Saturday morning saw Rob and me at the gate of the apartment, just as our driver, Ajit, arrived, I hasten to add that it was 7 am. and we were off on an exciting adventure to Mysore. It took nearly an hour to get out of the city, so we saw lots of local life and street markets,and our first stop was for breakfast, at a sort of motorway cafe, but how different ! Many,many people, somehow organized chaos. We had the usual local breakfast, dosa masala, and was I glad that Rob had shown me how to eat using the dosa (pancake), no cutlery, and very sweet milky coffee !!!! 10.30.am. we arrived at the city, and went straight on to the Charamundi Hills to get great views over Mysore, see the ubiquitous Temple, which was large and impressive,and walk down 1000 steps, where we failed to meet our driver, so took a rickshaw to our hotel.
The Hotel is one of a modern chain, called Ginger, clean and airy, perfect for our one night away. Then we walked into town and took a guide around the fantastic Mysore Palace, seat of the Maharajahs, a kaleidoscope of colours, stained glass, mirrors, everything over the top, carved doors, inlaid ivory, etc. awesome !!! Loads more walking then dinner and bed exhausted.
Sunday up by 7.00am for another local breakfast,and another Palace, this time Jayachamarajendra Palace and art gallery, amazing value at Rs. 15 (about 18p). met up with Ajit, who took us to St. Philomena's Cathedral, quite modern started in1933, neo-Gothic style, one of the largest in India, beautiful stained glass windows.
Visited the Brindavan Gardens on the way home, as they are below an enormous dam, and it is so hot you can imagine what they are like, our book says like a set from Bollywood ! Anyway a wonderful two days, and many thanks to Rob for organizing it and insisting that it was a late birthday present, who am I to argue.