Behind the scenes

So much has happened in the last week, and I haven't been able to write about the massive comedy of errors, good luck and bad luck we have had. Our vacation plans are constantly changing as we are at the complete mercy of others here in a foreign country where only one of us speaks the language. Some have been trustworthy and completely dependable. Some have not been.

When we arrived in Delhi, the driver of the party van we had arrived was already ticked because we had changed our plans due to our 2 day delay in newark. That, ,and showing up at midnight with the most ridiculous amount of luggage did not for a friendship make. The next monring when our trip from Delhi to agra took longer than expected he started complaining about our plans to go to Jaipur that night, driving late and then getting up early the next morning again.

So we left him and spent our fantastic time at the Taj. Knowing we still had a 5 hours drive to Jaipur tonight, we crammed ourselves (yes all 11 of us) into an auto rickshaw and stopped at a western style hotel for dinner. None of the wait staff spoke english and I spent the first 30 minutes washing Sammy's glow blanket out in the bathroom sink as she had thrown up on it too. We ordered, and then waited. Nothing . After 90 minutes the waiter came back to out table and asked if he could substitute all of the chicken we ordered for mutton. We said no. My brothers then got involved. We ended up just paying for our beers and leaving the restaurant. Hungry, starving and a little drunk we walked back to the party van knowing we had a long trip ahead and that we would be eating snacks for dinner. When we got there, the driver refused to take us to jaipur, which is where we had a hotel reservation. Instead he dropped us at a hotel in Agra and David and Brian used their charm to get us 4 rooms here at the Trident. I am pretty sure David's mustache played a role in this, but we ended up at THE MOST LUXURIOUS hotel ever! The staff immediately took our dirty clothes and washed them for us - returning them to us hot and pressed! There was a potter sitting in the breezeway that let my kids try their hand at throwing pots. There is a sitar player here, and... a fantastic restaurant... with PIZZA for the kids.
So, in all, this was a blessing as we all got a full nights sleep which we havent had in days and a good meal, and some good wine. Not sure what today brings but I am sure it will be an adventure.

I have noticed that people here are fascinated with us - specifically my nephew Miles and Sammy. Maybe because they have blond hair, maybe because they are cute as shit, but people take pictures of us, and continue to try and touch Sammy and Miles' head. we have been keeping them in the stroller as much as possible but truly its unnerving. I cant tell you ow any times we have posed for our own pictures and people just jump in and start taking pictures of us. Its funny but also envokes the mama bear reaction in me aggressively protecting my kids!

We should be bak in Delhi tonight at Harry's bed and breakfast so I am sure I will have moe pictures and more stories tonight!