Hue 1

We left Hanoi Saturday morning with all of its bustle and headed to the airport for our flight to Hue. Even at 6:30 in the morning the street markets were up and running with the sales of produce and various other goods. The public address systems were broadcasting their message as we swerved back and forth avoiding the oncoming mopeds on all sides and trying not to crush those going in our direction.

While wandering around waiting for our flight, Tara and I uncovered the Hanoi Airport Noodle Bowl Scandal. We were in a mini mart and saw ladies in the back of the store taking apart the packages of instant noodles to sell in the Fast Food Restaurant. Avoid this restaurant if you want good noodles!

On the plane I sat with the kids and Patti was across the aisle. Poor Patti. The guy she sat next to, some European, made body odor seem like too kind a term. Her new friend also did not fit well into the seat and had one arm raised to squeeze in, not helping the odor issue. She then proceeded to tell me that she woke up smelling something awful this morning. As the story goes, I rolled her way and started breathing in her direction fouling the air with an unprecedented garlic smell. That was gooood food last night!!

We landed in Hue and our first thought was HOT! The next thought was HUMID! Riley put to words our conclusion "I don't want to live here." Patti mistakenly checked Accuweather and found that we had arrived in the middle of a heat wave. A few days ago we were at times very chilly in Sa Pa now that memory has melted. Notice the RealFeel temp of 113!

I have a friend that is Vietnamese and another that is married to a Vietnamese woman and I have been taking Vietnamese culinary tips from them. My first dish here in Hue was Bun Bo Hue which a Lon had recommended as a Hue specialty. I had this a number of times already but this was a very nice version. Also a shout to Dave as I have found a few fish sauce preparations that might actually rival his.

Today we visited the Imperial Citidel, the seat of power for nearly a century and a half and home to 13 generations of Emperors from the Nguyen Dynasty. Upwards of 80% of it was destroyed in the war with the French in 1947 and 1968 during the Tet Offensive. Of what remains are some well preserved buildings and a gradual reconstruction has been under way for the last 20 years. The Citadel in Hue is another part of Vietnam which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pictures were not allowed in the buildings, here are a few of the exterior.

This temple is the highest point in the Citidel and also acts as a building code for part of Hue. At this time no structures North of the Perfume River, which bisects Hue, can rise above this one.

Dragons are the contents of many graphics in the older Asia culture and the Citidel had its share of them.

How best to transport ourselves in Hue? After some debate I overruled the pleas to ride bikes to the Citadel and instead hooked us up with a few pedal (other people's pedals) powered transports. After working on the price we climbed aboard and rolled on from near our hotel around the Citidel and to the entrance. The kids really liked letting someone else do the pedaling. On the return trip, my bargain hunting honey was haggling over $.50. You get little wrapped up when you are taking about 10,000 until you recall that it is pocket change.

We took a stroll before dinner and ended up walking through a pretty touristy restaurant section. We were wanting something a little more affordable, like $2 a plate vs $4 a plate. Near the end of restaurant row a guy handed us a flyer for a little out of the way place, the Oasis. So down a funky alley we went and surprise, a cool little place, albeit more Western than we were planning on. We sat on beach chairs in the sand and caught the breeze from a bank of air conditioners serving the hotel next door. The waitress was particularly excited with Riley and just could not get enough. When our waitress went missing, Tara said, "Riley, where is your friend?" Riley responded with "She is not a friend, she is a fan." Uh oh, China Syndrome all over again. We explained to Tara that her cute factor is a bit diminished seeing that she is taller than many of the women here, including our waitress.

Initial Hue images can be found in the 2014 Hue album linked at right. We will visit other sites in Hue on Sunday.