Jaipur II

We saw the sights the next morning.   

Morning traffic includes elephants.

But not many. This one is a Tourist Board employee elephant, in the historic/touristy area of the city.

City Palace, incredible inlay work.

The City Palace was amazing!  We have lots of pictures, but won't subject you to them.  The boys liked the weapons display, and the architectural & decorative detail work was beautiful.  The Palace is still in use by scions of the royal family.

Seller of marigolds & Ashoka leaves
 for Diwali celebrations

Trash picker

We went on an elephant ride in the evening.  We drove out into the country.  When we got out of the car, we heard only crickets and the wind moving softly through the trees.  This was probably the first time we'd encountered an enduring stillness since leaving New England.

First, the formalities:  Will meeting his elephant (bananas were involved)

Then, Chris painting an elephant (we all helped) 

We had a torch-lit dinner afterward, in a pavilion with a great view of the elephant polo game, put on for the small group of tourists who arrived while we were eating.  Earlier, we and a honey-mooning couple had had the place to ourselves - possibly another first for us in oh-so-crowded India.