Mon. 2/15 Hanover , NH!! Made it home last Thursday but prior to that the last of my travels... Left the hotel on Wed am
with Catherine in tow to take her to school. It had snowed in Mussoorie and frozen overnight, so as we climbed the 500 or so feet from the hotel to Mussoorie, it was all white. We got to the middle of the village and were stopped by a man who said,
"no cars go." Meaning no cars from there on as it was a very steep road through the village. We got out and trudged up the icy hill and then said our goodbyes. C still had a mile or so to walk to school. It was a beautiful morning and we said goodbyes overlooking the valley with the sun shining down! I slipped and slid back to the taxi, picking up a Korean woman on the way
who was trying to get to the school but had given up and now needed a taxi to get to the Dehradun airport. So she clung on to me and tried to stay upright with her slippery tiny heels on!! Trip to Delhi was uneventful but long - 8 hours. Had a fun dinner with the Robinson family who live in Delhi and have 2 sons at Keewaydin. They treated me to lasagna and Ben and Jerry's ice cream! Then it was off to the airport. I was unaware of the storms hitting the east coast and the cancellation of the Air India flight to NYC the night before. They brought in a bigger aircraft to accommodate those who missed the flight the night before. It wasn't a full flight so it was a fairly comfortable flight. Only about 15 mins late into JFK, a beautiful sight with the airport covered in snow. Breakfast with our long ago summer babysitter, Melissa and then a great walk with her in Central Park. Arrived via bus in Hanover around 7:00 pm that night. Great to travel but even greater to be home!! I will post pictures soon! Sandy

Mussoorie 6:30 pm TUes. Wow, quite the weather today!! Started off on my morning walk around 8:00. It was really foggy. Heard thunder so started back but didn't get far when more thunder and lightening and then HAIL, size of peas to marbles began to fall! I was running as fast as I could but hard in the 7000 ft altitude! Then it rained and hailed! Got back and was soaked. C and I had breakfast in the room Power mostly out so not able to dry things by the little heater. Fog continued and around 11:00 a huge thunder and lightening storm hit and was over us for about an hour. Lightening and thunder simultaneously, and huge rains. All the time the visibilty was about 20'. Headed off to town to do some final errands in a taxi. THIS time we really thought it was our time. We had the #1 formula one driver in all of Mussoorie taking the back "paths" I call them, visibility still maybe 20' and flying along the tightest S curves you can imagine. Also on this back way there are many places where there are steep drop offs and NO railing or cement barricades!! WE made it to town. Did errands and walked to school and up to the orphange... freezing still and misty.
Got back to hotel around 5:00, still now power or heat. Finally they got it up and running. Piles of the hail were still around, we walked through it, reminded us of snow as it looked like spring slush with a grayish tinge to it! Say goodbye to Catherine in am and off to Delhi! Love to all!

Sunday 12:30 pm Mussoorie. The tour of India ended this past week and we arrived back in Mussoorie where Woodstock School is on Wed. Catherine and I are staying in a very quaint hotel called the Green N Breeze. It has the most spectacular view above to Mussoorie (we are about a 10 minute taxi drive from town center) and down the valley to Dehradun, the closest large city. The twinkling lights of both are simply spectacular at night.
Going back to the end of the tour. Last Sunday C and I walked around Jaislamer. We ffound it to be the dirtiest city we have been in but liked it alot. We found two fun shops in an old bazaar. Had chai with the owner of a great clothing and fabric place. He was so nice. We had a fun day just roaming the town on our own.
Monday we toured Jaislamer with the group. Saw a fort and a gorgeous home of a long ago prime minister - it was gorgeous... Boarded train at 4:00 for last overnight train ride... back to Delhi. Arrived Delhi Tuesday am and checked into the YWCA. Then we all went out for a final lunch at Piccadelhi's, it was a great lunch. Some members of the group and Ranjeet (our ever faithful tour guide) were leaving us that day. Outside the restaurant after lunch about 6 homeless kids came out of nowhere. We started playing and having fun with them. It was so amazing. Then some mean man told them to leave. But we left a smile on their faces... more than food or money can give them. So incredible all of the crowds of people we have gathered in the last month... Maddie, her mom Jill, Catherine and I walked back to the Y. We were almost there and all of a sudden, a little kid around 1 1/2 years, with just a sweater on and a 3-4 yr old came out of a blue tarp dwelling (that is what most homeless live in, that or corrugated tin or black plastic) laughing and giggling. So we stopped to play with them and think they giggled and laughed more than any kids we have met on the trip. It was SO much fun...
On Wed. am up at 5:30 am for 6 hour train from Delhi to Dehradun. Then an hour and a half car ride to Mussoorie. Both very uneventful. Mussoorie was chilly the first few days, 40 ish at night but now it has warmed up. No buildings (except Jaypee a 5 star hotel right above us) have central heat, just little space heaters that provide little or no heat! Maddie is staying with us tonight as her mom left for home (Denver) this morning. Sad for Maddie but she is in good spirits!!
I leave Wed am about 7:30 for Delhi. My flight is not until 12:30 am on the 11th so am visiting Ojibway friends who live in Delhi for the afternoon.
May try and write once more but not sure I'll get a chance Hope you've enjoyed reading this. I will be posting pictures when I return. Love to all, Sandy