Hanoi is a very busy and noisy town.
After breakfast we headed into town to walk around the old quarter. Crossing each street is very much an adventure, with traffic coming in all directions on both sides of the road. The tip is venture into the road and keep walking, do not stop and do not run. With some miracle the traffic manages to go round you.
We wandered down to the lake and took a walk right the way round it. We saw many interesting things. We spent a while watching a photographer with what looked like a family with several generations, taking photos. The young ladies in their traditional dress were a delight to see.
The Lonely Planet book details a walking route through the old town pointing out places of interest. Having decided to follow it off we set. I don’t think we saw many of the famous things as it didn’t take us long to get hopelessly lost.
Our next mission was to find a coffee shop that my sister Wendy had recommended. So again with the Lonely Planet book and the page marked for the coffee shop of we went. We found the street easily but walking up one side and back down the other side there was difinately nothing that remotely resembled a cafe. Further reading of the ‘Book’ and we saw the street number, 11.
When we found number 11, it had a sign saying coffee high above the other shop signs but all there was, was a alley way between two silk shops. Bravely we wandered into the small alley which opened out into a courtyard of antiques and old furniture. A young lady appeared from behind a counter and told us she would take our order and we could go on up the stairs. Wendy had said it was very nice hot chocolate here so that was what I ordered.
We climbed the stairs and the only hint of a cafe was across a small bridge and there were three small tables and chairs. One was occupied by the largest, fattest ginger cat I have ever seen. He did not even stir and we took our seats. Other people came and went but always from a set of steps higher than our cafe balcony. Intrigued we ventured up the steps once we had finished our drinks. The first flight were old stone with ornaments all up the right side. This opened out to a landing with some very large wooden doors that were cracked open. This looked like someone’s house. Another broken, rusty spiral staircase was ahead and some european travellers came down so up we ventured. This time to find a large indoor dining area but it had no one in. Voices were coming from yet even higher so up the next set of stone stairs. Then Wow!!!! A roof terrace with tables and chairs overlooking the town and the top end of the lake. What a find and thank you Wendy for telling us about it.