The alarm goes at 3.15am, and we are up and in the lobby at just before 4. After checking out, and getting our packed breakfast, the cars leave for the trip to the railway station. We say goodbye to our drivers, leave them a tip, then board the train for the journey to Delhi. Very dark when we set off, but as the sky gets lighter all we can see is fog and the ocassional tree. We are given a cup of tea, then doze, read, review photos etc as we go.
It's a long journey, though we are supplied with tea and breakfast en route, plus we have our packed breakfasts from the hotel, and more water!! By the end of the day we seem to have about 4 bottles each.
We arrive at New Delhi station at 12.30 and Dilip haggles with three porters for the transfer of our luggage to our coach. They hoist two suitcases each on their heads, plus one in each hand, and set off. It's a long walk to the coach, so even though we feel rather sorry for our porters, especially the older one, we are glad we are not carrying our own cases.
A long slow trip to the hotel which we later discover is due to Theresa May's visit. All roads round the Gandhi memorial were closed for over 3 hours, and when they opened it was chaos. We don't get to our hotel until 3pm, so Dilip cancels our afternoon tour and arranges to extend the tour tomorrow.
A free late afternoon, and we pick our way through the streets to a shopping mall behind the hotel. More western shops, plus the standard security to get in, but many more customers and a more lively atmosphere inside. There are also a few indian style clothes shops, but I see nothing that I want to buy, and they are all quite expensive. Mick finds an identical pair of sandals in Clarks to the ones he is wearing, and the price is the same as the UK.
Back to the hotel and we check out the restaurants there. A quick meal in the hotel, then to bed very early as we are very tired.
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