Sapa, Vietnam

It was with fingers crossed that I got up and ventured outside.

I could see across the lake-

I stopped for a highly recommended coconut coffee-

but it was mediocre to say the least.  Few restaurants have indoor seating but there was no way I was sitting outside when I could see my breath.  I thought I left the cold at home!

With much trepidation, I tried an ATM and got money!  That’s such a good feeling.

I’m staying very close to lots of restaurants and crappy souvenir shops-

There’s a large park in the centre of town which is surrounded by The Stone Church built by the French in 1895 in Roman Gothic style-

Across the street is Sapa Square which is usually very busy except on cold feels like winter kind of days-

Nearby-

and across the street-

In the park is the Ho Chi Minh Friendship Monument, a message from 72 years ago to the children of Sapa telling them to study hard.  It’s made of concrete and very Communist looking-

The fountain looks a little better today-

I had an umbrella so decided to walk to Cat Cat village-

which is where the nearest Hmong people live.  It’s all downhill so was easy.  Along the way-

The clouds seemed to be lifting.  Maybe tomorrow the sun will be shining and the sky will be blue!

The first set of shops I came to sell local hill tribe clothing-

How typical!  It’s so cold they have to light a fire to keep warm and the three young people are so immersed in their phones-

Cat Cat village is a tourist created place that I could have done without-

There were a lot of tourists dressed in costumes having  pictures taken-

There are some pretty plants-

waterfalls-

and bridges-

They produce indigo died cloth-

would have liked to visit the real village-

where huts are accessible by skinny paths-

Not possible!  I did find out there is a 12 km one day trek I could do tomorrow and I am thinking about it.

I hopped on a motorbike to come up the long hill back to Sapa.  I have PTSD!  I held on tight to the driver and when he leaned at the curves I hollered “slow! slow!”  There looked like a lot of gravel to me and I could just see us going down.  At one point I was ready to tell him to stop and I would walk but I told myself to get a fucking grip.  We arrived without incident!

I stopped at the tourist information center to find out where I could get a bottle of wine made of grapes not rice.  My homestay was prepared to sell me one last night for $43!  She suggested the supermarket which was around the lake. There I got a decent wine for $7.  No it’s not bottled vinegar, nor is it made in Vietnam.  It’s from Chile!

Vietnamese snacks-

I walked around the lake-

and went back to my room after 4 hours rain free!  I had a snooze with the electric mattress warmer on and then thought I should go out again because I was sure the sun would be shining because it was so warm in my bed and I probably was missing some great views.  No!  The lake was gone-

I started laughing!  I was going to a bar to have a beer but noticed there were about 10 pair of shoes at my hotel’s entrance - people are in not out, and the streets were dead.  So I bought a couple beer and came home.  

Maybe tomorrow will be better?

P.S.  In my bathroom-