One of the charming things I discovered in Kyoto are the covered shopping arcades. In several areas of the city, the street is roofed for several blocks. That provides much need shade and relief from the hot summer sun as well as rain. The effect is wonderful. The street becomes a long, often sinuous tunnel where surprises await.
More below the fold.
That was the name of my first lunch in translation. It was quite delicious. Looks nice, too, doesn’t it?
The restaurant was on the Teramachi-dori, one of the covered shopping arcades in Kyoto, and despite its having a French name, my lunch had a very Japanese feel and taste to it. The pork slices were a fattier cut than I was used to and tender enough to practically melt on my tongue. The vegetables were sautéed lightly so they still retained their crunch. The sauce was tangy, sweet from the rum and slightly acidic (I suspect from vinegar). A healthy sprinkling of freshly ground pepper gave the salad a nice bite. The meal was a real delight on a hot afternoon. It was 95 degrees Farenheit with a heat index of close to 105. The only thing a little out of sync was the potage. It was hearty enough for the coldest winter night, but it was so good I couldn’t resist finishing it.
Arriving at Kyoto Station was a bit of a blur. After nineteen-and-a-half hours of straight travel, that should be no surprise. Despite that, I will always remember the moment in the taxi on the way to the hotel when I saw her. She was dressed in a long, white skirt and white top and she was carrying a white umbrella. That might not seem so strange except that she was also riding a bicycle in the pouring rain. She crossed in front of the taxi as while it was waiting at a light and disappeared into a narrow street. Pure magic.