Oye! We ate and drank too much!

Desserts

Rice Course

Best Steak Ever

Toji Temple

What do you call a bin full of Chop Sticks?

Today was our last full day in Kyoto. Tomorrow we take 2 trains to reach the Benyia Onsen. It will, I am sure provide a respite from Tokyo and Kyoto.

We started the day by going to the Flea Market located at the Ancient and historic Toji Temple. The flea market is huge and jam-packed with people buying and selling. It is very crowded and you have to struggle to work you way through the hoards of people. Cathy and I were also trying to make sure we didn't get separated in the morass of shoppers. 

We spent several hours walking around and in the end didn't buy anything! We saw Samurai swords, dinnerware, clothing, tons of old Kimonos (this is for you Doshi), etc.

We eventually taxied back the hotel and did a preliminary packing. The hotel offers exceptional service. I wanted to get a shave and they recommended a barber about a 15 minute walk from the hotel. When I was ready to leave, one of the young women who worked at the hotel escorted me all the way to the barber shop. It was a like a living breathing Google Map experience but prettier. The shave was exceptional, in fact the best I have ever had. For some reason not only did he trim and shave my face and beard he used the straight razor to shave between my eyebrows and even along the top of my nose and the exterior of my ears. If you are ever have an encounter with a barber with a straight razor in his hand you will quickly learn what I did, don't argue with him! In fact I was in fear of coughing or sneezing as he was shaving me. I must say though that now my face is as smooth as a babies ass.

I walked back to the hotel alone, no living breathing Google Map to escort me. We had cocktails in the hotel bar, and were ready for dinner. Once again the hotel provided us with an escort to guide and walk us to the restaurant: Yonemura. This is a 2-star Michelin Guide Restaurant. We had eaten there 2 previous times. This time we were surprised that the food had become much more elaborate. We liked it on our previous more than this time. The food was excellent, but much of it way to elaborate for our taste. The meal was exhausting and when they brought us first one plate of desserts and then when we finished they brought us each a tray with 6 more desserts. It was overkill of a good thing. One thing for sure: the steak was the best we have ever eaten. The meat was extremely rich and tasty. They serve it with two sauces: A Soy based sauce and surprisingly a Miso based Sauce. They served 2 two different types of steaks, each one about an inch square. No giant t-bones here! We didn't feel like the portion should be bigger it was just perfect, the meat was so rich.

We staggered down the street back to our hotel and fell into bed. Too full but content.