Traveling to Meerut

On Tuesday we left our hotel about 11:15 in a taxi, headed for Meerut, about 50 miles to the northeast. It took us well over an hour just to get around the city, as our hotel was on the southwest side. We drove north, skirting the city on a ring road. It was very crowded with several stopped and slow areas. Once we got to the new express highway, it was amazing. Proper exit and entrance ramps, traffic flying along, no pedestrians or other impediments. We could see the construction for the Metro -- it's supposed to reach Meerut in the next year or so. There were pillars all along the way. 

We reached our hotel in Meerut (thank you, GPS, the driver didn't know the city) and checked into our room. Then we headed out and took a cycle rickshaw to the Lals' house, about two kilometers away. I didn't get a picture, but I can tell you the seat is about wide enough for two very skinny people, not full-sized ones like us!

The evening before we left, we ate at Haldiram's in the nearby mall. I was very happy to have some gajar halwa, a carrot-based sweet that is my favorite. This one had pistachios in it. It is made from special dark orange carrots that only come in the winter.

The trucks in India all have wonderful signage on the back. This one encompassed all the traditional phrases -- "Keep distance" "Use Dipper at Night" "Horn Please" and "Stop." The Hindi words at the very top say "Phir malingay" -- Until we meet again.

It was difficult to get a good shot of the construction from our moving vehicle, but here is one.

Sugar cane is a major crop in this area and I was able to catch this one. In the distance you can see the pollution in the air.

Although we aren't far from Delhi, the temperature is much cooler here and the air is marginally cleaner. On Wednesday, we walked to the Lals and spent the day visiting and enjoying a wonderful lunch cooked by Deepa.