Today we visited Nijo Castle in Kyoto

Mrs. Aoki a friend for many years took us to Nijo Castle.  Mrs. Aoki is the mother of an exchange student that stayed with us in Pakrer some 24 years.  Her son Katsutoshi was 14 at the time.  We had fun showing him the USA.  Mrs. Aoki also helped us find a place to stay with teachers when we came to Nagano Olympics and then she and Katsutoshi came to visit us in Nagano.  We like her very much.  Shelby liked that the floors of the Nijo Castle creaked to warn the guards someone was near.  This was a castle for the Shogun.  It has a beautiful garden and moat to protect it.  Shelby and Luke like the fish.  Then we went to have lunch at a very nice hotel.  It was Japanese style and very delicious ---we has tempura and Martin has sushi.  The kids preferred rice.  The waitresses were in typical Japanese kimonos and very beautiful.  We will send pictutres to the blog when we get home in four days. We are sorry there are no pictures but for some reason the pictures will not go nor will the writing when we send them together.  Judi