bless thy kuruma

after a wander around our local shrine (sumiyoshi taisha) in all its serenity of gardens, terapin pools, humpback bridge and general beauty I questioned why I could see a car being driven through the edge of the garden area. on a closer glance some time later it transpired the car was being driven to a kind of 'drive- thru' vehicle blessing area. actually I give the impression there was a queue and it was an ugly scene but in actual fact it was all pretty low-key aside some foreigners making a song and dance and taking pictures. still rather surprised I later read that sumiyoshi taisha, an important historical landmark, was once situated on the coast (reclaimed land now means it's several miles inland) and the kami (shinto gods) here are believed to protect travellers. thus, a good place to start my parents trip and equally for locals to bring their new toyota corolla.