Magic Carpet Ride(s)

It was an action-packed weekend. Two of the highlights: the first family outing with Jonah at the wheel, and our first potential carpet purchase.

The school has several cars available for faculty to sign out for personal use. But last year, we did not drive at all. Instead, we opted to take taxis or hire school drivers for any and all excursions. Over the summer, Jonah became determined to drive in Delhi. He took a short practice ride a couple of weekends ago - alone, and very early on a Sunday morning.  Yesterday, he took a big step and drove us to a birthday celebration at the National Rail Museum, conveniently located just about a mile from school.  This was the first time the kids have been in a car in India with both parents riding up front. For added liability, we took along two extra passengers. Because the camera was cold from the A/C in our apartment, the pictures started out foggy.  It was not foggy, just really hot and humid.

Jonah is feeling confident as we prepare to leave the parking lot.

It was a quiet Saturday morning on Chandragupta Marg.

Jonah's intense focus on keeping his right shoulder in the middle of the road, while shifting gears on the left.

The gaggle of kids on hand to celebrate and take the 10 rupee (that's about twenty-five cents) "toy" train ride.

For added practice, Jonah took us a long way home, via the very pretty Shanti Path. Full disclosure: the wheels on the left were rubbing against the curb on the left for about five seconds, just before this photo was taken.

Later that afternoon, we hopped in a cab for a drive out to Nizzamudin West where Mr. Khan has a well-stocked carpet shop in the basement of his home.

Mr. Khan's assistants rolled out one carpet after another.  Anything we wanted to see again was set aside for a second viewing.

This is the one we liked, and it was delivered to our door a few hours later.  We get to try it out for a week or two before payment is due.

 

What do you think?