surprising Wednesday

I went to Kyoto to visit my grandparents grave alone this Wednesday.I usually go there twice a year( at the begining of Janually and Obon season in August) The weather was very nice on Wednesday so I decided to go. It takes about 1.5 hour from my house to grave. I made use of car and train.

At first I went around on foot near from Kamo river.Kamo river is well known to everyone. There were many people who were running,walking, taking a rest,playing musical instrument.

Second, I went to swimming school club because I had been learning swimmimg from elementary school to
high school student. After I graduated from high school, I never visited there.
I saw an old building. My heart was filled with emotion. I noticed that there was a man near from me.
To my surprising, he is my good friend husband. He is working in the swimming school.
I talked to him about 15 minutes. He also has children who are the same age as my children.
We enjoyed chatting.

Third, I went to Yasaka Shinto shrine because my grandprents grave is located next to it.
There were so many Japanese school trip students and travellers. I saw many red leaves.
I arrived at grave. I cleaned it and pray (talk?to my grand parents).

When I was about to return, I heard someone was talking in English beside me.
I saw 2 foreign female travellers.
I tried to say hello to them."Can I help you?"

One woman is from Germany and another woman is from Australia.
According to them, they got to know each other for 2 hours ago at the train station.
That was amazing. I suggested them to go sightseeing together because I wanted to guide them.
We decided to go around kiyomizu temple.

We saw some Maiko in Gion. There are many Geisha and Maiko in Gion area.
Geisha are traditional female entertainers.The trainees are called Maiko.
I asked them to take a picture together.

☆about Geisha and Maiko☆

They are performers of the traditional arts.　Geisha start out as a trainee.　You can tell a Maiko from a full Geisha by the length of the sash she wears on her kimono.The Maiko wears long,hanging sash and a full Geisha wears a short one.After some years of training, Maiko become Geisha.

After that we went toward kiyomizu temple. There were too many travellers. We visited some souvenior shops, took a rest to have some tea, taking some pictures.

I could not imagine that I was able to enjoy spending time with foreign travellers before I came to Kyoto.

Time went by very quickly and I had to return home.
When I said good bye to German woman, she gave a gift for me.

I was very glad to see them and that was surprising day!  I think that probably grandparents gave a nice present for me...