Things I have learned in the last 24 hours

• The rapido train from Kyoto to Nara takes 30 minutes. If it should happen to be cancelled, the local train takes 80. It's a nice train trip
• There are deer in downtown Nara wandering around the streets. They cross at the zebra crossing!!
• Little, tiny 8 seat bar restaurants cook the food in front of you and serve delightful, top class but slightly Westernised food
• I do not eat raw chicken, no matter how well cured it is!!!!!!!
• If you are wandering through the extensive Nara parklands and have deer biscuits in your hand, you might want to give them to the deer.  Otherwise they nudge you. And push you. And even bite you. They stop biting you if you smack them lightly on the nose
• Apparently, some deer have learned to bow if they want to be fed.  I saw no bowing deer!!!!!!!
• Little cafes in shopping arcades will sell you delicious but Americanised toast and eggs for breakfast
• Little cafes out off the beaten track will sell you inexpensive but authentically Japanese tempura dishes
• If you already have a blister on he ball of your foot, it would be wise to wear a pair of socks with your sandals, no matter how much that is frowned on. A band aid might not be a bad idea either
• If you have trouble locating toilets, heading somewhere hot and humid would be a plan. You can drink gallons of liquid and barely need to pee at all. 
• The Japanese provide umpteen public loo facilities and signpost them well
• If you book into a hotel which offers you the choice between a new room (Lindsey and Ian, Emily) or an old style one (Frannie and Jim) take the old style one
• Nara is beautiful
• You should all come at once. The Nara festival starts tomorrow :-)
• We are going to Nagoya tomorrow and miss the festival by one day. On the other hand, Nara is quiet and peaceful and unhurried. This might not be the case during the festival!!

Deer, the signature animal of Nara

Click on the photo for the Kyoto & Nara album