One Last Wrinkle To A Long Travel Day

Our Continental flight EWR-DEL was great, although we were disappointed Tom, Ellyn, and Haley weren't on it with us.

Immigration and Customs weren't bad at the airport, and we found our driver - actually, two drivers - without a problem. We did cancel the second room and Brian thought he mentioned the airport transportation but these things will happen. There was quite a lineup just to leave the airport parking area and as we approached the guards it was clear our driver was searching through his pockets for his ticket.

The honking of horns behind us was interesting as he had to back out and return to the parking area. The poor fellow searched for 10 minutes and couldn't find it. It turns out that there's a 1000 rupee fine (about $20 USD) for losing one's ticket.

Brian eventually paid the fine after the driver and official spent another five minutes searching the car for it. As we finally drove off after a nearly one-hour delay, the driver said "I am so ashamed," so we had to spend part of the hair-rising drive trying to cheer him up. This included the gift for his baby daughter of a little doll Kathy had brought along and a generous tip. It's possible people can lose their jobs here for mistakes like that, and we hope he doesn't.

We're now about to go to bed, after talking to Tom in Newark on Skype and hearing that things look good for their flight.

More tomorrow after a good night's sleep.

We are in India for the time in our lives!