Today was our full day in Hoi An. It continues to rain softly and I feel as moist as a fish, but it isn't too bad. We have pretty good wifi, so good to hear from everybody at home. We spent the day visiting the various preserved old houses. They are somewhat similar, being made of teak with Chinese or Japanese influences. All have altars for their ancestors with the ashes in small urns with coins next to them and incense sticks burning . Each, though, has some significance and they all were absorbing. There are hundreds and hundreds of small shops now housed in former shop houses just like in the old days. Many of them have a women making whaevert is being sold and it is fun to watch, whether it be a silk print or a silk lantern or an embroidered painting. We have eaten all our meals at a restaurant on the dock called the Cordon Bleu. The staff knows us now and we barely have to order. After lunch we hired a lady with a small boat to take us out on the river where we saw a duck farm, girls casting nets for fish, lovely homes and restaurants and some cattle and water buffalo. The hour long ride which cost 5 dollars went quickly. As we walked along the quai I saw a silk shop and decided to have a dressing gown made. It will be ready tonight at 7 and I am excited to have it as a souvenir of this truly unique town. It is famous for its tailors and shoe makers. Truthfully the only thing that would make it better would be to see the sun.
Tomorrow we have hired a driver to take us to Hue. We had wanted to take the train but it is the week before Tet or the New Year, a time when Vietnamese people come home from wherever they are and all the seats are sold out.
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