Hobbity photos

Not really Hobbiton, just the Japanese equivalent Hide Folk Village.

Nagoya, Takayama and home again

Sorry it's been a while, but I am rather lazy you know. I am currently planning what to do with Dad and Ishbel when they get here, so I have to finish off my Tales with Mum sharpish.
After Kyoto, we headed back to Nagoya so I could go to work (fun fun), and Mum caught up on some much deserved relaxation time. Jo very kindly showed her around the dizzy sights of Nagoya for a day while I was working. On wednesday we headed up to Takayama for a day. We had to get up at sparrowfart to get there but it was worth it. The train ride up there winds through lush green mountains and quiet valleys, the scenery is beautiful. We hired bikes and rode around the city, and tried some of the local Hida beef for lunch. Melts in your mouth. We rode up to Hide (Hee-day) village - not a good idea up a huge hill in the blazing sun - but the old houses (taken from around Japan and huddled together in one easily tourist-accessible spot) gave an interesting sense of what rural Japan looked like before the 20th century. After the village we free-wheeled back into town and caught the train home, knackered. Mum's sunburn came out, and so did an incredible crop of hives brought on by mosquito bites. Ouch.
And those darned mosquito bites and hives kind of put a damper on the rest of Mum's holiday for her, as she didn't want to stray from the air conditioner.
It was great to see her, but it would have been nicer if she hadn't ended the holiday covered in lumps. Japan is a dangerous country.
Though it seems to have forgiven me somewhat lately. Since it's turned cooler, my skin has calmed down dramatically. This makes me very happy.