Around 8:30 on a weekday morning, the Imperial Palace area near Palaceside Building is the usual mix of people on the way to work, joggers, and walkers. The forecast said the high would pass 30 degrees, but in the morning it still felt bearable.
I thought I might report on the spotbill duck family this blog has introduced, but sadly I did not see them on Ote-bori that day.
Instead, one swan stood near the stone wall around Ote-mon. For my old, weak digital camera the distance felt long — and then it glided right toward me. What, are the Palace swans full of service spirit?? No: a misunderstanding. It was only heading for a slightly farther bank. Hidden in tree shade, a young woman on her jog seemed to be feeding it.
Closer, the swan calmly pecked a few bits of what looked like torn bread and soon left. Several carp took over the spot. Their appetite was hearty.
A calm, ordered little harmony — one morning frame of Ote-bori and Kikyo-bori, as usual.