Can you say shopping at Delhi Haat, Madam?

Today we awoke at the YWCA in Delhi, warm, clean... a wonderful feeling. Next door there is an associated restarant with beautiful food and always someone interesting to strike up a conversation with. Today I sat near a couple from Rome, he is an architect who travels all over the world consulting - he had been many places in Canada - I shared some details of our trip to Italy this summer and he and his wife shared their memories of Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver - we have a coffee date tomorrow am! He spoke longingly...before his wife arrived (ha...) of his first girfriend 30 years ago who emigrated to Canada and he declined to leave Rome!!!!! Tea and toast and veg cutlet and we were out the door to Delhi Haat - this is a combination of merchants who by lottery get 17 days in this year round bazaar. There are hundreds of merchants from all over India. What a sight. There was also a traditional dancing performace - smells that were incredible - it was hard to stagger out with our finds and flag down a rickshaw driver!

After this we headed to Rikhi Ram - he is a renown Sitara and Table maker to the stars - lots of famous musicians of course in India but also Europe, North America etc go to Rikhi Rams for their music. He played several instruments for us and served us Chai tea - how fun. It is a rickshaw ride away from the hotel - down in this crazy neighborhood, at the end of a convoluted street - with laundry crossing from one side to the other and shops mingle with housing and repair stores of all varieties. The base of the sitara is a gourd - which he calls a pumpkin!

Now we are warm and fed and wondering...how will we fit our month long collection of items into our luggage? Tonight will be our last sleep in India - we leave tomorrow night for the airport around 10 pm - for our 3am flight - we are envisioning a smooth flight - with Lufthtansa agents being happy and pleasant....Only 28 hours left in India - what awaits us on our touring of Delhi tomorrow?