Hanoi the last

We're just waiting for a taxi to take us to the airport for the flight to Saigon. Today we played ultimate tourists... Started with bad breakfast, then off to buy shoes (REAL adidas ones, honest). We were picked up by a guy driving a tuk tuk (oh twist my arm, you don't want me to walk?). That was cool. Kind of like a cyclo, with purpose. :-)

Went to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Shuffled through in a big line with everyone else, to look at stuffed dead guy... very amusing. Noted huge hammer and sickle (if that is spelled wrong I blame Word, coz I looked it up!) on wall behind the sarcophagus. Then we walked around the entire Mausoleum complex looking for the One Pillar Pagoda... without success. After which we walked to the Literary University. That was very very cool!! Next we picked up a couple of motorcycle taxis (breathe mum, both of them) who took us to the large catholic cathedral, in the style of Notre Dame (only smaller). They insisted on waiting for us, so they could take us to the next place... which was Hoa Lo prison, aka the Hanoi Hilton. Wondered around reading the stilled view that The People's Democratic Replublic of Vietnam would like people to see. All the worst treated inmates were communist political fighters. The American soldiers never had it so good... ;-)

And then it was off, Honda Om style, to the Hanoi Hilton, aka the Hanoi Hilton, for photos of both. ;-) This is next to the Opera House, in front of which was a bridal party (the second of the day). They LOVED having their picture taken (others in the party, the bride and groom were busy with a professional photographer). Unluckily I do not have an analog camera, and they did not have email, so no exchange possible.

We walked down to sort out our Mekong cycle tour (read, pay for it). And then back to the hotel. Passing a kindergarten, candid photos all round. We mooched a room to use the shower (no, we paid for it, that's not mooching). And now we wait.......

More from the dirty south.
Lots of Love
GBFSB