Hanoi: A Stomach Rumbling Welcome to Vietnam

Arriving into Vietnam after a quick one-hour flight over from Luang Prabang, our 3 days in Hanoi were spent primarily counting the number of times Julie could visit the toilet in a 24 hour period. As a bit of Laos-originated food poisoning had decided to bless her bowels (luckily only the single-exit variety), the dutiful husband I am spent most of our 72 hours in Vietnam's chaotic capital running between pharmacies in search of prescription-free medicine (yay for 3rd world laxness), bringing bowls of Pho back to the room, and moreorless attempting to will Julie back to health (typically involved staring at her intently, and asking "are you better yet?" - 39th time is the charm!).

While some sights/activities/partially-eaten meals were able to be enjoyed, our limited time in Hanoi was an opportunity to begin to soak in the culture by which we would be surrounded over the next 3 weeks. A culture that seems so unique, it will most likely see its own post in the coming weeks. For the time being, however, there is no point in attempting to verbalize the joys Julie experienced on her road to recovery.

Thus, onto the pics:

	Spending as much time as possible in our $25/night "honeymoon suite"
	If you are going to have food poisoning, may as well spend it within the luxurious confines of a modern commode
	Enjoying a casual stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter
	Every road in Hanoi is based on the goods it sells -- This road obviously specialized in shoes
	And this road, in "authentic" North Face apparel - We snagged a nice little day pack for Julie for the all-inclusive price of $7
	Visiting the "Women's Museum" - A surprisingly impressive collection of the badassness of Vietnamese women
	One of several Vietnam War propaganda posters
	Or if you prefer, an entire store dedicated to these nationalistic works of art
	The War Museum, aka "Hanoi Hilton" - A home-away-from-home "prison" for hundreds of American soldiers during the war
	The Family Room
	The uniform of their most famous resident - John McCain
	Life was apparently none too rough in this easy going establishment
	Back out on the streets at a typical Vietnamese intersection - No lights or stop signs, just the general willingness to drive straight regardless of obstacles in your path
	Little Miss Vietnam
	Enjoying a $0.25 "Bia Hoi" in the smallest chair humanly possible
	First meal out of the hotel room for Julie in 3 days - Bun Cha - Twas deelish
	Partaking in an evening "Water Puppet Show"
	Cozy to say the least
	Fairly entertaining show depicting life within Vietnam - This act involved dancing in water
	Or walk across the road, and watch a little dancing BY the water (see what I did there?)
	Or if you prefer, join a hilariously-uncoordinated 10PM exercise class