Kyoto, Friday June 18 — Tsuyu, or the rainy season, hit today — making for soggy sightseeing but bringing temperatures down to the pleasant 70s. We tackled the crowds at the Kinkakuji or Golden Pavilion, the most famous of Kyoto landmarks, a gilded temple on the edge of a white and purple lotus filled pond. Quite lovely despite the crowds. We also visited the famous rock garden, Ryoanji, which was packed with Japanese high school students, some of whom interviewed us for a school project to practice their English. Then it was off to the Toei Eiga Mura, a theme park built around the sets actually used in samurai movies. We watched a live samurai/ninja show, which delighted Will and Ibrahim with all the sword fights and acrobatics. Soaked, we then made our way to a soba shop, Owariya, dating back 400 years– they had photos of the current crown prince eating there– but it was pleasantly low-key and delicious.

We then ventured to a covered food market selling everything from smoked fish ovaries (Asma identified them, much to her horror), to fresh local vegetables and tiny whole fish will gobbled from the sample trays. Will and ibrahim had on their matching japanese soccer jerseys so they drew comments everywhere– kawaii or cute” the boys want to wear them every day — fortunately we can wash them at night and they are dry morning. We are now back at the hotel, about to head out for our final adventure — a walk down a narrow red-lantern lined street called Pontocho that includes a shrine to a raccoon that is credited with saving a neighborhood from a fire 25 years ago. And you know will is crazy about raccoons!

Will’s favorite memory of the day: the ninja place. Not that he is totally without culture– this morning he told us he wanted to go see some temples!!!