morning market

We changed the order that we were to do things here in Delhi, because of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations Jan 26th.  So we did the old Delhi tour, going through the markets and small streets. We had a motorized bicycle rickshaw ride. 5 passengers!! Unfortunately, I did not get a good picture of that.  But it was fun.  We went through the spice market.  We went into one spice store where we were given some spices to smell and look at and some to taste.  We bought a few spices or teas.  We started late - 11 am to give us a chance to sleep in if we could.  I could not.

working on the electrical system

sugar in various forms

carrying things

flowers for sale

sweatshirt shop

bicycle rickshaw ride

 and then to lunch.

market day

note electrical wires.  They were everywhere

spice market

We bought some spices.

Chikkus and start of tour

Ah, finally I can have a chikku!! They are on the menu for breakfast.  We had a chikku tree in our back yard growing up.  Haven't had one in years.  

Suneal was our guide for the day.

blog

As usual we are having trouble with blogging.  But we are working on it.

MSP, CDG, DEL

snow in Minneapolis

de-icing the plane

Sometime on the way to Paris, morning happened

Sideways Garden in Paris.  It is real.

Arrival into Delhi

Even though we left Paris about 1 hour late we arrived into Delhi on time.  Delhi is a very modern, clean airport.  We had a long walk to get to immigration.  Quite the process.  It went pretty smoothly.  The electronic tourist visa worked.  Now my passport is stamped.  The weird part was the finger print scanner.  They had to try several times for each of us to get a good scan.  The counter was up high and so doing both thumbs together was VERY awkward for me.  But we were all successful.  We also got the dollars to rupees changed ok before leaving the airport. 

 We found our guide outside of the airport;  We had a large shuttle bus get us to the hotel.  It was 2 am before we finally got to our rooms.  Debbie and I are rooming together and Sharon and Jeanne are rooming together.  At least for this hotel.  If we get sick of each other we can always shift.  :-) 

on the way

Well we all have connected in Minneapolis.  We are sitting at Mimosa Brasserie.  It is a cool place that we have to use an ipad type thing to order.  Fun.

iPad menu

We don't leave MSP until 5:20 pm.  

Not next year, not next month and now not even next week

We have been planning a trip to India for a long time.  The first thoughts of it were in 2009 but not seriously then. We got serious the beginning of 2013.  Quite the process of choosing a tour company and an itinerary that fit with what we wanted to do.  We finalized things in Sept 2015 with Compass India Holidays.  We have been counting the days.  There is so much to do for a trip like this, so we have been busy.  The trip is Jan 20-Feb 10.  Sharon and I are tacking on a few days in Paris at the end so will do not get home until Saturday Feb 13th.  There are 4 of us going.  My younger sister, Debbie, my college roommate, Jeanne and my "local" travel buddy, Sharon.  We will be doing a lot of things I have never done before but balancing it with showing Sharon and Jeanne the familiar things.  We leave Portland about 7 in the morning on Wednesday the 20th and do not get to Delhi until 11 pm on Thursday the 21st!! This is a long flight. We all meet in Minneapolis.  Then we go through Paris on our way.  We are flying Delta/Air France.  India is 13 1/2 hours ahead of Portland time.

the planning

the trip

Debbie is coming from Seattle, Sharon and I from Portland and Jeanne from Minnesota. We will all meet in Minneapolis.  I am excited and nervous.  Is there any way to be prepared for India??