So Far, So Good

A full day has past since we left Cleveland on the afternoon of the 15^th, and we find ourselves now happily ensconced in a very nice room at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi. The actual travel time involved in reality was only fifteen hours.

Heidi still finds it remarkable that one can get so far so quickly these days – half way 'round the world in nothing flat! The American Airline flight we took from Chicago directly to Indira Gandhi International Airport is the longest direct flight AA makes anywhere in the world, an even more remarkable accomplishment of modern technology.

All along the way, we have been treated well – fight attendants throughout not only did their jobs well but were in good spirits and friendly as well; on our short hop from Cleveland to Chicago, in fact, our steward called us by name and even dropped by to give us the location of our connecting gate at Ohare without being prompted. The crew on the Delhi flight had a full cabin but managed just as courteously, going out of their way on occasion to meet personal requests. Even the food was palatable!

We were met outside of Immigration and Customs (at the brand spanking new airport opened only since August) by a representative from the hotel and a driver who whisked us off to our final destination. At the Taj our personal representative met us curbside, welcoming us by name, then escorted us directly to our room where she handled all the necessities, even taking care of exchanging some dollars into rupees for us.

This, by golly, is the way to travel!

Our first impression of Delhi 2010 contrast favorably with those from our earlier visit in 2008. Our trip into the city was entirely on four lane divided highways rather than the construction littered boulevards of our earlier trip. Lane markings still seem more suggestions than otherwise; honking horns are still all too common. But there's a whole new fleet of sparkling white taxis cursing around, and trash seems less ubiquitous.

The Commonwealth Games just ended today; many of these changes were part of the construction run up to this major athletic event – and some (such as the subway into the city from the airport) have yet to be completed, much to the chagrin of those hoping to have the Games mark India's arrival on the international scene as China managed with their recent Summer Olympics.

Our airport host seemed a bit downcast when asked how Game attendance had been over the past ten days or so, indicating that many more were expected than actually show up. However, those who come AFTER the Games will continue to reap the benefits, that's clear.

Not much else to report at this moment – we've been cooped up in a darkened metal tube for much of the day without much else to observe. We're here, though, and ready for our adventures to begin...