Happy New Year - from Dehli, India!
...this is Sarah writing, Gerry may weigh in from time to time...likely mentioning monkey and cow sightings....
We arrived safely just after 9 p.m., Delhi time, on January 1. We quietly celebrated the beginning of 2009 on the plane, using East Coast time. No celebration on the plane, sadly. We flew on American, and they had Indian food (vegetarian) for meal choices - a bit of a surprise. We stuck to the meat-filled American food selections.
We collected our baggage, met our tour agency rep and got in our 'heritage' car to the hotel. Our model of car is supposedly used only for VIPs, Driver - Raj for short - is friendly and excellent at making his way through congested, lively streets - the frequently honking horn helps tremendously! Streets have lane markings, but this seems to be unknown to the drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, rickshaw drivers, and cows. Even though this is officially Safe Driving Week....'Honking hurts - honk less!"
Our first meal...came about midnight in the hotel - Gerry had tandoori chicken, I had tomato soup and veggie spring rolls - but we both had an Indian Kingfisher beer! I'm easing in to the food a bit.....
Today - half day city tour in the afternoon. Saw a very old tower, a cool tomb complex (the design inspired the Taj Mahal and others) and government buildings as part of New Dehli. Also, got taken to a handicrafts shop and saw a carpet making demonstration, but declined to purchase anything after finishing a lovely cup of tea. We got dropped off at the hotel - and ventured out by foot (only took a little of Gerry's convincing). Next door, there is a complex with shops/stalls (shoes, clothing, cell phones, etc.) and restaurants (Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Dominos Pizza - and a variety of local fare as well). Nice to see a bit of local life before making our way back to the hotel. Tomorrow, morning half day tour of Old Dehli, including a rickshaw ride which will be Gerry's highlight...also, sights related to the passing and memory of Gandhi. The weather is a bit foggy/hazey in the city, and the temperature is probably in the low to mid 70s....we haven't figured out the conversion from Celsius degrees.
Oh, we did see some monkeys on one of the government buildings. I took their picture of course.
Will write again soon - the business center in our hotel (which is super nice with impeccable service!) is convenient. And the security guards everywhere are nice, too!
Sarah & Gerry
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