4th of July 2007. Travel day - from Charlottesville cars to Richmond, fly to Newark, wait 8 hours, on the plane to Delhi over the north (Halifax, Stockholm, near Moscow, eastern Turkey, near Lahore) to Delhi.
Everyone made it to Richmond, where we put in our luggage, all the way to Delhi, said goodbyes, and went to the gate waiting an hour. Flight to Newark, 10:30 to noon. Then the long 8 hour wait. Camped out first in a side hallway on seats, while I bought cold medicine, a lock, the book Namesake. Then moved to an unused gateway, seated next to a plug, so we connected to Deej and ICQed for a while, Mark looking at his mail and trying out the Lock and SinkSub games for a while, but read his book mainly.
We ate around 6 at the food court's A&W and then went to our gate. Unannounced, but had to double check-in, as they made sure everyone had the right passports and the right visas. A rush to get on as 8:00 approached, and we waded through the crowd to get to our Row 38 seats, I next to window, Mark in middle, and young (23-30?) US Indian software engineer, going to Bangalore, Brij in the ailse. They eventually fed us 3 meals during the 14 hour flight, leaving 2-3 hours inbetween when I slept some, and so did Mark, sometimes watching movies.
Woke up over snow peaks of Afghanistan and glided down past Lahore and into the evening of Delhi. Had to wait for about an hour watching everyone else get they baggage, but eventually ours came (first on, last off?). Walked through the Green Line with nothing to declare.
Met our Uday Travel agent, Rishi (from Rishikesh), who guided me to the ATM where I got Rs. 4000. Waited about 20 minutes for car to arrive, then going through the 10 oclock rush into Delhi with chaotic traffic, honkings, etc. At the YWCA sat down with Rishi who went over all the itinerary twice, as Mark watched. Told the people to take him to our Room 20 up on the 4th (5th) floor.
Tried to pay my bill through Credit Union Visa, but rejected, in spite of the fact I had alerted them to allow a large payment on the 5th or 6th. But Bank of America worked!
Up in the YWCA room, trying to recharged batteries learned the Z2 Minolta digital camera missing - a mystery as to where it was lost. Ran down and tried to call Continental Airlines, but after 20 minutes getting no where, finally left a message with lost luggage about the camera left in row 38 and that I was at YWCA.
Back up to room and falling to sleep.
Everyone made it to Richmond, where we put in our luggage, all the way to Delhi, said goodbyes, and went to the gate waiting an hour. Flight to Newark, 10:30 to noon. Then the long 8 hour wait. Camped out first in a side hallway on seats, while I bought cold medicine, a lock, the book Namesake. Then moved to an unused gateway, seated next to a plug, so we connected to Deej and ICQed for a while, Mark looking at his mail and trying out the Lock and SinkSub games for a while, but read his book mainly.
We ate around 6 at the food court's A&W and then went to our gate. Unannounced, but had to double check-in, as they made sure everyone had the right passports and the right visas. A rush to get on as 8:00 approached, and we waded through the crowd to get to our Row 38 seats, I next to window, Mark in middle, and young (23-30?) US Indian software engineer, going to Bangalore, Brij in the ailse. They eventually fed us 3 meals during the 14 hour flight, leaving 2-3 hours inbetween when I slept some, and so did Mark, sometimes watching movies.
Woke up over snow peaks of Afghanistan and glided down past Lahore and into the evening of Delhi. Had to wait for about an hour watching everyone else get they baggage, but eventually ours came (first on, last off?). Walked through the Green Line with nothing to declare.
Met our Uday Travel agent, Rishi (from Rishikesh), who guided me to the ATM where I got Rs. 4000. Waited about 20 minutes for car to arrive, then going through the 10 oclock rush into Delhi with chaotic traffic, honkings, etc. At the YWCA sat down with Rishi who went over all the itinerary twice, as Mark watched. Told the people to take him to our Room 20 up on the 4th (5th) floor.
Tried to pay my bill through Credit Union Visa, but rejected, in spite of the fact I had alerted them to allow a large payment on the 5th or 6th. But Bank of America worked!
Up in the YWCA room, trying to recharged batteries learned the Z2 Minolta digital camera missing - a mystery as to where it was lost. Ran down and tried to call Continental Airlines, but after 20 minutes getting no where, finally left a message with lost luggage about the camera left in row 38 and that I was at YWCA.
Back up to room and falling to sleep.
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