After the overnight trip on the train the hotel in Hue was most welcome - especially a long hot shower! The hotel room was nice with a big window, but no view to speak of. The actual view was just 6" from the window.... a brick wall. It seems rooms with view in Vietnam are not so common(?)
It was hotter in Hue than Hanoi and it was quieter too. There were still scooters everywhere but the pace here seemed less frantic. After not very much sleep on the train, it was a quiet day just exploring immediate surroundings around the hotel. There were more people offering 'tourist' help here than Hanoi although there was still some communication difficulties which led to more sign language and pointing when it came to ordering food. The people seemed friendlier than in Hanoi, but there is still a sense of something lacking in the people. They go about their business efficiently and seem happy enough but maybe they too sense the 'Big Brother is watching" feeling too.
Dinner was rather amusing. The hotel helped give instructions for the restaurant and off we went and pleased that the meter was running too. All was going well until we got into the old city and then every turn was further and further from where we should have been going. Frantic hand gestures and concerned voices expressing we should be going right not left went unheeded by the driver. After 5 minutes, we were dropped off at the restaurant that we wanted to go to the next night! Seems the tourists giving instructions were wrong and had indeed asked to be taken to the tomorrow restaurant a day early! Oh no, I was feeling a tad under-dressed in my shorts and t-shirt when I saw the other diners in much more appropriate attire for the grand surroundings. No-one seemed to mind and we went ahead with the 9-course set menu.
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