Some Life : Hanoi --redux

This coffee is so amazing, it tastes like hot ice cream! To get into the shop, Giang Cafe, is entered via a long hallway from the street. I had to plow through a group of tourists to get into the place....

There are two things on the menu: hot and iced egg coffee. Also you can order sunflower seeds in the shell..ubiquitous here. egg coddle is made by swiping eggs and sugar together in some magical way and then blending with Vietnamese coffee. There are now many copycats in Hanoi, but Giang is the original. The shop is on two floors and again, everyone sits on tiny stools. The waiter heaves and hoes great trays of coffee up and down the stairs and likewise clears the dishes.

Think hot coffee ice cream --- Vietnamese egg coffee

Barbara came down with tourists on the bus from Sapa to Hanoi. She was down for the count and I ended up getting my own room...hers was germ infested and noisy with all the trips to the bathroom!

I got electrolytes for her and gave her the Zithromax---her doc had given her Cipro which is no good in se Asia. After that I was alone to explore Hanoi which was very fun. I walked to the market which is a true working market so the prices were fair and the products plentiful. I bought candied ginger for half the price I'd been paying ...in case of nausea--and a pack of 10 face masks for $4.00.

I am becoming a woman of the world so I sought out the food court which happened to be in a narrow alleyway. Just like that I sat down on a tiny stool and ordered, ate, and paid for my noodles. Delicious! My favorite meals have all been street food and the least expensive, ranging from $1.00 to $4.00.

My noodles at street stall

Our last day in Hanoi, Barbara was feeling better so we booked a car and driver and saw the temple of literature, an ancient university dating from 10th/11th century.