Day 15 - Tuesday 9 June

Berlin (1).

We started our exploration of this great city by looking around the neighbourhood where we are staying - Schoneberg. And what better place to start (for Di) than Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe), the second largest department store in Europe (the largest is Harrod's).

Another beautiful building is the American Church.

We then started our own walking tour. First stop was Alexanderplatz and its world clock.

Then Bill went up the TV Tower to enjoy the panoramic views.

We then walked past the Rotes Rathaus (Town Hall) to the Nikolai Quarter, including a look into Nikolaikirche, the oldest congregational church in Berlin.

Next stop was the majestic Berliner Dom (Cathedral), including a visit to the gallery for more panoramic views.

We then walked past the Altes Museum, before detouring from Unter den Linden to the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt, which includes the Konzerthaus and German and French Cathedrals, and Di finally found a Christmas shop.

On our bus trip back to our hotel, we passed the Brandenburg Gate, Schloss Bellevue (the residence of the German President), and the Victory Column in Grosser Stern.

Day 14 - Monday 8 June

A long travel day.

Taxi from Paul & Lynaire's Tokyo apartment at 7.30 am.

Train to Narita at 8.05 am.

SAS flight to Copenhagen at 11.40 am.

7 hour time change.

SAS flight to Berlin at 7.35 pm

Bus and Taxi to hotel, arriving at 9.30 pm.

Exhausted and asleep at 10.45 pm.

Day 13 - Sunday 7 June

Tokyo.

A pleasant Sunday stroll (with a few metro rides) in Tokyo, starting in Roppongi.

Then on to Omotesando for the farmers' market.

Then Shibuya for lunch, followed by a look at Hachi (the Akita dog) statue, and the famous pedestrian crossing.

Then onto Tokyo station.

Then the nearby Kitte Building.

Followed by the Imperial Palace.

And finally, Tokyo Tower at night.

Day 12 - Saturday 6 June

Kyoto (3).

We caught a local bus to the northern area of Kyoto, to visit the Kinkajuli Temple (Golden Pavillion).

We then caught another local bus across Kyoto to the Gion area, where we walked around the lanes, which have many old traditional wooden buildings.

We continued walking to the nearby Maruyama Park, passing several more temples and shrines, and many young ladies in their traditional dress, plus 2 brides and grooms.

We followed the Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka, which are lined with restaurants and tourist shops to the impressive Kiyomizudera Temple.

We then caught a mid-afternoon bullet train back to Tokyo, just in time to watch the start of the Geelong v Essendon AFL match live on TV with Paul - Go Cats!

Day 11 - Friday 5 June

Kyoto (2).

We started the day by catching a bus to the northern part of the Higashiyama district. Here we visited the Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavillion), which is surrounded by a beautiful garden.

We then began a delightful 2.3 kilometre walk along the "Philosopher's Path", which has several temples near to it.

We visited the Honen-in Temple.

After completing the "Philosopher's Path", we visited the nearby Nanzenji Temple, which has the massive Sanmon entrance gate.

After having a lunch at a local restaurant, we walked to the Heian-jingu Shrine, which also has a beautiful garden.

As the the rain became heavier, and no respite forecast, we decided on an early return to our hotel.

Day 10 - Thursday 4 June

Kyoto (1).

Mid-morning we caught a local train from Kyoto station - great roof - to the Saga and Arashiyama areas.

We walked through centuries-old lanes, then continued through amazing bamboo groves (passing an elderly Japanese man dressed for war)  to the beautiful Okochi-sanso Villa Garden and the Tenryu-ji Temple.

We then continued walking to the Togetsu-kyo Bridge, passing some girls in tradtional dress, then onto the quaint Arashiyama station, with a relieving foot spa and the Pond for Dragon.

After a local lunch, we caught another local train, then subway to the amazing Teramachi-dori Street and Nishiki-Ichiba Market.

We returned to our hotel, first for Bill to go to the hotel's public bath in an undersized jinbei, followed by dinner.