Val went off to the stn first thing to book our seats on tonight’s train to Jaipur, while I went to the outskirts of town to take some pictures while the sun was not too bright, + then we met again for b’fast. We spent a couple of hours during the morning wandering around the old part of town, looking in particular at the havelis, or houses which used to belong to the rich merchants of the town. These have intricate + fabulously carved facades. But the ordinary streets too made a pleasant background to a stroll. I have to say, that we have just about had our fill of obtaining local colour by wandering thro’ picturesque but slightly squalid local streets.
Val also visited the fort in the afternoon, for a last walk around, + that was about the extent of the day. We ate at Ramas for the last time, made the vaguest of enquiries about a possible camel trek to Bikaner – some other year – + walked out to the stn to catch our train. Found ourselves next to a Kiwi couple who have recently been to Iran, so we pumped them for information.
Interesting that we should already be planning a return trip. It is forty years on now, and we have not been back at all… though this should change this summer.
