The Room

Spending time in a city is a completely personal and subjective experience. Our views of a town are shaped by an infinite number of things: the people we meet, the hotel we stay in, the restaurants we find, the weather during our visit. Two different travelers with very similar tastes may have widely different opinions of a city or country. It's all about what happens while you're there. And it's never the same thing. When I remember a town fondly, the first thing that comes to mind may be stunning scenery, a great trek, an incredible meal, the perfect temperature, a beach, a tree, a bar, who knows. But the most important thing is how it starts. If your first 5 minutes in a city are plagued with problems and frustration and people you learn to loathe instantly, then it's hard to recover from that. For this reason, hotels are very important. When you arrive somewhere, you're usually exhausted and uncomfortable from the journey. Depending on the country you're in, you may be able to grab a cheap cab or tuk-tuk to your in-town destination. Perhaps you're forced to navigate the subway immediately. I like mass transit, but if it's rush hour in Mexico City, the last place you want to be is on the metro. Being stuffed into a car with 100 people who don't have enough room to breathe and having to force in your travel pack to their dismay is a guaranteed way to get off to a bad start. Or maybe you have to walk to your hostel on a dreary, rainy November afternoon in England. It could be unpleasant. Perhaps you arrive in Belize City...ever. The point is, it's always different, and as a traveler your opinions of a city begin forming immediately.

01 Room with a View

So while the train ride to Lao Cai was unpleasant, we were ready for a fresh start. We stepped off the bus into clear, crisp mountain air. We found a minibus to Sapa quickly, it was only half full (like the proverbial glass), and it was priced fairly. Not a bad start. We began the 45-minute journey to Sapa and enjoyed spectacular scenery immediately. Lindsey didn't enjoy all the curves and twists, but she managed not to get sick. Once we arrived in town, we grabbed our bags and began searching for a hotel. Almost immediately a guy found us, told us about a $5 room, we had a look, and it was gorgeous. Nice linens, thick blankets, an extra bed, an incredible view of the valley below, and a large hot water heater just for our room. He could have charged twice as much, but we were glad he didn't. There was no need to do the usual haggling. We agreed to the price, dropped our bags, and set out to see the Sunday market for a few minutes before our much-needed nap. We snapped some photos, then slept like champs. Sapa started out very well. A cheap and comfortable room is absolutely essential. Hot water never hurts. Waking up and not finding that bed bugs have infested your flesh is also nice. Good weather, friendly people, stunning views...we knew we were going to enjoy ourselves. It's all about a good start.

02 Balcony and Beyond

03 Lindsey was Cold

04 The Balcony

05 The View

06 Clouds Sweeping Up

07 Last Shot