There are times when news that wouldn't be welcome under other circumstances comes as something of a blessing. A bleak Kyoto morning, when checkout time is late, and the only item on the must do list is a transfer to Kobe, is one of them.
Madam had pencilled in a visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha, which sits conveniently close to Kyoto Station and the hotel, but, to be frank I wasn’t that keen. Leaden skies and drizzle, if not actual rain was enough to kill off whatever enthusiasm I could muster, and, in any case I'd had my fill of temples and shrines this time around.
You can, after all, have too much of a good thing.
There was, however, one slight issue that could have been raised in the wake of the morning's descent to the lobby for another go at Japan's Number Three Breakfast Viking. After two goes at it, we probably need something like a twelve hour route march every day for the next week to work off the excess poundage.
That substantial intake every morning has, on the other hand, significant advantages since it keeps us going until dinner time and makes things like the previous day's temple ramble possible. Part of the reason we covered as much territory as we did lay in the fact that we didn't have to divert for lunch.
In any case, something like this morning's selection will definitely keep you going all day. Admittedly, I went back for smoked salmon and pastries (two croissants and a chocolate Danish), but I had the self control to avoid visiting the sweets section of the buffet, except for a momentary passing snapshot just to point out that, yes, you can have dessert for breakfast.
Madam couldn't resist, and though she suggested I might enjoy the chocolate mousse that was on offer I was able to resist its siren song.
From there, we headed back upstairs, where I busied myself with Travelogue work until around eleven-fifteen. That seemed to be the right time to gather up the goods and chattels, bundle as much as possible into The Blue Bag and prepare for departure on the two leg trip to Kobe.