Day Four -- Into the Desert: Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Flew today to Jodhpur, Rajasthan from a spanking brand new terminal at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, but not before we retrieved our passports, wallets and Kindles from the hotel where we had inadvertently left them in the room safe! The view from the airplane window was dramatic as we emerged from the haze and density of Delhi into a clear blue desert sky over a craggy landscape not unlike the Afghanistan we've come to know from news reports. Stepping off the plane at what's known as "Sun City" we were struck by the warmth and freshness of the desert air. It was satisfying after the unusually cold weather we've been experiencing since our arrival. Even here in Jodhpur it's colder than usual, but not too cold for Ben to dive into the hotel pool. The rest of us took off a few of our layers and enjoyed the sun's penetrating rays. Our hotel, seen in this picture, was built in the 15th Century at the base of a magnificent fort of the same vintage. The city is a bustling oasis and we went out exploring in the late afternoon and people were shopping for their evening meals. Our food -- mostly hotel meals -- have continued to be spectacularly delicious. More on that, perhaps, in a later blog report. Haven't spotted anyone yet in Jodhpur pants, though I'm told the eponymous riding breeches are still made here, where the British nobles came to hunt wild boar in the 19th century. Lots of history to explore before we head deeper into the desert later today, where we'll be out of internet contact for at least a few days. So, Happy Birthday Mom!