Beep Beep Beep.....sounded the alarm at 6:45 a.m. so Lynda and I could get up to meet Darlene and Gail for breakfast at 7 this morning. As I type this I’m reminded that I forgot to mention yesterday that there were church bells ringing so much that we began to wonder if the only way they’d stop is if we went to church! They started up at 6 a.m. and were still ringing (on and off) at 6 pm! But that was yesterday....and this post is about today....
Today is the day that Darlene and Gail head for home and so there will be no sleeping in for either of them! It’s been a great 5 weeks full of adventure and fun but they’re both looking forward to going home too.
We wouldn’t want them to get away with no excitement though and so Saigon traffic made sure that they had a little glitch in that their car couldn’t get to the hotel as scheduled for their 7:30 pick up. In fact, it wasn’t looking good for it to make it here by 8:00 and so plan B kicked in and Robert arranged for a taxi out front instead. As a result they had a few anxious moments but in the end they made it to the airport and through security with time to spare so it was one of those times when you just have to say, “alls well that ends well”.
After our two travel buddies left Lynda and I decided it was way too early to get up and so it was back to our beds for a bit. When we awoke again we discovered that Saigon was crying this morning too! There was lightening and thunder and so what were we to do but to crawl back into bed for a little while longer.
Eventually the rain stopped and our day began. The plan for today was to visit the Saigon Opera House as it is supposed to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. While there we’d also be able to see that part of the city. As luck would have it, there was a performance scheduled for the Opera House for tonight and so....we got tickets and are we ever glad we did! We even dressed up a little and donned some mascara in honour of the event. The production, The Mist, was an amazing show that depicts the life of the traditional farmer in southern vietnam. You could have heard a pin drop in that theatre for the entire 90 minute show. The theatre lived up to its reputation too. It seats just 468 and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. As well, the acoustics are exceptional and the seats roomy and comfortable. We were welcomed to the theatre with a complimentary mojito that we were able to enjoy out on a little balcony overlooking the lighted fountain that changed colours every minute or so. After that we were given wooden sticks as we were shown to our seats on the 1st floor balcony. Once the lights dimmed and the music began, I am not sure that either of us breathed again until the rice fell from the sky at the end of the show. Well, perhaps we breathed a little when we were participating during the section where we were invited to use those wooden sticks to mimic the performers as they beat on their bamboo “drums” and the floor. All in all it was such a fun night neither of us really wanted it to end and so.....since it was the perfect temperature out we decided to extend the outing just a little bit longer.
The Opera House is located on a main square in the heart of the city. Across the street there is the Hotel Continental Saigon and we could see a little patio that seemed to be calling us to come and have a coffee there. The restaurant that this patio was attached to is called Le Bourgeois and the music that was playing was all in French so within minutes of sitting down we both felt like we were in Paris! The coffees were delicious and the atmosphere perfect but you can only sit there for so long and in truth....we weren’t ready for this our final night in Vietnam to end just yet so.......
Next stop....rooftop bar for a night cap. :-). On the other side of the Opera House there is another Hotel. This one is called the Caravelle and it is home to one of the oldest and most favoured rooftop bars in the city. The bar is called Saigon Saigon and on the way up the stairs from the 9th to the 10th floor they have pictures and information about the colourful history of this hotel and bar. It was home to many a journalist during the years before and during the American conflict here.
By the time we’d enjoyed our drinks it was time to head back to the hotel as we had some packing and prep to do for our departure tomorrow. We have flights to Phnom Pen on Cambodian Angkor Air at 1 pm so have arranged to have a car pick us up here at the hotel at 10:00.
What a great evening in this interesting and very cosmopolitan city......it was the perfect way to bid Vietnam a fond farewell.
Till next time...... LorLyn. (We lost our DarGai so all we have left is LorLyn)
No comments:
Post a Comment