What a great sleep! Nothing like a comfy soft bed after a couple of nights of homestays.
Down to breakfast, they remembered what we order every day, vegetable pho and beef pho with 2 Cafe sou das. Andre supplements his pho with lunch first, I add some fruit to start, and that delicious yogurt in those cute little milk bottles I call them.
No big plans for today, but another hot one coming up and we are invited to Nic and Stu for supper, burgers and potato salad, we will feel like we are at Nicole's moms.
Start off by walking towards the Opera House. So nice that many streets are closed for the weekend and being used for running, walking, kids on small remote cars, dancing etc.
Walked by Andres favorite shopping place so far, the Kem Mall, yep all ice cream stores. A fun photo op when you enter as well. Still surprised he passed on ice cream, no matter what time of day it is it's usually yes.
Another shoe guy, this time Andre asks for a shoe cleaning, his are absolutely filthy sneakers at this point. They turned out great, but Andre made him stop when he wanted to put new soles on them. They will not be making the return trip to Canada.
Opera House was next, a beautiful old building. Lots of people getting pictures taken outside. The old Hanoi Hilton is right beside it and all hidden for updates as the Waldorf Astoria, they will definitely have sinks in their bathrooms, and we will definitely never be staying there, will be way out of our budget.
Next we decide to head towards Hoa Lo Prison thinking it may have air conditioning or at least fans. On the way we come across Book Street. Fun wandering through here, not many English books but we did buy Around the World in 80 days. I can't remember if I read it in high school, but it will be a good read to pass part of our 30 hour return home trip coming up far too quickly.
Finally reach Hoa Lo Prison after many photo stops along the way. Decided to get the audio guide as well. Lots of fans going, but way more tourists than we have seen in any museum so far. It was a good way to spend a couple of hours and learn more of Vietnam's history.
Time for some lunch, I guess we are sticking to a western diet for the rest of the day as we split a pizza at 4Ps Pizza.
Errands next, VP bank to use the other button hopefully one last time, pick up clean laundry, and find a bottle of wine to take to dinner. Finding a wine shop proved to be the most challenging, but we did succeed.
One final errand, lens cap 3 purchased. I know what Andre is betting for his next birthday present a case of lens caps.
We did have to pass by Singapore ice cream sandwich place at the top of the lake again, yes Andre did stop.
Off to Nic and Stu for supper, they live next to West Lake, an area we will be exploring next weekend. Started laughing when we heard the menu, BBQ hamburgers and potato salad, pretty much a staple when we eat at her parents in the summer. Competition is on, Nic wants me to compare her salad to her Moms. Won't say but maybe Nic could share some secret ingredients with her mom this summer. Would be good if her dad bbq'd over coals as well. Vegetable brochette were a nice touch too.
Great to catch up with someone from home, they will be in Hoi An next weekend for the holiday when we are back in Hanoi.
Early night tonight, 6am pickup, I will be dreaming tonight about what type of bathroom we will have for the next 5 nights, please at least have sinks, I don't care where they drain.
Todays Pictures:
Extra vendors as it is Saturday
Walking along the lake
Must be running club stopping for coffee are their runs around the lake as all traffic is stopped.
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