VARANASI

This past weekend, we ventured to Varanasi, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It was beautiful. I would say it's the Venice of India. Mind you I said India so it's crawling with people and filthy, but still georgeous in its own right. Along with venturing to Varanasi, we mastered the Indian train system by getting on the train without valid tickets and having to smooth it over with a very angry ticket taker. Anyway, Varanasi was so spiritual, and you can feel it. As for the first few pictures, we went to Old Delhi another time to see where Gandhi was cremated and to see the Old Fort. Also, I had to get a picture of our G-ma from downstairs. She is the one that always opens the gate for us, saying "namaste bita", which means hello daughter, and insists we all give her a hug. Also, as we are walking up stairs she follows us telling us stories in Hindi. We've been living here for over a month and she still hasn't quite figured out that we don't speak Hindi. She's also known to pound on our door around 9:30 at night to ask us a question (in Hindi) over and over again until she gives up, gives us a hug and goes back downstairs. Needless to say, she's the light of our lives here. Anyway, I love you all and I hope all is going well for everyone! Namaste!


Maxine with the woman we call "g-ma" that lives with the Katuria's downstairs

One of the many buildings of the red fort in Old Delhi