The Mewar Express, overnight 28January

From Udaipur to Delhi, evidently only recently completed by standardizing the rail-line gauge … Various British (and other) rail companies built various types of train lines over the last 150 years; the government is gradually standardizing all the lines so as to connect the country more efficiently – and Indian Railways is still the largest single employer in the world! Our trip back to Delhi was in a recently-refurbished car with new curtains and bedlamps and working electrical outlets. The sisters watched part of a movie, Taare Zameen Par, then went to bed, as old hands at this railway bunk technique. More comings and goings (by other passengers) on this trip, along with some stomach discomfort –- wondering about that tasty chicken sandwich at lunchtime -– made for a tiring night. Arriving of a sudden at Nizamuddin Station, we fended off the porters and wrestled our bags up and down stairs, through crowds, around construction, finally meeting our driver Mr.Singh. He took us to the guest-house where we had left our extra suitcases earlier, for a quick change. Barb and Tori and Jaime and Coleman drove off to Agra –- Barbara can pick up that tale in a later entry -– and Chris and Jeff walked out to look for breakfast. We ended up on the jan-shatabdi express train back north (though the ride took 9 hours due to delays), back home to Sunnywood and the Woodstock library where we can print and copy and get official signatures on documents and scan and send the scholarship applications that are due 31 January. And check on other work pending, too. We hope to re-join the group in RamNagar on the 31st –- wending our way via a few trains –- and thence enjoy Corbett Park together, before the school semester starts anew.