Today is our first full travel-free day of our vacation.
We start a recurring routine by making coffee in the room, showering, and dressing for the buffet breakfast provided by the hotel. This morning we enjoy dim sum, scrambled eggs, lox and fresh coffee.
Near our hotel is a pleasant park with a red good-luck bridge arching over the water, and some happy turtles lounging on a tree trunk.
We take a couple of hours walking in the neighborhood, following a tour in a Lonely Planet book. Our own hotel is on the corner of Hollywood and Possession, near where Great Britain declared its control of the island and surrounding territories. We saw several temples with burning incense, displays of food and medicinals such as dragonfruit, giant mushrooms, ginseng and bird nests.
Three blocks of one road are crowded on both sides with stalls selling chops, used to impress sealing wax and the readers of your letters.
We ride the "longest escalator" in the world (800 meters). An early part of the escalator / elevated walk is painted playfully. The ride goes on for many blocks from downtown, through the NoHo and SoHo areas up the hill towards Victoria Peak. I am not sure the claim should really count - the escalator is not continuous, but rather a long series of escalators interrupted by mostly short walks. Passing through the SoHo area, we pause to enjoy a Chiaro Prosecco from Veneto, Italy at Staunton's. It's pleasantly dry, and a chance to rest our feet.
After returning to the hotel to freshen up, we are out to dine at the Yung Kee restaurant to sample their famous goose. The prices have drifted upward from the Lonely Planet quotes, a sign of success, but the taste is excellent. We may not have needed to order the scallops with vegetables and shrimp with noodles as well. The meal is extremely rich.
On the way back, I note with sophomoric humor that a store selling bras is called "Bubies."
Back at the hotel, another quality of boutiqueness shows itself. The walls are thin, and we can hear the giggling of girls next door from about 10 pm to 4 am. As usual, I sleep better than Lindy.
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