Today I wandered. I strolled in and out of streets just watching the people and lives around me. When I got tired, I stopped at a cafe for a fruit juice or a beer and read my book. I meandered around the lake. I ate ice cream. I watched the Vietnamese people eating ice cream (it was a hot day). I basically did nothing today - and it was perfect.

Today was what I am going to call my "do nothing day". The biggest decisions that I had to make today were what to drink and which way to walk around the lake.

So it has taken me three days, but I feel like I have got a handle on Hanoi. I now know that crossing a one way street is far easier and worth the extra effort to find. And that a simple shake of the head will deter the men asking if you want a motorbike taxi ("motorbike miss?") - pretending that you do not speak English works pretty well to. After three days, I know the shortest route down to the lake. My favorite breakfast spot is just down the street, and I've found the best fruit slushies in all of the city. I can also now make it back to my guesthouse without a map. I've got this. Too bad I am moving on tomorrow morning. :(

Because I did nothing today, I don't have much new to report. I do have two random quick stories to tell before I sign off for the night.

I saw a Vietnamese man on a bench who was so still I was worried he might be dead. No one else around appeared bothered by this so I continued on. It's like the homeless people you will sometimes see in Baltimore and you wonder - sleeping or dead? But you don't stop to find out.

I had two separate groups of people today approach me and asked "parlez-vous francais?" (and yes, I had to look up how to spell that - thank you google translate). I can only guess that they were looking for someone to give them directions. However, as those who know me know, my french is limited to "ou est la banque?" (yep, looked that one up too). Unfortunately, I was of no help to them.

Tomorrow I leave Hanoi and head out to Halong Bay. I'm joining an overnight boat tour of the bay and then I head to Sapa on an overnight train. I might be out of touch for a bit, but will post again as soon as I can. I miss you all and hope you are well!

Vietnam Vital Signs (so far):
Mosquito bites: 1 (made infinitely better with the application of animax...as animax fixes everything)
Pizzas consumed: 0
Fruit slushies consumed: 6
Offers for motorbike taxi: too numerous to count