Home Sweet Home

Mumbai airport. George helped me find a place that I could get a glass of wine.

Wine always helps my blogging. ;-)

Note the pigeons on the sign

 We left Mumbai on time at 2:30 am on March 18th, Mumbai Time.  9-hour and 35-minute flying time to Amsterdam. We had 2 fairly nondescript meals on the flight. We had to go through security again in Amsterdam, even though we were just transferring.  They have a handy system for going through security but it still was a pain.  We had a 2-hour layover so we had plenty of time.

No artwork in the Amsterdam airport so I took a picture of these trees.

This was the best meal of the ones we got and now I can't remember if this was on the first leg or the second.  They all ran together.  

We left Amsterdam at 9:15 am on March 18th Amsterdam Time. This was a 9-hour and 47-minute flight.  So our total flight time was 19 hours and 22 minutes.  

Today was a gorgeous day to fly into Portland.  The mountains were clear.

Mt Rainier 

Mt St Helens

Rainier and St Helens

Rainer, St Helens and I think, Baker

Mt Hood

We landed in Portland at 11:50 am Portland Time.  I haven't had to go through customs in Portland in the new area.  We had to take a shuttle bus to the main terminal.  I don't know if this is the permanent location of international flights or a temporary one, but it was different. 

The weather was perfect in Portland.  It felt so good after the heat in Mumbai.  

We got on the MAX to head home.  

Downtown Cherry blossoms are in full bloom

Joyce met us at the Beaverton Transit Center.  That was nice.  It feels good to be home.

My feet swell even with compression socks.

Now there is all that catch-up stuff to do: laundry, go through the mail, unpack, and say hi to the cats!  

Now I am going to go on a walk!  Still sounds of wood chippers and chain saws.  

Last Day in Mumbai

 Our last sunrise in India.

Last night we were calling for room service for my glass of wine.  The phone had dial tone but when we tried to use the number pad for room service it did not work. I had to use my phone to call the hotel and then to be directed to room service.  I reported that the phone wasn't working.  They came up to "fix" the phone.  They told us that, of course, the number pad did not work, just use the speed dial buttons off to the right!! Perfectly obvious!! NOT.  Well, I did get my glass of wine, a local Sula Sauvignon Blanc, It came with potato chips.  Then ended out being my dinner.

I had a nice HOT shower.  That was fabulous.  

Weird bathroom with glass doors that were easy to run into at night in the dark.

They have this great feature.  You can open the blinds to the bathroom so that from the bedroom you can watch whoever is using the toilet or shower. Ugh.  We saw this design in Europe quite often.  I have never understood the appeal. I guess I just am not cool.

We went down for breakfast.  I had a delicious omelet.

Sonu picked us up at 1 pm.  Actually he was early.  He generally has been early. He drove us to Rebecca's place.  Once there we walked to a close restaurant. The Cafe Te Amo.  Note the STEEP stair to go in.  Certainly not wheel chair accessible.  The kitchen is down below.

Rebecca with her mocha

I got cheesy fries

I was not overly impressed with the sandwich.

India's version of 7 UP and Coke

We stopped at McDonalds to order "burgers" for Marry and her Grandmother.  Burgers are chicken patties.  No beef here. 

 If you can zoom in on the sandwich choices the list is pretty extensive.  This is only one page of possibilities.

  We took the sandwiches back to Marry's place and hung out for a while.  It was slightly uncomfortable because we were taking over the "boys" bedroom. George had fun playing with the dogs.

If Rebecca were to get mail they would just put it on this shelf

Marry with a 3rd dog (hopefully it will not be staying)

Sultan with Royal

The view from Rebecca's balcony

Marry and Guru were going to join us on our outing to the Gateway of India.  It also looked like Marry was inviting others as well so we arranged for 2 vehicles.  But that all fell through so we cancelled the 2nd vehicle.  Marry was not feeling well so it was just the 3 of us.    

Rebecca's (Marry's) building

Sonu was our driver again.  He came to Rebecca's at 4 pm and drove us to the Gateway of India and dropped us off.

The Gateway of India.  We got there around 5 pm

The Taj Mahal Hotel

Starbucks connected to the Taj Mahal Hotel

I had my filter coffee

We went in to the Taj Mahal Hotel.  What an impressive place.

Then we walked to Pizza Express for dinner

Tandoori Chicken Pizza with mozzarella, geen chillies, yellow peppers

G.O.A.T. pizza - goat cheese, mozzarella, spinach, caramelized onions & garlic. 

They were both very good. Rebecca took the left-over chicken pizza with her.

We called Sonu to let him know that we were ready.  We met him at the petrol stop across the street.  Even crossing at a light it was challenging.

Then Sonu took us to the airport.

Note the number of people on the scooter

Horseless carriage

String of lights.  You can't tell it but they are all the green, white, orange of the Indian flag.  It was very pretty.

The Mumbai airport

Sonu.  The most helpful, patient, accomodating driver.

  

He then took Rebecca home.

We got all checked in but our flight was not until 2:30 am.  I was able to join some of the Southminster church service on zoom.  I stayed on long enough to hear both handbells songs.  That was fun.  I didn't finish because I wasn't sure how long it would take us to go through the security line.  It was very long when we were going from an international flight to a domestic one.  I was afraid that it would be the same way.  But it wasn't.

George helped me to find a place that I could get a glass of wine.  So now I am working on my blog with a glass of Sula Sauvignon blanc.  The Internet is very slow.  I am hoping to post.

The people on our left kept drinking beer and burping the woman to the right was on her phone - non stop talking.  Lots of mosquitos around.