Notching It Down in Nara

NARA

Deer are the mascot for Nara, for good reason
they are everywhere in Nara Park.

We arrived in Nara before around 9pm at Komachi Guest House, a small tiny but efficient place near the JR Rail Station.  The owner was hesitant for three people to stay in a double occupancy room as the rooms were fairly small ~ maybe a four feet wide space between the bed and the wall, with streamline bathroom, shower area behind a sliding glass door at the foot of the bed. 

Below is the small kitchen for guest use which Sony, thankfully was able to prepare a few meals for us. 

this is the lobby bathroom,
 check out the mini sink!

manhole cover

We started out from the guest house walking towards Nara Park where we planned on taking it easy in the warm sun, this Sunday afternoon, reading and/or playing scrabble on the iPad when we came across several shopping areas.  American Christmas carols were piped into an open street mall reminding us all that the holidays were drawing near with decorations everywhere.  We continued to walk and play scrabble...

Interesting shops, displays and offerings

Love these turtles basking in the sun...

Here's Leo asking young Nihongo girls how to pronounce Kohfukuji Temple.  You can guess what he's hoping to hear in return.  I'm snickering as this photo is being taken, as is Sony in the background as she takes her turn at Scrabble. BTW ~ Sony was generally the winning player.

Leo taking his turn at Scrabble

Vending machines are the norm ~ you can purchase large cartons of alcohol, hot and cold drinks.

On the way to Todaiji Temple

Todaiji is the largest all wooden structure in the world!

This buddha is impressive in not only size but in presence and grandeur.  It is flanked by protecting guards, and other buddha statues.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch in the super efficient and tiny guesthouse kitchen, Sony prepared dinner after hitting the % percentage off deal at the local grocery store.  For dinner:  soba noodles, saba and bread and of course...green tea ice cream bars! 

Nara was notched down from Kyoto on several levels though we found Nara to be less interesting and vibrant than Kyoto .  It worked out well for us to train it back to Kyoto a couple of times, continuing on our quest to visit temples, zig zagging across town from one to the other.