kyoto: day THREE

Day three was spent in Arashiyama, not too far from our apartment. As expected, all the sites were very crowded but understandably so. The crowds can make the temples hard to appreciate - I should have turned the camera 90 degrees and let you see the line of people gathered beside me.  The scenery was amazing though. Our first stop was Tenru-ji Temple and it was probably our favorite of the trip. We thought this stop would also be equally nice during Cherry Blossom season.

Right outside the gates is the entrance to the Bamboo Path so we battled the crowds down it as well. Then back into town for lunch before walking up the mountain to a monkey park. Monkeys are not my favorite since being charged by one in India for my granola bar. So I was wary but knew the kids would like them. Wiley was excited and talked on and on about monkeys but then fell asleep during the long walk up and missed them entirely. The ice cream was perhaps a bigger hit than any other activity planned that day. I guess spectacular leaves don't rank too high on toddler to-do lists. The Golden Pavilion was on our way home and it was truly very golden. We lost B's hat here :(. 

We had reservations for dinner at a Yakitori place (grilled "meats" - mostly bits and bobs) and Graham hit up the onsen again after dinner. We were settling into our routine.