Well, let me begin this post with: WE MADE IT! But barely.
Here's how today's sordid tale begins:
We wake up early, around 7 or 8 am. Shower, finalize packing, all of that fun and last-minute travel stuff.
Leave for Charlotte around 11 am, stop at Hardee's for an oh-so-healthy lunch, and make it to the Charlotte airport around 2:30 pm.
This is where it gets fun. At check-in, our flight from Charlotte is "on time." However, once we've made it through customs we just happen to notice our flight has now been delayed until 8 pm!!! This is pretty horrific, considering our international flight from Newark to Delhi leaves at 8:15 pm!
So, in Limeberry fashion we run--arms, legs, and backpacks flailing--through the crowded airport, barely missing small children and mechanized carts hauling luggage back and forth. We arrive at our gate, out of breath and partially in tears, and sob to the airline agent waiting there. Apparently, due to the weather in Newark, NJ, most flights have been delayed for the day. Brilliant.
Anyway, the flight that was supposed to have left at 2:35 hasn't arrived yet (lucky for us!). We easily change to this flight and sit down. At peace for a few seconds we realize---oh yeah, our checked luggage! So we slink back up to the counter and ask if the agent can check our luggage and make sure it will make it onto this flight. As she's making a phone call, we hear her explain to someone else that the flight that's about to leave (that we just got seats on) is now overbooked and she has nine people on standby. WHEW. Let me say nick-of-time. It felt a little bit like the universe was on our side. So, our luggage is moved to our new flight, and at around 5 pm we finally take off.
Despite it only being an hour and a half flight, it felt like FOR-EV-ER (did you picture the kid in the classic film The Sandlot saying that? Because that's the voice I had in my head just then). Anyway, we make it to Newark at 6:30 and book it to our next gate. We stop for a quick glass of wine (Limeberry style, remember?) and stroll on over, thinking we have at least an hour. WRONG. They have to pre-check passports and visas before they even start boarding. What?!? So, we get in a horrendously long line and wait. As soon as our passports are checked and our tickets signed, they begin boarding call. It was a pretty quick process (especially considering the HUGE plane we were getting on and the endless stream of people ebbing and flowing through the line).
So, by 8:30 pm we are on our plane and ready to go!
Oh, but wait. The captain comes on the loud speaker. "Hey folks, we've got a little issue here, just going to fix it up then we'll be on our way." Well, par for the course I suppose.
An hour later, he comes back on "Folks, just checking in. Want to let you know that we've just got to reboot the computer system. Just a little maintenance issue. Keep in mind this whole plane is basically flown by a computer."
Oh, so just a little maintenance issue....except that the whole plane is flown by the computer....that has crashed.
Two hours later. "Folks, your crew has become illegal now. We have to leave the aircraft at this time. Don't want you to think we're abandoning you, but we have a new crew coming on. Just sit tight."
Oh...so they're not abandoning us...except they are.
New crew arrives. People are up in the aisles eating snacks, having friendly conversation, laughing, joking. It's all taken in stride, really. Like a family get-together, except no wine, no screaming, and all strangers. Pretty laid back.
I'm just sitting in my seat, comfortably reading A Boy's Life (which is an EXCELLENT read, by the way!). I'm fine, whatever, we're stuck here regardless (yes--I can have calm zen moments too). When FINALLY the new captain comes over the loud speaker to announce that the problem has been resolved. Huzzah and hooray! Except, oh wait, they have to do paperwork on the problem now.
One hour later. It's midnight now. We probably could have stayed on our late plane and still made this one, but c'est la vie. The plane finally whirs to life! A loud crashing roar of engines, the sound of wheels scraping along pavement, and then we're off! Soaring through the clouds in our cruise-liner sized skyboat.
The plane ride was mostly uneventful. I watched Life of Pi, slept, ate okra curry and mango yogurt, spilled hot tea on myself, slept some more, had bizarre dreams about obscene airplane parties involving champagne, dancers, and too loud trap music (Alexander that's for you and yes, you featured prominently in them). Eight or nine hours later, as we cruised over Russia, Cindy and I edged our window open. The interior darkness of the airplane broke as the slow stream of evening sun filtered through the clouds outside. Below us, storm clouds gathered---giving off the appearance of a great abyss beneath our skyboat. We watched as we crossed time. Day eased into night. Satisfied with our accomplishment (time travelers and all), we went back asleep and awoke to a "breakfast" of South Indian donuts in tomato curry and fresh fruit. At 11:30 pm the next day (Indian time---I believe this sometime in the afternoon back home), we finally arrived. As the plane descended, the temperature quickly escalated. Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred, one hundred four. Yes! Finally, we had escaped the cold that has plagued us for so long.
We taxied to the gate, unceremoniously stumbled off the aircraft---our hair sticking out everywhere, our faces greasy, and our clothes rumpled and only half on--and breathed in the deep, sweltering air of India.
Oh how I've missed that burning smell.
We met our hotel guide outside, a friendly fellow who told us about Pahara Ganj (where our hotel is located in Delhi) and escorted us straight to our beautiful hotel. We walked in from the dirty, dark street into a lobby covered in exquisite white marble, laced with gold. A spiral staircase wound up to the floors above---an elaborate piece of marble with gold vine details along the side. The hotel staff sets up our reservation and asks us if we need a beer. Clearly, we don't look in the best condition. Also, our immediate answer is "YES."
We are led to our room on the fourth floor. It is simple, but gorgeous. Importantly, it contains a huge fluffy white bed salaciously calling our names. However, beer first. After stumbling around and getting our bearings (somewhat, at least), we meander up to the fifth floor for the outdoor restaurant. It looks closed, but a fellow comes around the corner when he hears us. He offers us menus with drinks and food, and we eagerly take them. A pitcher of Kingfisher for me and a huge helping of fresh Shahi Paneer. Cindy orders a vegetable kabob and a glass of red wine. We devour our food, soaking in the taste along with the complete warmth of the atmosphere. A gecko runs up the wall to my right. The wind blows through the open patio to my left. It's perfect. Paradise, even. We share one more Kingfisher and call it a night.
Tomorrow, we'll explore Delhi, book our train to Dehra Dun, and probably get into all sorts of mischief.
Until then,
Namaste.
Yay!
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