Day 9a Hanoi Potpourri

We finish our adventure in Vietnam with two days in Hanoi.  Interesting city.  Heavy in French influence from the first half of the twentieth century, yet this the capital of Communist Vietnam circa 1974.  So, the panache of France with a 12 o'clock curfew lightly enforced by the Communist government.  What reins?  What else, capitalism, with the constant throbbing of bribes, either you are a receiver or giver.  The gears keep turning.....

First, a monument to commemorate John McCain!   What?!  Behind this monument is the lake

where Senator McCain parachuted into after his jet was shot down.  This is the only monument to an American in the country.   The Vietnamese have a lot of respect for him due to his attitude and behavior as a POW.  One American politician could take a lesson......

 

This is part of a 2.5 mile long mosaic!  The longest in the world.  It was completed in 2007 to commemorate the 1000 year history of Hanoi

This Worker's Monument is a throwback to the Communist Days.  These
'workers' don't look anything like Vietnamese.  More like the Soviet's that
created this visual embarrassment.

Staying hydrated while on the road is important.  The hotels and the tour bus know
this, so we are constantly given, drinking and saving bottles of water.  We are a day
from the finish with 12 extra bottles.  We leave them for the maids.

Hah, this is   Egg Coffee!  A specialty of Hanoi!  We
had to try this.  Without giving away the recipe, we'll be preparing this for
family Christmas Time.  Hint:  it is also known at Liquid Tiramisu. Amazing.