Around and About in Hanoi

One of the first things you notice about developing countries is the smell, in particular smoke. Hanoi swims in smoke. Not as strong as Delhi but powerful enough to follow you through a day of sightseeing. Strong enough for most folks on motor bikes to wear some kind of face mask. And speaking of motorbikes: they're everywhere. Six million residents in Hanoi -- 3 million motor bikes.  And pedestrians don't count for much. The motorbike goes around you but won't stop. Our first street crossing entailed holding the guide's hand. Our guide's name is Lan and she grew up in a suburb of Hanoi. She speaks English, Russian and French and studied history at a university in Hanoi. Personable young woman, born in 1972. By the time we reached the Vietnam Military Museum she felt comfortable enough to share that her father had fought in the American war, as it's called. That she and her mother and older brother

 went to live in a cave in the mountains south of the city during the war, though she doesn't remember this because she was a baby. She has since visited the village and cave. And her father, an infantry soldier, was wounded in the war and still has shrapnel in his leg. But back to sightseeing and the selection of today's pix, which give a sense of the day though not necessarily in order. A painting from the Fine Art Museum, which seemed full of art related to the various conflicts/wars that Vietnam has endured, including this painting of an American tank. Of course everything and anything can be transported on a motorbike (even babies!). And the saying that history belongs to those who write certainly

 was evidenced at the Hoa Lo Prison AKA the Hanoi Hilton. Apparently American soldiers enjoyed themselves, ate delicious meals, played volleyball and basketball, and translated Uncle Ho's poetry in their spare time. Other stops on our itinerary today: The Co Loa Citadel, an ancient city. The Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucius and the Ho Chi Minh Museum, a huge museum built by the Russians in 1990 that depicts in a well polished shiny narrative the story of Ho Chi Minh's life, from his simple childhood to his world travels to his heroic uniting of Vietnam. The day concluded at the Water Puppet Theater, a traditional folk art originally created by rice farmers that featured music and story-telling. Time to chill out. More to come!