34. and final chapter, last strolls and final flood of images

The last two days were reserved for my favorite spots in Kyoto. I actually wanted to go to the rapids in Arashiyama, but it was just too cold.
So I strolled over the Philosopher's Path two or three more times, now almost leafless and quite empty; the tourist season is over, at least there are hardly any Western groups left.
Wonderful peace, and all the cats are still there: the stub-tailed cat, the brown one, the black one, and the two white-spotted ones come eagerly running when a new cat feeder pedals up, filling the bowls and pouring fresh water from a brought bottle into the pot. One more petting.
Most cafés and shops are closed all morning because hardly anyone passes by, but when I’m on my way back later, they have hopefully opened again.
Continuing to Nanzen-ji, admiring the gate again and stroking the old thick wooden pillars, sitting by the aqueduct and climbing up, observing the swiftly flowing water from Lake Biwa and listening to the rushing water. The last maple trees with their delicate small leaves still shine very red and very yellow.
Then heading back north for one last ramen at the noodle shaker. I actually wanted to try the fish ramen, but something went wrong; thick slices of pork float on the noodle soup, but it still tastes good. He seems to be in a bad mood today, his wife and the young helper are being quite rushed and corrected in their diligent work, but maybe he’s just joking.
Actually, I wanted to have a coffee afterwards in the beautiful old Café Mo-an in the middle of the forest, which I had also forgotten in the meantime but remembered just at the last moment, and I indeed climb a medium-small mountain just to find out that it is unfortunately closed for a few days.
Over the bridge, I quickly look at the river one last time and wave to the eagles and storks before, to my utmost surprise, I find two new interesting places on the other side of the river: a state-of-the-art café with a photogallery and an exhibition featuring people who look very American but come from an island not far from Tokyo and have developed a completely unique culture and way of life during recent history, both before and after the war, and whose inhabitants are even classified as a separate