We are in SaPa at the Victoria Hotel. Our train arrived at Loa Cio at 530 in the morning and our guide and driver were waiting for us. It is about an hour drive up here, and lucky for us the hotel gave us our room so we could shower. On the train we had a sleeper, and bought all four beds so we had privacy. We didn't think we would be able to sleep a wink, but both of us got a few hours sleep. The shared bathroom was vile.

Today we trekked 6 miles to a H'Mong village. When we came out of the hotel three teenage girls in H'Mong traditional dress started walking with us, and continued the whole way. They were so cute and buttered us up for sales. Whenever anyone else came near us one of them gave the best stink eye... these are our Americans and stay away. The trail we took was the "easy" one, and we can't believe we did it. Part of the way was on pavement, then it turned into a steep downhill trail with large rocks for a long way. We walked past the terraced rice paddies, and there were pigs and water buffalo wandering around. Len said, " the worst of the trail is over" and about a block later it turned into a virtual stairway of rocks and dirt, then we walked over the rocks that held the water back for the rice, and along a steep hillside on a 12 inch wide trail. Our guide was great, and helped me all the way. The three girls had flip flops on, and jumped from rock to rock giggling all the way in a sort of mountain ballet. They had a great time teasing Len. We stopped at a shelter for lunch which Dao (our guide) had in his pack. He prepared our sandwiches for us which consisted of good bread, scarey lunch meat, laughing Cow cheese, and then he pulled out the best part; raw bacon. Len ate his and I slipped mine over the railing when no one was looking. Then we had fruit for dessert. He took about 10 minutes to peel and slice an apple, not sure about his chef abilities.

As we were leaving lunch one of "our girls" said, "would you buy something from me now so we can go home?" We bought a couple of little trinkets, and gave them a bag of M&M's which really got a smile.

We then walked further through a couple of villages and met our driver for a ride home. Tonight our guide is going to cook dinner for us, he is a chef at a local resturant.

Hopefully we will still be alive tomorrow after todays lunch.