Arriving in Hue by train at 11am this morning we were taken to our hotel where we gratefully had a lovely shower. Then we ventured out into the streets of Hue.
Due to a combination of typhoon, low tourist season and Chinese national day the tourist pickings are slim in this town at the moment. Hence we were approached by every hawker and rickshaw driver on the street. Annika began to get frustrated and anxious at the people pestering her. I began to use a firm mummy voice and scared some people off.
We went to the Perfume River for a cruise to see the pagoda. We had to negotiate price before we went on the dragon boat - which was $30 - then we boarded the old boat which I think the operators used as their house as well. The husband drove, and the wife proceeded to try and sell us souvenirs. She tried for about 45 minutes and we kept saying no. Annika got overwhelmed by this and needed her iPod. We did not buy anything on her boat, the more she pushed the more I wanted to say no. So she sulkily cut our two hour tour short by half an hour. Which was ok because we wanted to get off the boat. A not very tranquil journey.
Hue is less busy than Han, and more beautiful with trees everywhere and a river through the middle. It has a long history and used to be the political capitol. Tomorrow we will go and see the Emperor's Citadel.
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