Hello everyone,
It's been a while since our last email......this week we have spent in Goa with Gerry's parents. At the time of our last email, we were set to move on to the lake city Udaipur.....we got there....but it wasn't easy. Here's a short synopsis of what occurred after we last wrote:
In Jaisalmer (desert/camel town), our flight was cancelled due to fog/poor visibility (apparently a chronic problem this time of year in the northern areas, news to us). So, 10 hours by car to Udaipur, arriving at 1:30 a.m. (The drive deserves more attention at another time
-and Gerry will write it better!.....let's just say we don't recommend driving at night in India - everyone drives with their brights on so you can't really see anything when passing trucks or other cars. We didn't have our loveable driver Raj, the airline hired a car for us because of the flight cancellation, so we had a new driver and car.) Checked in to a very nice heritage (old and refurbished) hotel, slept for 2-3 hours and got up before dawn to go to the airport for our morning flights to Goa. So, missed seeing Udaipur in the daylight and weren't able to enjoy a very nice hotel. In Udaipur, visibility still a problem, so sat in the airport for 8 hours awaiting some way out. Thought about ditching the airport and stay another night in Udaipur so we could see it, but they kept saying the visibility would improve any moment. Finally got a flight to Mumbai (chances of visibility better, farther south) but missed the last connecting flight to Goa. So overnight in a Mumbai hotel near the airport and a 5 a.m. flight to Goa.
-and Gerry will write it better!.....let's just say we don't recommend driving at night in India - everyone drives with their brights on so you can't really see anything when passing trucks or other cars. We didn't have our loveable driver Raj, the airline hired a car for us because of the flight cancellation, so we had a new driver and car.) Checked in to a very nice heritage (old and refurbished) hotel, slept for 2-3 hours and got up before dawn to go to the airport for our morning flights to Goa. So, missed seeing Udaipur in the daylight and weren't able to enjoy a very nice hotel. In Udaipur, visibility still a problem, so sat in the airport for 8 hours awaiting some way out. Thought about ditching the airport and stay another night in Udaipur so we could see it, but they kept saying the visibility would improve any moment. Finally got a flight to Mumbai (chances of visibility better, farther south) but missed the last connecting flight to Goa. So overnight in a Mumbai hotel near the airport and a 5 a.m. flight to Goa. 
So, we finally made it to Goa, one day late (Monday morning instead of Sunday afternoon). We missed a big lunch prepared for us at the relatives' house (they roasted a piglet and everything), but everyone was just happy we finally made it. Goa is beautiful - tropical, touristy, and very local all at the same time. We have met various relatives and they have enjoyed meeting us (really, just me (Sarah), they have been eager to see the wife!). We have eaten a lot of great food here - traditional Goan dishes that Gerry can't get enough of and the others enjoy fresh seafood. We stayed in a couple different areas- one the capital city of this small state and one area a popular 
tourist beach area. There are mostly other tourists from Europe - and Russia specifically. Their tourist numbers are quite low, as with the rest of India. We went to a big weekly flea market in Anjuna - quite a sight to see all the people there along with all the merchandise for sale. The weekly market is kind of a gathering place for all the tourists in Goa that week, so we saw it all - modern day hippies, backpackers, a man dressed like a pirate, pink hair and fishnets, and us tame American tourists. So because of our delay, we decided to stay in Goa one day more. We were supposed to fly to Mumbai on Friday evening, but we were able to make changes to stay one more day. Today, (and shortly) we fly to Mumbai/Bombay. Gerry's parents have a late night flight out from there, and we stay on in Mumbai until Monday morning. We will meet more relatives in Mumbai and we have arranged for a tour on Sunday. Then Monday we fly to London, 2 nights there with a cousin, and Wednesday we fly home. So our time is quickly coming to an end. It's been great to see so many different parts of India - and meeting the relatives here this week has been really nice. For me, it's great to see what Gerry and his family have talked about for so long.
So I'm off - quick breakfast and then we try to fit us, all our luggage (read: we've done a fair amount of shopping!) and the other hotel guests in the airport shuttle. Gerry went to see about getting a massage this morning....he has considered doing so each day, so I think he was able to grab it on his last chance here.
We should be able to write again, but if we don't, know that all is well!
Thanks for reading....
Sarah (and Gerry sends his best of course!)
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