DAY 7

February 3, 2025

We began our 6:00 AM departure with news that Todd as sick and vomiting all night. He certainly is not the bright and happy man we know. Everyone is quick to blame the street food he enjoyed yesterday however, Shurti had the same food. Perhaps it is just so different from what we are used to. In fact, we know some Mexicans that got sick on the food in the United States – not bad food – just different.

On the hours drive to the airport we see something new for this journey – an elephant on the roadside. We love this country!

All our internal India flights have been on their largest carrier IndiGo. It is a fun experience – great graphics – marketing that makes you smile. Today we have an ATR turboprop to Jaipur. Our travel company – Banyon, is worried about the lack of business class seats so they have purchased an empty seat next to each of us. Talk about spoiling us.

Todd elected to go directly to the hotel with the luggage van to rest.

Jaipur – the “pink city” is one of our favorites. Actually so far each city has been our “favorite”. The walled city was built for a population of 50,000 in 1727 – now there are 1,000,000. The metropolitan area is 4,000,000. Lots and lots of people everywhere.

Our first stop is the Jewlery Business/Museum that we visited two years ago. The deceased Father/founder built a substantial art/antique collection. Much of the second floor of the business is a Museum. They employ 250 designing, cutting, polishing fine jewelry. The building is very contemporary designed by a French architect.The two sons that currently rum the business were extremely attentive to our ladies. Both Karen and Connie found some beautiful pieces.

Once again our hotel is over-the—top located on large beautiful grounds I will say it again – the hotels in India are consistently among the finest in the World. We enjoyed a relaxed lunch on their spacious lawn. Life is good for the Duncans (well except for Todd at the moment).

In the afternoon we journeyed outside the City to an old fort high on a hill and the site of a temporary art show. The fort is a terrific venue for both sculpture and two dimensional work. There were many small rooms surrounding a courtyard and the starkness of it all really makes the art shine. We asked Birgid to follow-up on a couple of pieces.

Back to the hotel and drinks at the Polo Bar an exquisite large room. Hotel’s today cannot replicate the splendor of these historic palaces. And the DuncanTini’s were great! A wonderful dinner then off to bed – tomorrow will be a busy day.

Robert