While on vacation, all food is magically calorie-free, just as all wines, beers and spirits are alcohol-free. Hence, truffle cake washed down with wine is a perfectly sensible breakfast.
Sure, continental Europe causes me to gain on average a kilo per week, but this is mere coincidence.

I uploaded this meme to ChatGPT and asked it to check the veracity of its claims. Only the Danish purchase of the French-Italian weapons system over US Patriot system proved wholly factual according to ChatGPT.

Thank you! I’m happy to read this. After all, the main purpose of this account is to introduce people to the finer points of Japan. 😊

Finished our tour as the temple was closing. Got a brief bus ride down to Maruyama Park! From there, a city bus down Shijo, back to the hotel and the Hankyu then Hanshin trains home.

More pictures of the garden.

Paid the 400 yen admission to the garden, which was spectacular.

We wandered over to Chionin, just to the north of Maruyama Park. Despite walking through Maruyama Park countless times, this was the first time in 36 years in Japan that we had visited Chionin.

Monday, the other three went home at noon, the remaining two of us went walk-about. Been here dozens of times, but seldom this early in the day.

Three of our party split off to go to the covered shopping arcades. Two soldiered on, visiting Nishi-Hongan Temple and Higashi-Hongan Temple.

Rained all day Sunday, quite heavy at times. Pictures not allowed inside Nijo Castle.

Of course we took pictures with the Hieizan sign.

By the time we got there, the World Heritage Enryaku Temple complex was closed, but a garden atop the mountain was open. It was a bit too hazy to enjoy the view.