We had left off in Hanoi, before taking the bus for the first long haul that brought us to Huè. A demanding journey, both because of the means of transport used and the long distance covered. Our stay was relatively short but intense. That same morning (after a sleepless night trying to find absurd positions on the bus seats covered in PVC), we went to visit the old citadel. This is the historic city (declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site) entirely surrounded by an imposing wall. Once inside we immediately felt the sensation of something already seen... precisely it was the forbidden city that we had visited on our first stop in Beijing. In reality the most marked difference lies in the state of conservation of the structures. Unlike the one visited in Beijing this one was much less cared for, left a bit to itself (tall grass, ruins piled on top of each other, etc.).
A positive note: the colors much more marked and bright in the temples, both in the exterior plaster and in the interior decorations. After a visit of about two and a half hours, exhausted by the scorching sun and the lack of sleep, we went in search of something to put under our teeth and then quickly, quickly go take a nap. Recommended by a local person we headed to a typical "restaurant" on the street corner: to say the least risky. Gripped by hunger, we temporarily overlooked the visual conditions of the food. A few minutes later our appetite had disappeared, giving way to fear. The food seemed to have been cooked at least a week earlier (and it was fish) and served in questionable hygienic conditions.
Leaving the place as soon as possible we headed to the hotel with a single thought in mind: the runs, especially considering that the next day we were about to face another transfer even more demanding than the one just completed. Our fears fortunately turned out to be unfounded, in fact, after a healthy little nap we went out in the evening to take a stroll and munch on something and.... surprise!!! Turning the corner, a place appeared before our eyes that apparently didn't promise miracles, run by a nice and super active lady who convinced us to put ourselves back in the game from an intestinal point of view. Our fear of repeating the midday of fire quickly vanished thanks to the dishes that our new friend prepared for us, so much so that we remained fully satisfied with the dinner and went back the following morning for a breakfast that was nothing short of regal.
And here we are again on our beloved bus for the second leg with destination Nha Trang, one of the most famous Vietnamese beaches. This second journey turned out to be nothing short of destructive. The duration compared to the previous one increased by about four hours for a total of sixteen, to this you have to add that the means of transport at our disposal was much smaller in size compared to the previous one. Despite everything the first four hours turned out to be almost pleasant compared to what we were heading towards. At a certain point the bus filled up beyond belief with German tourists who occupied all the available seats as well as the aisles with their luggage. We were packed like sardines ready to be packed into their containers: a torture difficult to describe.
The consequence of this effort was yet another sleepless night (except for our young friend Andrea who would sleep anywhere) and finding ourselves, the following morning, in Nha Trang. The third destination in Vietnam was entirely dedicated to relaxation: a not bad beach and sun galore to burn your gums. All supported by an excellent hotel and a superb restaurant that offered us a break from the usual local cuisine; we savored pasta and pizza of excellent quality so much that our presence extended for three consecutive evenings.
0 reader comments