The hotel’s concierge suggested we taxi to the Marco Polo (Italian) hotel as nearby was an Italian restaurant, yes Italian, which he highly recommended, it being No 5 in Xiamen according to Trip Advisor (yes they’ve been here too !!).
A walk down Coffee Street evidenced sparsely fraternised restaurants with a few patrons imbibing at the pavement tables. Well it was Wednesday night!
We chose to return to the Italian. Five diners including ourselves graced its tables. An Englishman at one table and three local girls at another. The food was delicious - the best Calamari I’ve eaten, followed by a pizza for CC - thin based and tasty - with delicious handmade spinach and ricotta tortellini for moi, all enjoyed with a bottle of Nero d’ Avola.
This morning, we depart for Taipei - an hour and 40 minute flight. We taxied to the airport, we were quickly and efficiently checked in. Aboard now, we await departure.
We arrived - no need of a visa here, unlike China, where we had to get a double entry visa (€60pp) to stay two days in Xiamen and overnight on our return journey home!
In the queue for Emigration all mobiles were in use so I attempted to publish Day 1 and 2 of the Blog, which I had been unable to do in China. . The internet is severely restricted there - published successfully at the first attempt!! The difference between a communist regime and a democratic one!!
After clearing Emigration and Customs, we went to the Information Desk, where a more than helpful staff member spent at least a half an hour with us, explaining the workings of the transport system and the country’s attractions. Having connected me to free WiFi hot spots around Taipei, she furnished me with an emergency phone number, where people could converse with me in English. She informed me that the Chinese always take tours (she wasn’t selling tours - it was only an information hub) so no doubt the thought of letting us off travelling the country on our own was worrying her. I thanked her for her help, assuring her that we were widely travelled and well used to travelling alone. I don’t think she quite believed me!! She’s awaiting that call!!
We took the Metro from the airport
to Main Station, where we had chosen a conveniently located hotel. Do I have to again remind you of the lack of such a service at Dublin airport? Our politicians should grace this country to learn as to how to provide a functioning, public transport system.
At the station, we could not locate the hotel so we decided on a taxi. The taxi man, who could have driven us around most of Taipei, pointed to the hotel across the road from where we stood -an honest man. We had one experience of the other type in Xiamen!!
Having checked in, ensuring that the room had a window as per our booking. Many of the hotel rooms in Taiwan do not support windows so one must specifically ask when booking! This time you will be spared a photograph of the view unless you’d enjoy s brick wall ! What’s more the hotel is on the 8th floor and upwards with commercial premises beneath - a first in my experience!
The hotel is peopled by young travellers and two of Chinese origin but from LA opened a conversation with us. Coffee and toast is available 24/7 in the lobby and one can do one’s washing free! You get the picture. To add to our uniqueness, we are the only non Asians at the hotel!!
After a rest, we decided to visit a Night Market. There are numerous ones around Taipei, some devoted to tourists. We decided to access a local market by Metro -thankfully not a tourist in sight- to get a feel for the city. But first we had to purchase an Easy Card much like the Leap Card. The selling agent apologetically asked if I’d mind telling him my age I did and he issued a senior’s card, which allows discounted fares!!
On arrival at Longshan Temple Metro Station (Blue Line), a young couple pointed us in the direction of the Night Market, a 3 minute walk away. Both here and in China the young people speak English and are extremely helpful.
The Night Market was all that Coffee Street was not. It was teeming with life - with everything imaginable for sale.
The young gamblers weren’t out yet or else they had retired to bed!!
The restaurants were there also and having made a few small purchases, we chose our dining spot.
It was an excellent choice -it was clean and the toilets impeccable - the sign of a safe place to eat and well patronised by locals.
We dined on fried rice, sautéed eggplant and sweet and sour ribs. The aubergine was ‘to die for’, fried rice teeming with shrimp and the ribs - we’ll I was never a fan. A bottle of local beer seemed appropriate but some of the patrons were drinking wine. One went to the fridge and chose one’s own drinks and when we asked for a bottle opener, we were shown it, cleverly hanging from the table’s side!!
We returned to the hotel via Main Station now dressed in its evening hue...
Tomorrow is another day........
No comments:
Post a Comment