Great excitement this afternoon at the Himmatgarh Palace Hotel in Jaisalmer: some guests arrived.
Last night we were the only people staying in solitary state in a hotel with 200 rooms. Our circular one resembled a golden stone gun turret with curtains made from my mother's chair covers circa 1956. A wonderful garden with nasturtiums, hollyhocks and daisies.
We dined alone with 4 attentive waiters watching our every mouthful.
Not too much fun, and reminding us of a gruesome supper in Orvieo years ago when we were again the only diners and the waiter was about 85 and slip-slopped off into the far distance and was heard a long time before he reappeared and we felt guilty for asking for anything.
Give me the camraderie of McDonalds any day.
Today we visited a lake and sat catching the breeeze in an elegant stone pavilion.
Then we fed the sacred catfish which were enormous, VERY wiskery and guzzled their white sliced bread with glee.
I saw a solitary cat - handsome and gray striped.
I have started saving little bits of sandwich for my friends the dogs.
Thanks to all who have left kind comments in spite of no photos!!OXO
Thank you for letting me travel vicariously with you! I love that you are saving bits of sandwich for the dogs... enjoy the rest of your trip!
ReplyDeleteYou attentiveness to detail makes us be part of your experience. Nasturtiums are a favorite from my youth. I could picture your dinner, the solitary cat, your heart gathering bread for the dogs...
ReplyDeleteWonderful narrative!
How I would love to sit in splendour in an elegant pavilion and feed whiskery catfish. Thank you for whisking me away to a world so much more exotic and exciting than my little patch of Hampshire!
ReplyDeleteLove reading about your travels, Elizabeth. Have a safe trip.
ReplyDeleteCatherine
True, Elizabeth, no photos but that sentence "garden with nasturtiums, hollyhocks and daisies" created a beautiful picture in my mind. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteHave fun...will there be photos later? <3
Lots of chuckles on imagining the two of you and the solitary dinner! Love the travel commentary!
ReplyDeleteThat does sound like an awkward dinner.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying traveling via your blog. Sounds like an adventure.
Cant wait to see the pics I know you are taking.
This post didn't need pictures Elizabeth, you counjoured up lovely pictures for me.
ReplyDeleteYou are painting wonderful pictures with your words....I want to read more!
ReplyDeleteooooooooooo yeah. hate the silent lurking waiter syndrom. you get lots of that in so called "posh" safari camps.....very uncomfortable. still. the rest sounds idyllic and dream like. can't wait to see some pics....carry on telling us all about it. LOVELY! xxx j
ReplyDeleteAn interesting travel diary. One wonders about the cat and dog references - are they closely kept pets, or are they considered animals at large, along with the others.
ReplyDeleteYour writing has so much color in it; photos are missed, but not essential.
ReplyDeleteDinner in the empty manse sounds ghastly!
Oh my gosh - I've had so many of those waiters that you hate to ask anything of. And they know it. And they let you sit there for hours with no attention or coffee refills. By yourselves in a huge hotel! Spooky but fun to have the place to yourself. Enjoy your vacation!
ReplyDeleteHello Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteIt's grand to hear what you are seeing and doing on this journey.
I agree with the other commenters that your words create pictures very well. Still...when you do return to the land of wifi, and those many photos begin to be transmitted ... oh Wow!
xo
I bet you must be having a burst of colours, probably an overdose of it..there's nowhere more colourful than India for sure. Can't wait to see your picture, till then big hugs for the week and how's the weather?
ReplyDeleteHi, Elizabeth! Have just been catching up on your latest posts...such a lot happening, such a lot of travel! Such interesting and exciting reading...Have a wonderful trip! :o) (8HUGS))
ReplyDeleteYour descriptions are just as gorgeous as your photos -- keep them coming -- and have fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting, photos or not, yes indeed, guests have arrived.....
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting holiday you're having!
ReplyDeleteI traveled in this area a couple of years ago, and it is such an amazing part of the world! Thank you for sharing, I'm loving it. Have a wonderful trip!
ReplyDeleteI can totally imagine with you, even without the photos! so are lots of stray dogs??
ReplyDeletetwo hundred rooms and you were the only ones. i'd love to experience that. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're feeding the dogs. ;-)
thanks for taking us on the trip with you, i'm loving your posts.
continue to have a fun and safe journey.
paz xoxox
VEry funny description. I love it. Can't wait till you can come back and show photos.
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth!,
ReplyDeleteSounds as if you are having an interesting time. Sometimes it is better to not have photos and to imagine it for yourself anyway.
We went to a little chef on our way to Leicester the other day and the waitresses kept appearing to ask how our meal was every time I had a really huge mouthful of Olympic breakfast! Your other waiter tale reminded me of that Julie Walters sketch-have you seen it? Where she is an elderly waitress. Very funny!
Looking forward to more tales from India with your colourful descriptions.
Sarah :)
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI can SEE the countryside and women and all the activity through your words.
So happy that you now have company!
You describe the sights so well, I can see it clearer that a photograph!
ReplyDeleteThe pictures you paint with your words, sweet Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteThere are two dogs here who would be thrilled with your sandwich remnants!
xo
I think it's great to read what you have to say so while I am sure you will have lots of great pictures, I'm thoroughly enjoying this.
ReplyDeleteI can understand your saving the food for the doggies. They I am sure are grateful. I feel like there could be a good story stretched out of your scary sounding dinner. Loving hearing the tidbits of your adventure in such a different land.