Friday, 20 December 2013
Thursday was our first full day in Hanoi which we spent doing practical things - relocating hotels, finding tour companies, getting to the bank etc. It's very easy to get around on foot as so much can be found in each particular quarter that makes up the city. Our hotel is located in the Old Quarter which is said to be made up of 36 streets, connected together by lane ways and alleys. The noise of motorbikes is incessant and if you stop for traffic you will never get anywhere so you simply have to keep moving and allow the traffic to flow around you. As we walked, we found quieter, more relaxed areas and noted places we'd go back to over the coming days.
(Wandering through the streets of the Old Quarter)
(Hoan Kiem Lake in the morning sunshine)
This morning (Friday), we set out early to tackle a few more tasks before setting off for the airport at lunch time to collect Nicky's Dad, Jim, who was arriving in from Dublin. Hanoi airport was chaotic, as expected, but the arrivals area is always a nice place to be in any airport with loved ones being reunited after having been apart for some time.
(Morning commuters)
(Local school children posing for a Christmas photo)
(Looking out over Hoan Kiem Lake towards the Old Quarter)
Jim arrived safely after his long journey. It had been 18 months since Nicky last saw her Dad in Dublin so it's very special to have him here to spend Christmas with us. The drive back to the hotel provided Jim with a glimpse of how the locals live here.
(The airport reunion)
We arrived back at the hotel by late afternoon and set out for an early dinner followed by a wander around the Old Quarter which was buzzing with activity. It is difficult to capture the atmosphere in photos - the people; the food; the noise; the smells. It is like an assault on the senses - chaotic, mesmerising, wonderful. We made it back to the hotel without having lost any limbs to passing motorbikes, with a plan to head out tomorrow to see some of the sights.
(Our first dinner together in Hanoi)
(Our view from a rooftop cafe in Hanoi)
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