Ahmedabad

Today we arrived very early in Ahmedabad,  but we were able to check into our hotel and get a couple more hours of sleep. The bed is still like sleeping on a board (as all the beds in India have been), but at least we were able to rest a bit. Then we went out to explore the city.

Ahmedabad is the 7th largest city in India, and the first place we've been where we saw sidewalks! It was so nice to walk along the busy street and not feel like a tuk-tuk or bus is going to run into you. The State of Gujurat has significantly less tourism than any of the other places we've been, and it is quite clear - we haven't seen a single hawker, and the markets are set up for locals.

The first place we visited was Bhagra Fort. It is a 14th century defensive structure that has fallen in serous disrepair.  They are trying to fix it up, but it is not high priority.  We explored a bit,  and then decided it was time for lunch. We caught a tuk-tuk, found a restaurant and ate a meal for the first time since yesterday's late lunch. The palak paneer was a bit spicy for the Teenlet, so he didn't eat much.

Bhagra Fort and street market, Ahmedabad

Priority for today was to visit the Satyagraha Ashram - where Gandhi based his passive resistance movement,  lived as equals with untouchables, and focused his teaching on craftsmanship and local labor.  It has a wonderful museum of Gandhi's philosophy,  life, and the purpose of the ashram.

Gandhi's home at the Satyagraha Ashram

This afternoon,  we decided to lay low a bit, so I am catching up on downloading pictures from my camera, while the Teenlet reads and I suspect the other two are napping. I think only my brother slept much on the train, and we are all tired.

Tonight we went out to a special dinner at a Gujurati restaurant to celebrate my birthday a little early. It was amazing food and a wonderful atmosphere. Thanks Dad and John! 

Birthday dinner at the Green House Restaurant. Yum! 

Tomorrow we head down south to Vapi and the southern part of Gujurat,  to visit sites of personal heritage importance. Then we return to Ahmedabad for a few hours before Teenlet and I hop back on the overnight train back to Delhi and then fly home. Not sure how much access I will have to WiFi, but I will post what I write when I can - probably from an airport somewhere.