"Tourists"

Well we decided to be brave this afternoon and get out of the hotel and do a bit more sightseeing... in some ways it was good... we saw the Gateway to India that the British built when they controlled India, the famous Marine Drive, Chowpatty beach, the hotels where the terrorist attacks occured, and many of the sad scenes where Slumdog Millionaire was filmed, including the actual slum itself.

In other ways it was bad, our India coordinator had told our driver what markets to take us shopping at, and it became obvious he took us to expensive places, no doubt of friends of his... so for all of you hoping I would bring home saris and other fun things no such luck! Also just seeing more and more of how horrible SO many people here live is just tough after awhile, and then in contrast seeing how lavish other things are is just crazy. I guess we are pretty lucky and do not realize how middle class most people in the US are and that the basics are met for most people. Also, on the way home Leah was sick- we think she gets car sick like her mother! Oh and another simililarity she has to the Porter side of the family is the gap between her two front teeth, that my brother, mother, niece and I all share.... or did share before big orthodontist bills!

Not that I am a big traveler but Andrew surely is not- I am now calling him "Russ" after our dear friend Russ Bartlett who is a notorious homebody! Hope you don't mind me saying that Russ! Anyhow, Andrew basically has said if we ever get out of here the furthest he will go away from home this summer is Burlington for the 4th of July parade and perhaps he will be recovered enough by November to go Sebec or Grand Falls hunting!

Anyhow the good news is today flew by and we should know by tomorrow afternoon if Leah's passport is ready so we can fly to Delhi tomorrow... we did find out that the fee to change that flight is not a lot so that is good.... also we did find out that even if it is not ready til Monday we may still make our flight Tuesday night because the US Embassy can sometimes one day a Visa... this may be the time to use our Senator Susan Collins connections!

Oh and tonight we get to watch American Idol- we already know who got kicked off this week, but still will be great to see a regular show! It takes very little to please us right now! A Sam Adams summer on our screen porch would be utopia!

Okay here are some pictures of our day...

• another picture of Dad and Leah having a morning snooze...
• the other picture shows what happens during her afternoon nap if Dad keeps snoozing with her in the morning!
• and Leah and Mom at the end of Marine Drive...