Temple 78 Goshoji walk
Walked: 9.8 miles
Slept at Utangre Zenkonyado
At Temple 77 we were presented with Ossettai of sticky rice and red beans...it weighed at least a pound...and a drink...another pound! All pilgrims, bus, car, walking received this generous offering. In spite of the extra heavy load and the threat of rain, we managed to get to our destination quite early, so we walked to a Family Mart and sat in front for over an hour using their free internet. Aaah to be 18 again when actually 67! Much of this trip seems to be designed for folks much younger and I'm constantly amazed by others' acceptance of two old-lady backpacker hitchhikers.
Siberian irises
A zenkonyado is cheap or free housing outside of a temple. Our hosts charged 1000 yen ($9.00) for a tatami room, two futons, a shower, breakfast and lunch. The generosity of the folks offering this respite for pilgrims is amazing. The other guest was an Italian pilgrim who was using the place as a base while he walked to temples without his backpack. My favorite line, "I'm Italian, I must have coffee and pastry for breakfast." To be sure, this was not offered at the zenkonyado...he had scoped out every cafe on the island.
Our lovely benefactor
A zenkonyado is cheap or free housing outside of a temple. Our hosts charged 1000 yen ($9.00) for a tatami room, two futons, a shower, breakfast and lunch. The generosity of the folks offering this respite for pilgrims is amazing. The other guest was an Italian pilgrim who was using the place as a base while he walked to temples without his backpack. My favorite line, "I'm Italian, I must have coffee and pastry for breakfast." To be sure, this was not offered at the zenkonyado...he had scoped out every cafe on the island.
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