Hue was the rainiest of all. Fortunately it was visually stunning. The former imperial city of the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled, theoretically, from 1802 to 1945, consists of a citadel resembling something out of an exotic fairy tale. Several motes surround its inner and outer walls which stretched about 10 kilometers around the city. Though the walls have been rebuilt several times-due to natural disasters and the destructions of war-it still retains an extremely ancient visage. The wet climate also added a mystical element, with foggy mists swirling around the entirety of the citadel, concealing some of its nooks and corners as if with secrets. Vines adorn the twenty foot high walls and behind them lay ancient temples or shrines, visible only by wandering down the right alley or stone gated archway.
In the regular city we found a two story restaurant to rest our feet. The owner had been recognized by the international media for his local cuisine and a special bottle opener he had invented made of wood. You wouldn't know he had been on American food networks from appearances (or price), but the food was exceptional and on our return visit he demonstrated his acumen for entertaining foreign guests. Using several homemade wooden bottle opening devices, about a foot long and an inch across with a nail protruding from one end, he karate chopped 6 bottles open at the same time! We videotaped it, and he gave us each a stick as a souvenir.
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