We woke up, had breakfast, then finally left the building. We spent about 4 hours out shopping in the old quarter of Hanoi. I can't say where we went (some of the gifts might be for you), but we went all over. Took a taxi from the hotel and walked 90% of the way back (we hired another taxi for the other 10% - it was brutally hot and we were pooped).
The streets here in the old quarter are named for the items that are sold on that street. Way way back (~1100 years ago) groups of people (I want to say clan but that isn't the right word) built their shops outside the walls of the Citadel of the city of Hanoi. The groupings back then were by trade, and that grouping has held for more than 1,100 years. There is a silk street, toy street, art street, baby street, automotive street, etc. The names of the actual street can change each block (much like 2222, koenig, northland, 290 in Austin). it's pretty cool.
We stopped for a cold drink at a lakeside restaurant (orange ice for tami, peppermint ice for me -- quite tasty), and continued to walk around the city. It was wonderful to be out and about after being stuck inside for 10+ days.
Either this weekend or next week we're going to rent a car for a day and drive to all the museums here in Hanoi. Tomorrow we're going to the "Hanoi Hilton" where the American servicemen were held captive during the war. As it turns out, our hotel is built on 2/3 of the old prison. The remaining 1/3, which can be seen from our window, is now a museum about its role in the war. It's apparently highly propagandized, but it should be interesting.
Thanks for reading.
Will & Daddy
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