucks) at Sanjo Station. After studying there for a few hours I had racked up enough questions to keep Etsushi busy teaching me. He's studying to be a Japanese teacher, so he's practicing teaching techniques on me, and I'm trying to speak less stupid Japanese.
We went to eat an 大盛り (oomori, large bowl) of 塩つけラーメン (shio tsuke raamen, salty broth ramen served with the noodles serves in a separate bowl from the broth) each because we were both starving. Afterward we shopped a little, then bought a couple of beers neither of us had tried at a liquor shop and sat by 鴨川 (Kamogawa) to drink and chat.
picture: Etsushi and me with beers
The restaurants in the above picture with balcony seating to eat at are very expensive, apparently.
picture: beer from Nagano we had never tried
It was actually pretty good although just a tad on the sweet side
picture: Kamogawa at night
It was my first time back in Kyoto since two years ago. It was nice to see the river again.
Culture note: It's actually polite to slurp noodles in Japanese ramen shops because the implication is that you're so eager to eat the noodles you can't wait for them to cool down and have to blow on them. That way of eating is a compliment to the cook. Even after years of experience I have trouble with this way of eating, but I am practicing my slurping diligently!
(All names used in this blog are pseudonyms.)
