23-second timelapse <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n8: The Citadel in Hu\u1ebf<\/h2>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a grey, breezy, drizzly day in Hu\u1ebf and I walked from my hotel towards the only game in town, the Imperial City, former home of the Royal Families of Vietnam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stopped for breakfast and talked to another British guy who was cycling north to south. He lives in H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i but is moving to Paris and spending some time cycling the country beforehand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I crossed the Perfume River, where there were zero tourist boats in operation. It\u2019s so close to new year that a lot of businesses are already closed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\nTourist dragon boats<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTr\u01b0\u1eddng Ti\u1ec1n Bridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nCentral Hu\u1ebf <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Flag Tower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Flag Tower only closer. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nStone carved aperture in the side edifices. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nStone carved aperture in the side edifices.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nStone carved aperture in the side edifices.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe flag through one of the carved apertures. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nInto the Imperial City<\/h2>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ll admit that I didn\u2019t get the audio guide, which may have been a mistake because there\u2019s not a whole lot of explanation at each site within the city of what was there or what\u2019s been restored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Much of what was<\/em> there was destroyed in various wars, notably the American War<\/em> as it\u2019s known here, but also the French had a good go at it too. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFar better that you go look things up on Wikipedia than I try to explain what I saw, but in short, the dynasty ran for a couple of centuries until 1975 when I was born. I assume that\u2019s a coincidence. During that time, various kings and queens and concubines lived here and developed their own houses and palaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of what remains has or is being restored, with, I have to say, mixed results. The grand entrance gates and palaces look like new:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nBut other areas, while dotted with boards celebrating their restoration, have already been left to deteriorate again:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nDescription of an excavated and restored altar. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe actual altar today. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nDescription of an excavated and restored bonsai rockery. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe actual rockery today. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s rather sad that so much effort has gone into these areas and then they\u2019re left. Especially given that the hard tennis court<\/em> of the last king has been entirely refurbished for reasons that are unclear. <\/p>\n\n\n\nStill. It was an interesting half day of wandering around what is a huge site. If you go: make it a drier day, and get the audio guide\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the way: I took a lot of photos on my big boy camera, the ones here are iPhone images. Maybe the others look a little better but in the dreary circumstances, this is what\u2019s available right now to post. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>
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7: H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i to Hu\u1ebf Sunday was a travel day. Nothing much to report except a 14-hour train ride from H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i to Hu\u1ebf, arriving at nearly 11pm. If nothing else, it highlights just how slow transport \u2013 other than flying \u2013 is in Vietnam. This is on top of the 8-9 hours back from […]<\/p>\n
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