After our usual relaxing breakfast, we are off to ride the funicular to the heights of the island.
The walk is longer than we have been taking. Later in our vacation, we will look back fondly at our chances to exercise with all this walking, but today I regret a few misreads of our map that lead us on interesting but unnecessary byways on the way to the funicular. This particular mountain climbing railcar struggles up steeper grades than any other in the world - and this is a claim I am ready to believe as we are pulled up the mountain. It often feels as if we could hurtle precipitously backwards were anything to go wrong. Hopefully they have kept it maintained since the time it was built in 1888.
Hong Kong island has a single peak in the middle, Victoria Peak, now mostly preserved as a park area for walking and enjoying the fantastic views. In past years, it was also the most defensible territory and the most desirous for building. Some estates still cling to the mountainsides, protected by some vicious looking barbed wire.
Luckily for us, we get in the line before the school group, but it's still a crowd waiting for the train. We just miss getting on one train, but that sets us up for first pick of seats on the next ride up. Views are dizzying.
When we get off, it takes a while to discover how to exit the building without paying for the "super view on top of the building." We do avoid that and the wax museum, although I do succumb to a photo opportunity with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp.
Once we exit through the gift shops, we walk partly around the mountain on a perimeter trail, occasionally passed by joggers. The views are great, and the sky is relatively clear for us.
An information booth gives us a map of the way to walk back down to the city - which would have been a vast challenge without a guide. It takes us a full hour to walk downhill. Then it's back to the hotel for a snack.
We head out to the SoHo area, but on the way find an display of "Useless" art in an abandoned building converted to a temporary people's art exhibit. Eventually, we find a bar where we try a couple of drinks - a Singapore Sling for me and a Champagne for Lindy - with a special-ordered antipasto plate and their standard bar mix of wasabi peas and nuts to nibble on.
Local denizens pop in and out of this dining mecca in various states of dress. Some are in full glamour high heels, glittering dresses or elegant suits. Others are in Santa Claus suits maneuvering past the walking snowmen.
The walk is longer than we have been taking. Later in our vacation, we will look back fondly at our chances to exercise with all this walking, but today I regret a few misreads of our map that lead us on interesting but unnecessary byways on the way to the funicular. This particular mountain climbing railcar struggles up steeper grades than any other in the world - and this is a claim I am ready to believe as we are pulled up the mountain. It often feels as if we could hurtle precipitously backwards were anything to go wrong. Hopefully they have kept it maintained since the time it was built in 1888.
Hong Kong island has a single peak in the middle, Victoria Peak, now mostly preserved as a park area for walking and enjoying the fantastic views. In past years, it was also the most defensible territory and the most desirous for building. Some estates still cling to the mountainsides, protected by some vicious looking barbed wire.
Luckily for us, we get in the line before the school group, but it's still a crowd waiting for the train. We just miss getting on one train, but that sets us up for first pick of seats on the next ride up. Views are dizzying.
When we get off, it takes a while to discover how to exit the building without paying for the "super view on top of the building." We do avoid that and the wax museum, although I do succumb to a photo opportunity with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp.
Once we exit through the gift shops, we walk partly around the mountain on a perimeter trail, occasionally passed by joggers. The views are great, and the sky is relatively clear for us.
An information booth gives us a map of the way to walk back down to the city - which would have been a vast challenge without a guide. It takes us a full hour to walk downhill. Then it's back to the hotel for a snack.
Local denizens pop in and out of this dining mecca in various states of dress. Some are in full glamour high heels, glittering dresses or elegant suits. Others are in Santa Claus suits maneuvering past the walking snowmen.
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