Delhi

Where to start...our first morning, I decided to go out to find an ATM machine. Twenty yards from the hotel I was accosted by a tout who started conversation. I tried to ignore him, but he followed me down the street. The street was filled with people, bicycle rickshaws, tuk tuks, and cars. One has to focus when navigating so much activity so as to prevent being smushed by a moving vehicle. This, plus my new friend was too much. I walked about a half block and decided to abort....as I walked back, a little girl around seven years old ran to me and pinched me hard on the upper arm, her purpose a mystery to me.

A bicycle rickshaw

Whew, I was relieved when I turned into the alley where our hotel, with the auspicious name of Pooja Palace, was located. I ran up to our room, somewhat defeated.

A bit later, Peggy and I ventured outdoors. The streets were again filled with people. We were trying again to find an ATM machine. At the one bank, I tried all four machines and they each rejected my card for different reasons. The fourth machine actually captured my card and the bank had to reboot the machine so that I could get my card back. The following day that same machine was out of service. 

Broke, we decided we were hungry. We ran into an off-duty guide who walked us to a shiny large restaurant and sweet shop where we had our first Indian meal, which was not at all bad, in spite of the shiny clean environment. I was quite captivated by the sweets counter. The pastries are all so beautiful and filled with sugar. I really like Indian sweets, which are made with nuts and lentils and often covered in silver. I want to eat every one of these, but am holding out.

Overall it was an ok day although we were seriously intimidated.