March 8: Calcutta definitely has an excitement about it.. We are in a very nice hotel (hotel lindsey) which is in the middle of a busy area. It feels kind of like Times Square. (Photo 1) We arrived at 8 pm and there were neon lights all around. We took showers and then met at the rooftop restaurant for dinner. It felt like being in a US restaurant. There was a big table near us with some Americans and Canadians who sang happy birthday to someone. Binu said to order the fish because its good in Calcutta. So I had Calypso fish and a mojito. It is difficult at times to order here. Neil asked for Jack Daniels and coke. The waiter said he didn't have it. Neil told him he could see it behind the bar. Binu had to show him the bottle. We also all had flaming brownies with chocolate ice cream. It was really a festive dinner.
This morning we went to a corner stand on the street (photo 2) with Binu and had a grilled cheese sandwich. It was very good. Apparently we were near the chicken wholesale market because there were baskets of chickens. (Photo 3) Some guys rode off on bicycles with chickens hanging from them. Then we walked to another stand for a chai served in a pottery cup. The cups are disposable so we kept them for souvenirs.
We visited two places today: Mother Teresa's home and the Victoria museum. You aren't permitted to take photos at Mother House except at the tomb. They have an area with big placards that tell her story. There are also some of her possessions (calendar with her notes on it, notebook, etc). We also saw her room - very simple with a bed, table and desk. In the room with her tomb, some people prayed at the foot of the tomb (photo 4). The Victoria Museum was okay - mostly things from British colonialism. One funny thing happened there. Gavin and I were sitting on the steps in front and a. Indian woman came and asked to take our picture. The whole family got in the photo. She said they were tourists from the north of India. Binu said they often have never been in contact with Europeans so they want to take a photo to show people back home.
This is my last full day in India. Tonight we will have a festive dinner. Tomorrow I will take the taxi to the airport and wait for my very long flight. My first flight doesn't leave till 8 pm but I will go early with Gavin. Maybe there will be wi-fi in the airport and I can upload my last 2 blog posts. The wi-fi in the hotel doesn't work even though they act like they don't believe us when we say that.
This morning we went to a corner stand on the street (photo 2) with Binu and had a grilled cheese sandwich. It was very good. Apparently we were near the chicken wholesale market because there were baskets of chickens. (Photo 3) Some guys rode off on bicycles with chickens hanging from them. Then we walked to another stand for a chai served in a pottery cup. The cups are disposable so we kept them for souvenirs.
We visited two places today: Mother Teresa's home and the Victoria museum. You aren't permitted to take photos at Mother House except at the tomb. They have an area with big placards that tell her story. There are also some of her possessions (calendar with her notes on it, notebook, etc). We also saw her room - very simple with a bed, table and desk. In the room with her tomb, some people prayed at the foot of the tomb (photo 4). The Victoria Museum was okay - mostly things from British colonialism. One funny thing happened there. Gavin and I were sitting on the steps in front and a. Indian woman came and asked to take our picture. The whole family got in the photo. She said they were tourists from the north of India. Binu said they often have never been in contact with Europeans so they want to take a photo to show people back home.
This is my last full day in India. Tonight we will have a festive dinner. Tomorrow I will take the taxi to the airport and wait for my very long flight. My first flight doesn't leave till 8 pm but I will go early with Gavin. Maybe there will be wi-fi in the airport and I can upload my last 2 blog posts. The wi-fi in the hotel doesn't work even though they act like they don't believe us when we say that.
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