The first memorable thing (on the way to Sapa) was the train station in Hanoi. I’ve been to less modern places than Vietnam but I’ve never seen a train station quite like this one. Just rails…. nothing else…and lots of shady characters trying to “help” you find the right train. When we entered, all we could see was a cargo train blocking our view, and then walked in a smiling fellow reaching his hand towards us, about to grab the tickets (which reminds me of the helpful fellow who was chasing me across the street in Hanoi with super-glue in his hand, trying to help me with my (NOT) torn sandal). Luckily, well-traveled-tourists that we are, I jumped in front of Daphna, blocking him while she was hiding the tickets in her bra, giving him her “Let’s see you try anything foolish mister and I’ll break your arm with my KRAV MAGA technique” (Daphna lives in the big city and they are tough as nails there). Well, to make a long story short, after walking for miles in search of our coach we finally found it!