We took a scenic train ride up the coast from Danang to Hue, a 2.5 hour journey along the coast, rising up into the lush hillsides and then back down among the banana trees. Just seeing the thick foliage this close made us think how impossible it would've been to walk those hills, much less fight in them. Kate said in quite a serious manner, "I'd be lost. I think I'd just sit down and give up." She might have been able to get out of it to begin with, I think...
Our host at the Binh Minh Sunrise I hotel in Hue was likely the nicest, most bubbly lady in the entire country. She laughed at everything she said and we said. Bubbly at 6 a.m., bubbly at 10:30 p.m., impressive really. We rented bikes to see some of the city's cites, including the old Citadel (Hue was the capital of Vietnam's empire for a while) and a big pagoda, which was known as the Eiffel Tower of Vietnam (why bother with these stupid comparisons, because Eiffel Tower it was not). The Citadel was the subject of a huge battle in the war, with the Americans finally recapturing it at high cost. But anyway, on the bike ride (pictured below), we crossed a VERY narrow bridge that was for bikes and motorbikes. Seriously, there was only 6 inches on each side of the end of the handlebars, if that. Mrs. Rubert was doing great until she actually looked down, at which time she bounced of either railing, incurring numerous minor contusions. The worst part was that she had no choice but to go onward, the rest of the 150 yards, because no one could pass her and there was a pileup of honking motorbikes and bicyclists. She managed and will be sure to remember that story for a while.
And because Hue was the capital for a long period, there are a number of insanely elaborate tombs dedicated to the emperors that ruled there. We chartered a boat to cruise the Perfume River down to one of the most ornate tombs (pictured). We also got a neat pic of a little bicycler passing by the Pagoda, a really old one (the Eiffel Tower).
That night I got to meet up with my college buddy, Currie, who is living there teaching English. It was fun checking out the ex-pat scene there and riding tandem on a motorbike with another man.
Ok, last thing, we left Hue on a plane up to Hanoi, and this has happened to us a few times. We get our boarding passes checked, heading out the tunnel, down some stairs and out onto the tarmac. The plane is, no joke, 75 feet away, but there is a bus waiting for us. We slowly pile on, and finally when the bus is full its doors close and it drives us all of 50 feet closer to the plane. And this is the ONLY plane at the airport... it was quite comical; even in the litigious U.S. we would just cone off a path the plane if it was that far away. Wierd.
Ok, that's it, next post tomorrow... I promise (maybe).
And in response to the calls for more Kate pictures, I will do my best; however, there is quite a thick filter on pics that she gives the OK to, so even when we take hundreds, only a few she finds suitable. Probably not surprising.
Some dead important person... on the way leading up the the place just in front of the gate to the gate of his final resting place. 1 km in total was his tomb.
Kate has a way with the little ones. Daughter of our boat driver.
Like Mother like daughter... both SO excited to be finally in bed, and in their silk DreamSacs.
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