Weekend in Mumbai (6 & 7 March)

First shock when leaving the Mumbai airport: imagine an old Simca 1000 - for those who do not know how it looks, type Simca 1000 on Google and you'll see how it looks- ..... This car is the taxi over here; in fact "our" Simca 1000 is dirty and dented like all its cousins around us and has to carry 5 people (including the driver). The front seat is one piece coated with a "pretty" red fabric with large black flowers. The important thing is that the driver takes us via an Indy-car type race to the hotel which is located ar the southern tip of the peninsula -- if only the driver had heard of the hotel we would get there in the regular 45 mins giving ignorance of speedlimits and red traffic lights. Now it took nearly an hour because the driver got lost. Finally, our driver asked his way several times.
Second shock: many people are lying on the side of the road over several miles, sleeping on their "matrasses". This is a facet of India that you cannot avoid, but seems to be more visible in Mumbai than in Hyderabad.

After a quick drink in the bar that is about to close, appointment is made for 8: 15 for the little breakfast. The breakfast lasts for an hour as we are dwelling into all types of foods - and for me cheeses and very nice fresh fruits all over the place. I cannot have the cruesli as well, safe that for Sunday morning.

Saturday: we decided to explore on foot the most interesting sites near our hotel (called Taj President, it is part of the Taj chain of hotels whose boss is TATA, a huge industrial group in India who also owns a car brand telecom, a services company, etc., in short TATA is present everywhere here in India). One of us adventurer at heart, has already prepared the itinerary. We therefore leave the hotel towards the Gateway of India, it is the India Gate at the seaside which was built in 1911 to commemorate a visit of George V and Mary lrene ; it resembles a triumphal arch of yellow basalt. A large crowd crowded here as it is also the place of rendezvous for the departure of vessels traveling to the island to the cellars of elephants (our plan on Sunday morning).

Just beside this gate is the Taj Mahal hotel (and yes, TATA again, as all TAJ hotels are), a large old-style grand hotel, where we do a tour (we got ourselves into the entrance, the white skin is a pass here, we realize once again the privilege of Western), hotel for less luxurious, a shopping arcade as you can see in old films with propeller fans, overlooking a beautiful swimming pool built in a lush garden. We stop at the restrooms, it is also worth a visit as there was a lady to turn on the faucet and the sink ... and we were offered a towel. I told you luxury, it's really the case here.

In short, we find the streets bustling and rather dirty (but less battered than any of Hyderabad mm and at least here there are sidewalks like we have in Europe, othewise it is expected to walk on the street and we wander from street to street along the route provided by our "guide". We end up with a beautiful circular space surrounded by buildings that keep track of the passage of the Portuguese in the 16th. We are entering a library, and there we find a system of classification of books that our grandparents have probably experienced a whole row of drawers furniture scrap gray with small cardboard postcard on which are inscribed by hand details of lending books.

We are here in a cosmopolitan city with many cultures have marked the history of the city, many tourists. So less "exotic" than Hyderabad that we can walk without being disturbed for pictures with the "white people".

We seek a place for lunch and everyone voted to go to sea, the breeze makes us feel good because the temperature is well around 35 degrees. This place is on the "Walk of English" of Bombay, is the avenue from the sea here is called the necklace of Queen Victoria as at night the streetlights illuminated along this avenue arc is reminiscent of a pearl necklace. Huge bay on the Arabian Sea. We had some famous pizza "Veggie" (and yes it is in Indian culture, we often eat vegetarian, very good in general).

Thereafter, down to the Hanging Gardens the other side of the bay, taxi, we are made in minutes instead : beautiful gardens with plants and trees that we do not like here eg mango tree, eucalyptus, palms course and others whose names we know, bright colors and varied palette of colors, beautiful, plus we perceive overlooking the sea.

We decided to visit a house where Gandhi lived. It appeared a large square house with 3 floors of galleries. Rather exciting to visit this place where we find many photos and writings of this amazing character. The proclamation of independence is framed here (1947), many photographs of Gandhi with all the great world of the time. And to complete our exploration of the city, Jain's temple by taxi. -taxi drivers don't speak english here, so a challenge to get anywhere near the destination of choice, but after this 3rd ride we get to understand the pricing mexhanism here ... we have been overpaying the other guys for sure :-). Anyway, the temple: beautiful paintings and a dome of very ornate sculptures. Upstairs, a gallery overlooking the Shrine's main square, makes us realize that there are several places of worship. The gallery continues outside chance and oh, the end of the day with a sunset over the bay. Pollution does not yet appreciate the beauty of the landscape!

Back at the hotel and dinner with candles around the pool lit (what a treat after that day despite the hot sea breeze, it could be worse ... ).

Check out Sunday morning to the basement of the island of elephants, 45 minutes by boat from the loading dock near the India Gate. Very enjoyable trip, it's really hot on this island, we find some rock carvings of Shiva, Ganesh and others ... and very large columns with fluted capitals crown. We decide for a group photo, trying to imitate the carvings on several arms around us, guided in this by an Asian woman very friendly and insists that we show how we have, great moment of laughter!

After the boat return we realise this weekend ends, head back to the airport to get "lunch" at 6 pm and then after a quick flight to the Golkonda Hotel. We arrive "home" at 22.30 and head to bed as work early starts again on Monday.