On our way home

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Heh--

Just a note mainly to let the girls know that we're on our way home (Saturday) and are at Heathrow. Had a good flight in from Kolkata (10 + hours) and have 5 hours in the airport.

Friday, after using the computer at the JU Guest House to post an entry, we went back to the Adult Ed Department and I was able to meet with the Department for another couple of hours. Saw pictures from the Conference 5 February and met a doctoral student who wanted to talk to me some. She came with us into town while Sushil was at a Deparmental meeting, accompanying us to the Birla Science and Technology Museum and Birla Mandir, a Hindu Temple we'd passed several times. We were not allowed to take cameras into the temple but were allowed to wander throughout (luckily, I remembered to walk clockwise around the altars).

Friday evening, after a ride in a rickshaw (the poor driver's still recovering), we had dinner at a restaurant near Sushil's house, with his family, and an exciting ride home--the first taxi broke down, tried to charge us WAY too much for the few minutes we were in the cab but then, without rancor that we'd refused, found us another cab and told him right where to take us. That guy took us back to the hotel and the meter read 58 when we arrived--versus the 192 the one earlier in the day had read to go about the same distance! Some (very little bit) was being stuck in traffic but most of the 192, I'm afraid, was that he hit the "stupid rich American" button on the meter when we first got in. Made for the excitement for the evening! Great evening with Sushil & his family, though.

Saturday, we shopped (yes, some more), wandered around Kolkata a bit, and then took Sushil and family to a restaurant (the Bar-B-Q again) for a pleasant, delicious meal as a Thank You for all the gifts and time they spent with us. Then back to the hotel to shower, nap, rest, pack, and leave for the airport about 12:30 a.m. for the VERY long trip home.

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Photos

Mike's first taxi ride
He didn't quite fit in the front seat...

Birla Mandir
Temple guards

Plywood shop
on a corner

Rickshaw Driver
Difficult to see how thin this poor guy is--but he had to work VERY hard to pedal along our 400 or so pounds. Sushil wanted us to ride in one and I was actually a bit embarassed. Happily it was a short ride, from near campus, to his house.

At Sushil's flat
before we went out to dinner at a nice local restaurant (Rimil's, I think)

At Sushil
his family--this is Friday evening

Dakshinapan
in Dhakuria, for more shopping Saturday. This is the overpass to get there--a group of stores featuring artisan craft work from different states.

Rose in the Taxi
Crowded taxi ride to a restaurant

In traffic
Pedestrians just wander along with the traffic...

Posted Traffic Rules
Like anyone pays attention to them!

Group at Dinner
Saturday afternoon--great time!

Sushil's Family
after lunch

Street vendors
in between cars

Wedding Car
fresh flowers

Birla Mandir
Hindu Temple which we visited but were not allowed to take the camera in. Lovely temple.

Seat belt use
by the cab driver