Hanoi

We are now “in country” as they used to say.  Hanoi is a big busy city where motor bikes outnumber cars 10:1,  The architecture is unique.  There are some tall skinny houses that look like the painted ladies of San Francisco. Lots of buildings in various stages of repair,  not sure how to tell which have been here prior to the 1960s.  On the way from the airport, it looked a lot like Zihuatanejo, the road lined with small businesses.- car repairs, hardware stores, pop up food stands.  The neighborhood we are in at the Hotel Intercontinental West Lake is supposedly the new trendy area.  Exploring by foot (at the constant risk of being run over by a motorbike on the non-existent sidewalks) we saw a number of wine bars, brew pubs and beauty spas.   One restaurant advertised “proper hamburgers”.   The weather is in the 50s and overcast.  Many of the locals are wearing cloth surgical masks (for the pollution?).Drinks at the hotel bar were accompanied by peanuts and some sort of rice chip with a fishy taste.   We dragged ourselves back outside and went to VinSteak for their 2 for 1 wine - a nice Chilean cab - and a pizza! Parma ham, shaved Parmesan and arugula.  The steaks looked great but all we wanted was to get back to the room and fall asleep.  The hotel is very upscale with a huge bathroom and rainhead shower.  I am at risk of getting lost in the bath towels,  they are so big.
Headed down to breakfast soon, then for a city tour with a guide.

Hanoi Pizza

                                                 Scene from around the Lake