Seeing Kyoto in Someone Else's Shoes
We had a wonderful time in Kyoto over Thanksgiving weekend. The historical temples and shrines were beautiful set among the autumn leaves. The first day we took a half-day sightseeing tour, which was a great way to orient ourselves to the city. Our first stop was Nijo Castle, which was built in the early 1600's by Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. (A shogun was in charge of samurai or warriors.) Interestingly, the castle, although ornate with paintings, was very empty of material things and they sat and slept on the floor and ate off of trays as opposed to tables.

Well, like many places you visit in Japan, we had to take off our shoes before entering the castle and place them on one of many shelves for everyone's shoes. As we toured the castle, we learned about the wood floors made of Japanese cypress, which were called "nightengale" floors due to the fact that they squeak with every step. This was done on purpose so that no one could sneak up on the shogun to attack.

I guess another tourist was so enthralled with this castle that he grabbed the wrong shoes. So, when we went to get our shoes, I found mine and Sydney's (yes, even Sydney had to take off her shoes) right where we left them. But Brian was left standing there in his gold toe's with no shoes to be found! The tour guide was sympathetic, but said I should "convince him" to wear these other shoes that were left behind...obviously they belonged to whomever took Brian's! They should sell shoes at the Handicraft center where the tour ends! Needless to say, Brian was hesitant to leave his shoes again...although deep down I think he hoped he might end up with a better pair at one of the other temples or shrines we visited!