Danang has gold shops like Thailand. Unlike Thailand, the gold shops here are also places to convert foreign currency into Vietnamese Dong.

I didn’t know this when I went out in search of a place to change money. I didn’t see any ATM’s in my perambulations and the sun, even at 9 am, was blindingly bright.

Reading street signs just across the street was a new challenge. A few restaurants had fish in tanks; species I had never seen. A turn into a side-street turned up a French boulangerie and street stalls where banh-mu sandwiches were on offer. There’s a breakfast place not too far away, but a fifteen minute walk without a map is a risk.

I responded to a letter that explained the geopolitical function of the French Maginot Line: it forced the Germans to march through Belgium which international the conflict. Thus, while it failed to stop the Germans it achieved the political goal.

In polls, Greenlanders reject American enticements because they have no interest in the lack of a comprehensive American health care system.

I spent the afternoon on a cushiness wooden couch in front of the hotel. The beach was a few hundred yards away. For most of the afternoon there were no waves, but around four pm breakers started to form. The light wind was so pleasant I stayed there for the whole afternoon.

Around five I went for a walk but tired quickly. I had a $3 bowl of pho for dinner. This meant that, apart from the cost of the hotel, I had only spent $10 or so for the day. I suppose I should arrange for tours but so far I haven’t.

Danang is a beach town but it doesn’t feel like a beach town. I stopped for a salted coffee which was…interesting and a Western tourist pushing a baby stroller complained in an American accent about the low chair I was sitting at. This, despite the fact that he was only walking past the coffee shop and most chairs in Viet Nam are low.

Not being able to speak any Vietnamese at all is kind of embarrassing. I can’t even say “thank you.” On my walk I saw massage shops, a convenient store, a few hotels, optometrist shops, more massage shops, coffee shops and a KFC. I didn’t see any maps for sale. I guess everyone who needs orientation looks up their location on their phones.