First Impressions of Hanoi

Well Hanoi is very different than Bangkok. First off, it's hotter and more humid. Second, there are about a million more motos (tiny motorcycles - yes, I have plenty of photos). We arrived and had to get our Visas. They are giant and take up a whole passport page - like the one I had years ago for Russia. Sarah got a Visa that didn't have her name on it and thank God she caught it in time and she got a new one. Then, we left the airport only be loaded onto a VERY HOT bus with minimal AC - we were all stripping off clothes. Got to the hotel - we are staying at "The Army Hotel" which is part of a Vietnamese Army Base. Funny that some 30 years after the Vietnam war a group of American students in Hanoi are staying at what was once a Viet Cong base. Anyway, we headed out to see the city which is beautiful. The main lake is great, it has an island in the middle and there is some legend about the island being where this giant tortise took this sword back unwater at or something. Regardless, it is beautiful. We walked all through the old quarter, had drinks at a lakeside bar and then walked to dinner in the old quarter at "69-Bar Restaurant" which is so named for its address at 69 Pho Ma May. Creative right? Well we got to order specials like "chicken 69 style" which provided endless entertainment. I had some tofu, some spring rolls, and some prawns, all of which were fabulous. Also, Hanoi beer is great. Loved that. After dinner a group of us walked home and a group took taxis - well of course I walked. And I walked carrying 4 giant liters of water and sweating. We stopped to get dessert off the street at a place our TA Beth recommended - she was taking us - and ate fruit (which included avocados here) with condensed milk, coconut milk, and ice. Yes, I both ate street fruit and ice all my first day but so far, not sick and it's been 12 hours. We shall see. Anyway, I need to eat breakfast now. Signing off!