I was woken by drumming albeit distant. Oh yes - the parade
– how could I forget Gion Matasuri? This festival was first held in 869AD to
give thanks for the deliverance from a plague which had ravaged the region. It
also marks the beginning of summer after the rainy season. Now the present
temperatures of up to 35C will go between 35C and 40C. and accompanied by high
humidity.
I thought we were very fortunate to strike a parade. Our
guide for yesterday afternoon tour had told us all about it and suggested we
walk two blocks along, two blocks the left then down one of the side streets to
see the construction of the floats. Ten were expected – each towed by 40
people. Apparently it would be a good time to see them in the cool of the
evening. How lucky were we? The floats are kept in storage when not in use and
then ceremoniously taken out to be reconstructed each year. They are totally
held together by string and are about 6 metres high and on four huge wheels
about 1 ½ metres high. I imagined I wold see dragons and things but no – just
the carriage. But the people!!!
The police were on every corner directed the crowds, yelling
loudly and waving red light batons. We saw a great gateway of bright white
lanterns shining up a street and followed the crowd. I don’t know how the
Japanese do it but they just seemed to flow, in a liquid form, around me, but I
couldn’t see the opening to move forward. Just before the wagon were school
children seated and singing; a stall selling stuff and giving out samples of
sake. I later asked Hop what it was liked but he said the sample was too small
to tell. Maybe they knew he wasn’t going to buy any. When we finally arrived at
the wagon all we could see were some ladies climbing up a staircase erected
inside a tent that covered the entire construction. Lots of ladies were wearing
kimonos as per the tradition. I noticed the huge wheels having ladles of water
poured over them. The main part of the huge “thing” was red and gold but
covered with clear plastic curtains. There were lots of young and not so young
men around wearing black and white outfits – jackets and straight legged pants
– the “pullers” of the wagon. All was very exciting – well they were all
excited. The whole populace turns out for this apparently. Even Mums with
little babies sleeping, oblivious to the noise, in front carriers. There was
actually no crush – a funny thing as I recall now. All I know is that they
moved to no space and overtook me easily, without touching any one.
We had intended getting up for the parade BUT…when the drum
woke me at 7.40 I tried to ignore it. It thumped out again several times. The
parade was due to start at 9 am. Hoppy did stir but shame to wake him. Suddenly
it was 10 o’clock!!! Time for the cuppa. We had to check out at 11. For once I
wasn’t organised, in fact Hoppy had packed before me – well I was impressed til
I found some of his gear still in the wardrobe. He wasn’t impressed – didn’t
have any room left in his little case. We had travelled light for these three
days. Reception rang at 11.15 to see if we were checking out.
I was less impressed later when I realised I couldn’t find
my kindle anywhere. If it’s not in my little bag I’ve left it on the shinkasen
–what a disaster.
Yes maybe we should have got up earlier to see the parade
but the thought of that crowd again!!! There was every possibility we wouldn’t
be able to see a darn thing. Anyway later on, as we walked the streets waiting
for our 5.35 pm pick-up, we happened upon the dismantling process. Interesting.
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