Errands

We sleep well and wake to the sound of the Fairlawn's dhobi wallah,  whose laundry is just below our bedroom window. After breakfast we set out to do a few errands.  First stop is the tiny Internet shop round the corner where we buy our Indian SIM card for D's mobile.  

 

A few doors along the street a tailor is opening his shop for the day. R wishes him to construct a skirt from the exquisite material that she bought in Mumbai two years ago.  He produces a tape measure and rather delicately takes the appropriate dimensions. We are not in a rush so we agree collection on Thursday. He is going to charge £3 and for an extra Rs 50 agrees to repair a strap on D's rucsac.

 

Next on the list is a phone charger with Indian pins. We head north into the Chandni Chowk area and soon find what we need for less than two quid. We move on towards College Street, passing a few shrines with beautifully decorated Saraswati idols. We are told that she is the Goddess of education and she appears to have handed out a half holiday. Most of the College Street bookshops are closed but at least the trams are still running.

 

We take a Rs 5 ride out to the Howrah Bridge for a gander at the flower market. A hive of activity with stunning colours. Another tram ride takes us across the city to Park Circus from whence we promenade up to the highly recommended Olypub. Don't believe what you read on the internet. This place was a dump, rather like a 1950's industrial canteen, without the charm. 

After a siesta we hit the streets again. It was noticeable that many ladies and even a few men had dressed up for the festival. Our plan involved catching a tram from Esplanade up to BBD Bagh to look at the rather imposing buildings that surround it. As ever the tram we needed didn't appear so we took another one (no 14) to see where it went.  It terminated at a depot north of Sealdah station from where we took the return trip, which went by a totally different route, eventually depositing us at BBD Bagh, but after the buildings had closed. This tram was also a number 14. In fact nearly every tram that we saw was a 14. Is it a lucky number thing?

 

We walked back to our hotel pausing en route for a rooftop dinner at the Lindsay Hotel. Nice food, cold beer and views over the city. Spot on.