Our train pulled into Jaipur Station late on Tuesday 18 September. Fortunately we had arranged a pickup so we could just walk past all the rickshaw drivers who pounced on us as we stepped outside. Our host, Priti, was there to meet us and drove with us back to her guesthouse where she made us feel right at home.

Wednesday we ate a big, delicious breakfast downstairs and then settled down to some admin - we managed to sort out train tickets so that Kevin could go back to Delhi in a few days to collect our passports from the Germans (they won't courier them to anywhere?!? - super inconvenient!) We both weren't feeling 100% so just took it easy for the rest of the morning. Later that afternoon we walked through town all the way to the Old City, where we got to see why Jaipur is known as "The Pink City" (most of the buildings are built out of a faded pink-ish stone.) The walk was further than we thought so by the time we arrived the main sights were all closed. Still, we enjoyed walking through the old streets past the old buildings, made even more pink by the setting sun. We browsed around the street stalls for a while and then headed back to the guesthouse, stopping for some delicious ice-creams on the way. That evening we caught a rickshaw to the local shopping center where we ended up eating dinner in the food court, and then went straight back to the room to sleep.

Thursday was our day to see the sights in the Old City, but unfortunately there was a nation-wide strike so everything was closed :-/ We did manage to find an operating rickshaw later that afternoon and got a ride into town. We walked around the Old City some more and then found a place to have a quick dinner. We had tickets to see the latest Bollywood blockbuster "Ek Ta Tiger" at this amazing old movie theatre, which we made it to just in time. 99% of the movie was in Hindi, but everything is so over-the-top that its not too hard to follow whats going on. There is even an interval half way through, which gave us time to marvel at the lobby with its grand old curved marble staircase, huge crystal chandeliers and richly decorated carpet. It was one of the coolest nights out we'd had in a while :-)

Friday was the day to collect the passports and so Kevin was up early to catch the train through to Delhi. After a LOT of waiting around, I was finally able to walk out with two fresh Shengen visas! After some confusion with the busses, I eventually got back to the train station where I got a genuine Indian Railway Station experience by having a nap on the floor :-/ (Still feeling quite sick and was exhausted.) The train back was the good one that we had caught before, and soon I also was back at the guesthouse in Jaipur. Monique also wasn't feeling great, but did join Priti and her mother for a trip into town for some shopping. Turns out it is SO much easier shopping when you are with locals - wasn't hassled once! Monique & family had dinner back at the guesthouse and then waited around for Kevin to get back before everyone could go to bed.

Saturday we were up really early to get to the railway station on time. Luckily we found a rickshaw driver quickly who would go on the meter and were at the station a few minutes later. We got a few snacks and some samoosas for breakfast and then boarded the train to Udaipur - the "City by the Lake."