A Crabby Day (that's a good thing)

Since arriving in Kyoto, Gemma has been very excited to repeat her favorite activity from her previous visit to Kyoto as a Kindergartner--capturing tiny crabs that live in the rocky streams of a certain temple grounds.  We struck out on our quest on our first day here.  I think it was too sunny and warm for them to want to be outside (good weather for me, bad for crabs).  So we tried again yesterday and SUCCESS!  A happy nine-year-old :)

Really though, you cannot fail in Kyoto.  This is just a random shrine on a quiet street corner.  Simply wandering around is outstanding entertainment in this city.

Gemma and I capped off our day with a fun, fabulous, adventurous meal at a restaurant serving traditional Japanese dishes, Kyoto style--many small bites of various foods served in beautiful, interesting containers.  No one working at the restaurant spoke English, so Gem and I ordered by pointing to a sample in the front window.  Gemma picked the meal you see above.  Really, the only things we could identify with any certainty were the cucumbers, tempura, Japanese omelet,  four little sashimi bites, and the sticky rice in the little pot.  The rest was a mystery!  Gemma tried at least a bite of everything!  

We're loving Japan!

Michelle