SAYONARA JAPAN

Thank you Japan for a wonderful experience.  It is so difficult to choose which photograph for our Sayonara.  The cities, the architecture, the crowds, the efficiency or the tradition, the mountains, the forests, the temples?  Above all else it will be the people we remember.  The politeness, the respect, the courtesy and most of all the smiles.  Arigato Japan. 

FACES OF TOKYO

Officialdom

HAPPY FRIDAY

Faces of Tokyo

SENSO-JI TEMPLE TOKYO

Senso-Ji is an ancient Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. It is Tokyo's oldest temple and one of its most significant.  It is enormous!

DOWNTOWN TOKYO

Where it all happens.

SHIBUYA CROSSING

Billed as the busiest crossing in the world and we can understand why!

SAMURAI

Meanwhile in Matsumoto ...

RICE PADDY SUNDAY

The staple.

HAPPY SATURDAY

From Japan with Love.

TSUMAGO

On the Nakasendo Trail.

JAPANESE FEAST

After our walk along a small section of the Nakasendo Trail we returned to our Ryokan in Tsumago (Hanaya Inn) to an impressive table of Japanese delights.  Photo courtesy of Ashish a fellow Intrepid Traveler. 

AS THE LIGHT FALL SO TOO DOES THE WATERFALL

Imagine our delight when on a walk through an ancient Japanese forest off the Nakasendo trail on the way to Tsumago we discovered this magical waterfall. As the light falls so too does the waterfall.

MAGOME-JUKU - WATER WHEEL

On day 7 of our Japanese Journey we left the big cities behind and found ourselves in Magome-Juku the 43rd of the 69 stations of the Nakasendo, an ancient road that connected Kyoto and Edo duing the Edo Period. Magome-Juku is an old post town complete with water wheel as you can see.  Tomorrow on to the next post town,Tsumago, and a trek through the forest.  Can't wait to show you the waterfall.

GREAT TORII GATE

The giant, orange Great Torii Gate to Itsukushima Shrine at low tide.  Understandably a World Heritage Site.  

HOMEWARD BOUND

After 3 weeks walking through a dream in France it is back to Melbourne for Mr & Mrs J.  It might take a while to build a fresh collection but we hope to bring you our daily photo from the most populous southern city on the globe tomorrow. All walked out - Mr & Mrs J.

PALAIS DES PAPES - POPES PALACE - AVIGNON

Three weeks and a third location - Avignon, France.  When we turned the corner we thought we were on a film set.  Gulp - it was real!  This is the Popes Palace one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe.  This papal residence was the seat of Western Christianity during the 14th Century.  A time when the Popes resided in France.  Astounded J&J.

D'ARTAGNAN - LYON

It was as if there was a surprise around every corner. Could that be D'Artagnan heading towards us? All for one and one for all .... Cheers J&J.

CAROUSEL - LYON

Not only do the carousels spin across Paris they also spin in Lyon. We discovered this on in Place de La Republique. Cheers from Mr & Mrs J.

FONTAINE BARTHOLDI - LYON

Frozen in mid stride these horses have been gracing Place Des Terreaux in Lyon since 1892.  Bon Vivant J&J.

PASSERELLE PAUL-COUTURIER

From old Lyon to new Lyon over the Saone River on the Passerelle Paul-Couturier Bridge. Bon Vivant J&J.