October 28,

Today was again overcast and chances of rain throughout the day! Bummer!! So a easy going day. We got around and had our javas and breakfast. We both chose the bread with butter, laughing cow cheese, and omelet; watermelon; and Ginger tea. I also had a passionfruit. It a bit tart and citrusy – nice change, but I wouldn't want it everyday. After we ate, went back up to our room. I was able to talk and catch up with my sister. Jeff turned in our laundry to be done. Then we started some planning, since we could not be out and about. I blogged. Jeff did more planning.

Around 1300, we went out during a rain break, kind of. Well not really, it was still drizzly and we just walked with our rain jackets on – no Clink today 🙁 ! We first went by the ATM. It was still shut down!! That was not good, but we have enough for lunch. We went to Quan Cat Ba Restaurant, having French fries with tomatoes and garlic; Cucumber salad; and Grilled Fish with lemon sauce, tomatoes and garlic. It was a whole fish – we were not expecting that – thought they had misunderstood our order. But more importantly we did not think we would have enough money! It was so very good! In fact, as soon as the fish came, we dug right in forgetting to take a picture!! Jeff had a beer, I had a mango smoothie. When we finished, and asked for the bill – we were pleasantly shocked! That whole fish was the price for what we had ordered. Total bill was 235K Dong which is $9.28! Crazy!!

We went back to our place and had some siesta time, watched more You tube, and just watched the drizzly day out over the village of Cat Ba. Around 1730, we went back out to find a money exchange place and we saw a sign at a Hotel for a ATM! So we went in. The Hotel person had a credit card machine that used as an ATM. Cool, we finally got some more Dong… I think we were down to like 60 cents!! We still have our $30 US, some Malaysian, and some Thai monies, that we could have exchanged, but this was better. Now we went to a grocery store – lo and behold, the main ATM was open! So we lined up to get more (at a better rate)! But the line was long and slow moving so we will come back after the store. We found one bought some trail mix stuff, some “baguette chips”, and found some Trident gum that we like. It is weird the places we can find this gum. Anyway, we bought our stuff; went to the ATM; and back to our place. Our laundry was done – that was a quick turn around! We had our snack supper and a bottle of wine. Bed by 2200.

     October 29,

We got up and about, having our javas, then went down for breakfast. We both chose crepe with mango, and ginger tea. I had a banana for fruit; Jeff, the watermelon. The weather has not cleared yet today — like they had said!! So, another glummy day! Back in our room, I took a nap. Jeff planned/read. I was awakened by the housekeeping staff, so I blogged some.

At one-ish, we noticed it had lightened up a teensy bit, so we went out, taking Clink. We went to a beach area we had not been to before. A five star resort – Hotel Perle d'Orient has taken over this beach, but there is still public access. It was not busy at all. It was too cold to dip in but we enjoyed the views and found an walkway, called Rock Trail up a bit circling around the mountain. We went up and on it. It was better views and lead to another beach and the Flamingo Cat Ba Beach Resort… where we picked up a couple when we went on our Cat Bay Tour. Anyway, we went back along the easy trail to get back to Clink. That was a nice little stroll.

Now we went back in main part of town and found lunch. We wanted pizza. So we went to Napoli Pizza. They advertise wood-fired pizza. We ordered a medium Napoli Pizza – mushroom, bacon, black olives, onion, salami, mozzarella cheese with tomato sauce; and Fish & Chips. Both were great and hit the spot. We also shared a Mojito and water. It was 355K Dong ($14.03).

After we finished we decided to get a massage. We had to park a bit down from Happy Feet. A man walked up to us and was waving. I did not know him, but Jeff finally recognized him. It was Clink's owner. So we turned in the scooter early by couple of hours and he talked us into his massage place. We both had head, shoulder, and back massages of 30 min. It was great. Jeff later said he thought the other place was better. Jeff tipped each lady 100K Dong – they each lit up and hugged us!! That was only four dollars! Then we paid the 180K for the actual massage at the desk. We walked back, surprised how much they have gotten the little bay area filled in for reclamation of land.

We arrived back at our place and the construction workers have made it in front of our hotel now. The sidewalk is non-existent. It is time to leave (we will tomorrow). Anyway, the afternoon was relaxation time. Jeff got his nap now. I played a game on my phone. At six-ish we had a light supper. Then we packed some and watched some You tube. It will be a travel morning tomorrow.