Our second day in Delhi...

On our second day in Delhi we were all wiped out.  Allergies and pollution are very strong, and we are all fighting off colds.  After breakfast Chip, Ellie and I decided to walk up to the local pool to swim at "The Club" in the gated community where our B&B is located. Guests here are supposed to be able to use the facilities there without problem, but imagine anonymous people walking into "The Club" at home and trying to use those facilities.  We were looked up and down by several sets of people, showing paperwork to prove our stay here, before we even set foot near the pool.  Murphy's Law...as soon as Ellie and Chip were ready to swim, thunder hit.  Thankfully they let you swim regardless of the weather, otherwise we would have had one not happy camper!  It was a very uncomfortable feeling, knowing we did not belong to the exclusive club--we didn't stay long.  (We have been warmly welcomed by everyone else here.)

Walking home from the pool

The walk home from the Club felt like walking home from the pool at the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly (a small community where we grew up going each summer)--many trees, gravel streets, dogs running loose...although they never had Indian women carrying laundry on their heads!  We have loved our stay at the Thikana B&B--wonderful food from "The Club" (delivered, of course!), borrowed movies from the 9 and 6 year old girls in the family who owns the B&B, two dogs (we are missing Jack), homemade baked Indian treats, and plenty of bottled water!

Crowds at the Lotus Temple

After swimming we took a very long nap to help fight off these colds.  It was hard waking up, but we managed and headed out to the Lotus Temple.  It was crowded with so many people, and the heat and humidity was awful!  We had a long walk up to it and a long wait to go inside, but it was worth it.  It is designed for light to reach the inside through the petals of the blossom...a treat to see for an architect and his family!  On the way out, we were stopped by some Indian families who wanted to take photos of their children with Ellie.  Poor thing...she had been a trouper this entire time of sweating and walking and waiting.  Now she was bombarded by the "paparazzi" of India (we knew to expect this, as many people never encounter young fair skinned kids from the US).  She had a glimpse of what it is like to be famous, and she did not like it one bit!

Ellie and the Paparazzi!

Because we weren't feeling well, we headed home to order food from the Club (an entire meal feeding 3-4 people cost only $12).  We watched a family movie together and headed to bed early.  It is now just after 5 in the morning, and Chip woke up with a fever.  Monday will probably be a day at home for rest before we travel to Chennai on Tuesday.  We would appreciate prayer for our bodies to heal and rest in time for Joshna to join the family. Thanks!