Travel: Chicago in summer

 

Travel kid takes O'Hare.

This past weekend we spent a few days in Chicago, visiting friends and family and attending a friends "new tax status party" (they got married). In addition to all the visiting, eating, and time spent at the hotel pool, we spent a day at the Museum of Science and Industry, a morning at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

 

 

The amazing train layout at the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI).

MSI is always a favorite of ours. This time we did the Coal Mine, which provided a history of the industry, and was basically the greatest reminder for the need for government regulation of industry. I was really surprised to hear that small electronic life-saving gas monitors were not required until 2001. The industry fought the requirement for the monitors for miners as they were a few hundred dollars a piece. I was also surprised to learn that Illinois is the fifth largest coal producing state in the U.S.

 

 

The mirror maze at MSI.

 

 

More mirror maze. It was part of a larger exhibit that addressed patterns found across nature.

 

 

MSI explorations.

 

 

One of us simply can't get enough of the trains.

I hadn't been to the Gardens since I believe junior high or high school, and Joe had never been. The Gardens are a wonderful treat, and a great way to spend a beautiful day. In addition to the Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Bonsai Garden, English Garden, and Waterfall Garden, we (not surprisingly) spent a while in their fantastic Train Garden. 

 

 

English Gardens.

 

With Grandpa and the bonsai.

At first little dude wasn't too interested in the bonsai, until he discovered those with paths and multiple trees. He called them Totoro bonsai.

 

 

Waterfall Garden.

 

 

Train Garden.

The Train Garden was a really neat layout (and having a small train enthusiast around, I do feel that I have gained some expertise in the matter). They have included monuments from all over the U.S., including Wrigley Field, complete with miniature ivy, and Old Faithful and Yellowstone Lodge (above). 

 

 

Japanese Garden.

When I was small, I can remember the Japanese Garden making a big impression on me. It was similar to how I remember it, but it was very cool to see it after having seen so many in Japan over the past few years. 

 

 

Frangos to take home to remember our trip.

  

Kyoto 京都

So excited to ride the Shinkansen!!!

 Over the winter holidays, we took a trip to Kyoto. The primary purpose of the trip was so I could view an exhibition of objects from the collection of the imperial family, but we also took advantage of the opportunity to visit friends and tour around the city, which is always a favorite destination.

 Tokyo-Kyoto train tickets.

 Mt. Fuji as seen from the Shinkansen.

 Treasures of the Imperial Collections at the National Museum of Modern Art Kyoto. Research in action!

 The impressive gate of the Heian Shrine as seen from the National Museum of Modern Art.

 The Heian Shrine, busy during New Years season.

 Random garden along the Philosophers Path.

 Walking the Philosopher's Path. The hiking and nature component of our trip was definitely a highlight for little man.

After viewing the exhibition I needed to see in the morning, we set off walking, hitting up the Heian Shrine and the Philosopher's Path, and then onto a quick late lunch before visiting Ginkakuji in the late afternoon. Ginkakuji was built in the late 15th century (1482) as a shogunal villa, and was later converted to a temple.

 Ginkakuji.

The 15th century Ginkakuji.

Gardens at Ginkakuji.

Little dude dropping in a coin and "making a wish" at a small Shinto shrine at Ginkakuji.

We walked up the hilly path on the temple grounds, looking out over the temple and the city beyond.

Leaving the temple grounds.

A cool bonsai flower arrangement near the exit. 

After Ginkakuji, we walked down the shopping street that is at the gate to the temple and spotted a place for ice cream.

Did we get ice cream? My expression tells all.

Temperatures in the 40s? No problem. I will eat my matcha (green tea) ice cream with gloves. Bonus- it won't melt.

After a long day of travel and walking, little dude passed out on the bus after Ginkakuji and ice cream. We took the opportunity to hop off the bus at the 1,200 year old Yasaka Shrine and do some walking near Gion.

Joe and Yasaka Shrine.

Girly girls out for a New Years shrine visit. 

Kenninji

After walking through Gion, we ended up at Kenninji, a Zen temple dating to 1202.

At the end of the night, back near Kyoto Station, looking up at Kyoto Tower before heading to our hotel.

On our second day in Kyoto, we headed out towards the Arashiyama area, where our first destination was the bamboo forest.

Bamboo!

We made our way to Nonomiya Shrine, which is in the midst of the bamboo.

Nonomiya Shrine- so many foxes!

A magical little village we found beside the walking path.

So much bamboo!

 

The forest was quite large, and the bamboo impressively tall.

 

We found our way back to the river after walking through the forest. It was chilly, but not unpleasant to be outdoors.

The famous Togetsukyo (moon crossing) Bridge of Arashiyama.

Lunch!

Our after-lunch destination was the Monkey Park! Here, one can walk up a steep mountain path and visit the wild macaques that live on the hillisde.

Who is the observed and who is the observer?

After the monkey park we spent the afternoon visiting with friends who live in Kyoto, and enjoying a slow paced dinner of okonomiyaki. The best kind of finish to a great day of travel.

Day three started at Sanjusangendo, where we saw the 1,000 eight-hundred-year-old life-sized Kannon sculptures of the temple.

No photos inside, but the outside is still beautiful!

Our second destination of the day was Kyoto Tower. This was a spot we had passed by but never visited in our many trips to Kyoto, but as little man wanted to go, we went. It was actually pretty cool.

Going up?

The view of the city from the top.

Our final stop of the day was Fushimi Inari Shrine, which we visited with another friend and her mom and baby.

Group photo!

The gates of Fushimi Inari, one of my favorite Kyoto area sites.

At the end of the day, little dude was asleep in his stroller, and we had some time before our evening Shinkansen back to Tokyo. We took a stroll around Kyoto Station, viewing the pagoda of Toji Temple in the evening light.

Shinkansen back to Tokyo!