Saturdays in the Park!

We've been back in Hanoi, enjoying a relaxing and quiet time with David this week.  So what have we been doing to fill our days lately?  Here's a list of some of the highlights:

• Took a walk through the Old Quarter and a tour of a Hanoi tube house.  It was so interesting to see the simple furnishings and kitchen that a family of six uses for their daily living.  The house is at 87 Ma May Street, and admission is a whopping 5,000 dong (about 30 cents!)  Go spend your wad and see it - we recommend it highly to better understand Vietnamese daily life.
• Made a trip out for groceries and laundry.  Grocery stores are not at every major intersection here in Hanoi the way they are at home, so it's a real excursion to get normal chores done.  The laundry was sooooo worth it though - only $15 to wash and fold a large suitcase worth of stuff!  Wish we could figure out how to import that one to the U.S. - I'd bring it just for you, Shelly and Sheila! :)
• Took a long walk all the way around Hoan Kiem Lake on Saturday night.  There were so many families out, eating ice cream, playing badminton, enjoying the cooler weather, as it had rained that afternoon.  David slept peacefully in his carrier the entire time.  What a beautiful evening!
• Had a fantastic Italian dinner at Leone d'Oro's across from the Opera House, courtesy of the Clines' suggestion!
• Enjoyed a night out for Bill to hear the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra at the Hanoi Opera House - my birthday gift to him!  Besides, any time that you can hear the Symphony for $12/ticket, you just gotta go!
• Took a long taxi ride around town to see some different parts of the city and to go to a very modern Hanoi shopping mall.  We had a great time looking at all the clothing and fashion that is trendy here, but our very favorite part was the appliance store.  Bill loved the big t.v.'s (of course, it's a guy thing) and Paula was amazed by the tiny kitchen appliances.  Most Vietnamese do not have any refrigeration in their homes.  The wealthiest have a fridge that is about 24" wide by about 4 feet tall.  Most Vietnamese cook outdoors on a homemade stove/grill (made often from a large coffee can or a clay flower pot and fired with either wood kindling or charcoal).  The wealthiest Vietnamese go to the appliance store and buy either a single flat hot plate or a small wok-style electric skillet and perhaps a rice cooker.  That's about it! :)  Definitely not the typical HGTV dream kitchen, but it seems to work amazingly well here!
• Went for dinner with some new friends at the Green Tangerine Restaurant on Hang Be Street.  Wonderful food, wonderful atmosphere, wonderful conversation!  Thanks Heather and Paul for a great evening!  By the way, their sweet Dylan is also from the Vinh Long orphanage, and they had their G&R just a few days after ours!

We've posted some more photo highlights below.  Of course, our favorite times have been spent just playing with David and enjoying his happy smile.  You may notice in the close-up photo that he has quite a little rash on his face right now.  We saw a Western Doctor this week, and she believes it is a reaction to the strong medicine that we had to use to treat his scabies.  He continues to amaze us, though, by smiling and cooing despite all the polka dots! :)  

We'll be heading home in just two days!  We have loved our time here in Vietnam, and now we are so excited and ready to introduce David to big brother Will and the rest of the family!  Don't be surprised if we don't post again for a bit; we will be too busy just being a happy family having a Happy 4th of July at home!