Day 5 - murals and Train Street - Trial by fire: new bike, first tour, first time in Asia

October 30, 2024

Day 5 - murals and Train Street

On the way out of the Green Homestay; the proprietor hopes you make it back alive.

Today we had congee up the road and then a walk around the pretty garden and pond that our penthouse stares down upon.

We then headed to the large market at Hoan Kiem - Cho Dong Xuan, where Winston grabbed a few items and where we wandered aimlessly. Alas, there's plenty to photograph.

While looking for lunch we came across a rather good vegan buffet and loaded up for the days ahead.

It was then time for more street art at Phung Hung Mural Street, where 200 m of murals narrate centuries of Hanoi's history. On the walk there we passed this magnificent place.

This piece of art, made from insulated wire, is enormous. It makes no sense in a close-up photograph but we're sure that the artist's mother said "get a real job".

A more distant photograph of the previous image. The artist's mother said "you could make a career of this"

Time passes, things disappear and the younger generations reflect on the losses.

A gold Honda 90. As I looked, a tourist jumped on it for a photo and knocked off the mudguard. I mentioned inappropriate behaviour. But the problem was with me: I needed to chill.

We were finished with looking at the murals by 2.30. This was timely for we needed to get to Train Street because - you guessed it - the train was approaching. This is an unsavoury tourist trap but, at the same time, amusing. The street is so narrow that there is not an rce of public space when the train passes. Thus, you need to step backwards and sit down in someone's cafe and buy a coffee or beer or both, as we did. You are visited by numerous hawkers selling paraphernalia with pictures of Train Street. The train passes at reasonable speed and the crowd gather their flattened bottle tops from the tracks before dispersing. The vendors count their dong.

We too dispersed and rode back to Green Homestay before walking back into Hoen Kiem in the evening.

Beautiful evening light from the penthouse. Keep in mind that we are forking out US$6 each a night.

Cua Bac, North Gate built 1805. The damage at the top left comes from French cannonballs fired from the Red River, a km or two away.

Today's ride: 8 km (5 miles)
Total: 147 km (91 miles)

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John GrantIt's a bloody great city !
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