West Lake

Well here we are in Hangzhou and it’s seriously hot and humid, 37C is just a bit too much for us. But no need or desire to rush off anywhere so first off we’d a leisurely (and excellent) breakfast followed by a laundry session to see us through the last few days of the trip. Then we were out into steam bath city but not too far as a store beckoned with its air-con and a downpour kept us in there shopping! So the planned wander to West Lake deferred, we went back to the hotel to drop off our purchases before heading back out, this time following some tree-lined streets in the vain hope they’d be cooler. Didn’t work but one led us to a wee bar that sold cold (and excellent) local Pi beer on tap so we classed that a success. West Lake still beckoned though and we eventually made it there. Nice views but otherwise … another overcrowded, tat ridden ’scenic area’ …. should’ve stayed in the bar! Happily though we’d found the Midtown Brewery on the way and that’s where we headed next to replenish the pints of sweat that we’d just expended. By the time we were fed and watered and chatted with the brewer (the Wheat beer was excellent) the temperature had plummeted to a cool and balmy 29C and the midtown lights were coming on. It made the stroll back a wee bit more pleasant