Jessb6484

The last 3 days in Italy were spent in Naples, with our home base at Hotel Rex. It was another one without an elevator, but the air conditioning was glorious, as was the breakfast and location - practically right on the sea. Our train ride from Rome included a transfer in Caserta, and some major confusion on my part. It was a pretty small station, and the signs above each platform stayed blank with a scrolling message in Italian. After typing out the message in bits and pieces, my translator app told me that from August 8th through August 29th, all trains between 2 stations (I assumed the one I was at was affected since there were no details on the platforms) were suspended and replaced with buses. After attempting to speak with a few employees ... read more

On Saturday, after a couple of disappointing (not to the fault of the city) days in Naples, we checked out of our quaint hotel and hopped on a train to Rome. The countryside was filled with never-ending grape and sunflower farms and mountains in the distance. After an uneventful hour and a half ride, we arrived and found our way to the taxi pickup zone. There was a group of around 40 or 50 young men playing drums and singing some anthem, drawing quite a crowd. We couldn't tell what the words were and I wasn't even sure what language they were singing in. Once we got in our taxi I asked the driver what the excitement was about and he said he didn't know because the group wasn't Italian. After the very brief (maybe 3 ... read more

Since the reception on Wednesday didn't start until the evening, and there were no more rituals and ceremonies, I had a free day. One of my other friends (Neha) is also from Jammu, and she was originally planning to come up from Delhi to attend the reception, but was unfortunately unable to make it. She offered to have her cousins show me around town and visit the monkey temple (I told anyone who'd listen that I Must See Monkeys during my trip), but I was so zonked from staying up all night that I slept most of the day, then just stayed in my room until I was picked up for the reception. I was shocked to learn that Shashank and Rupal had to stay up all night (playing games and conversing with family after I ... read more

On Sunday, Ishan had tons of rituals that I didn’t sit in on – though I did see him covered in turmeric (haldi) at one point, which I believe is traditionally applied the morning of the wedding day as a symbol of blessing and to make your skin glow (brides do this too, but as we were in Shubha's hometown, she wasn't at the hotel for all of her rituals). Even though all of his family members were so great at taking care of me, he asked if I wanted to go out with some of his childhood friends and Shubha’s brother for an afternoon adventure. I was a little antsy, so I jumped at the opportunity to get out of the hotel and see something new, and off we went. I initially thought we were ... read more

This one is short, but I wanted to post something because I've been behind due to illness, travelling, lack of internet, and attending functions, and with more functions coming up, I'm not sure when I'll have time on the computer again. Wednesday was well spent with Ishan’s cousin (Manoj's nephew for my colleagues reading this) on a Delhi bus tour. We took the metro to our first destination, and I was given a taste of homemade halwa, which was like mashed potatoes, but sweet. Remember the aforementioned deathtraps that I would never ride in? Well, I rode in one. And it was nuts. It's basically a three-wheeled scooter with seats and a shell/roof. I don't think I'd mind driving one back home just because I already have a scooter, and that's pretty awesome, but here, not ... read more