Flights are flights, airports are airports. Cathay Pacitic was no better or worse than other airlines we've flown. But climbing out of Hong Kong on the last leg to Hanoi the adventure really starts to crystalize.
Best laid plans right. Upon arrival at Hanoi airport we were stood up by our driver and cabbed it to the Hotel. Luckily we found a cabbie who spoke some English and didn't drive like a maniac. Good reminder right off the bat that shit happens and you've got to roll with it.
Hanoi does look a little bit like Paris. A lot grittier on the outskirts but once you get into the center it has a great resemblance. Our hotel is in the Old Quarter a few steps from the Metropole where Jane Fonda and Joan Baez were hosted by Ho Chi Minh. When they were here the US Air Force bombed Hanoi. There is a famous recording of Joan Baez made in the bomb shelter at the Metrople singing Kumbaya (I think) where you can hear the bombs detonating in the background.
Oh about our Driver mess up. The woman I hade made arrangements with in Hanoi, Ms. Cham, who had arranged the driver for me as well as several other things appeared at our hotel within twenty minutes of our arrival apologizing profusely, bearing gifts and paying us back for the cab fare. She really is lovely. Turns out her driver took a cold pill and slept through his alarm. She invited us to her house later in the week.
The streets of Hanoi are like no other city I've been to before. Check out this intersection - one of the few with actual traffic lights that are followed. This is an easy place to cross. In other areas there are no lights and with traffic coming every whichway. Crossing is not the problem guidebooks make it out to be. You just walk across slowly and never stop. The scooters, cars, trucks, cyclos, bicycles, ladies with bamboo poles over their shoulders all figure out where you are and work around you. Key is not to ever, ever stop or change directions.
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