Eventually, we had to think about ending our memorable tour and loading up the tourist bus and heading home. Not before taking in the morning on our terrace just outside our rooms.
Despite John walking around brushing his teeth like he owns the place, I could get used to palatial living. But we loaded up and headed back to Kolkata for a few last days.
Our Indian family must have had enough confidence in us (or was tired of us) that they set us loose on the city for the whole day. One whole day of a group of white people navigating ourselves around not speaking any Hindi. And we did it! We bargained for taxis, had tours thrust upon us without asking, rode the subway, ate street food, found Churches and pit toliets all on our own. We found a Jaan Temple that had a nice garden and beautiful tile work.
There was lovely mosaic work everywhere. I couldn't possibly take enough pics. At this point, I kind of put the camera away and let Aunt Becky and Dan to take pictures for all of us.
We visited the Victoria Memorial. A massive building the "Indians" built to honor the Queen. It was pretty and nice gardens. A little lacking in public restrooms.
What they don't lack in is whimsical trash containers.
This was the offical Second To Last Day--eat anything that could give you dysintary. Becky an Dan started with Papri Chat--Indian Nachos.
Who's that guy? An excited tourist.
This may be the best meal they ate all week!
We found ourselves a Catholic Church. It was quite nice and open for prayer. They had a small gift shop. Aunt Becky bought us votive candle holders. When we returned to the US, the price tag sticker was very hard to get off. With some goo-gone, I got it all off and then threw it in the dishwasher to get the goo-gone off. When I got it out of the dishwasher, the screen print of the church had dissolved. Oh well. At least it was a charitable donation.
The last day in town, we vowed not to leave our street. We walked around and did our shopping and lunching close to Kingkini's parents. Not many people in India drink, but a crazy number of them smoke. This is a picture of a tobacco stand where you could also buy a snack (like a mini 7-11?) I liked how the bags off snacks were all together in a line for display.
this is the nice quiet street that Kingkini's parents lived on. It was just across the street and down the block from our hotel. It was an easy walk.
Here's the elementary school at the end of the street complete with a school bus. All the kids wore uniforms.
We had our last leaf of paan. We were first introduced to it on our second day in India by Kingkini's uncle. Then we had it again at a restaraunt. We decided to have it one last time from a street guy. Turns out paan is full of tobacco and other sorts of natural addictive drugs. It also makes you feel great so there is probably some meth in there too. Who knows?
One last look at our hotel before we left. The staff was amazing there and we were sad to leave them. They were probably sad to see us go as we provided them much entertainment. For example, Christina wanted to buy a beer (for the 4 of us to share) and they tried to talk her out of it. But she insisted so 2 of the bellboys carried it up to the room for her and opened it. Those Americans with their loose morals.
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