Today in Mysore

We had an early breakfast at our guesthouse in Bangalore and left at 7 a.m. For the 3.5 hour drive to Mysore. Mysore was formerly the capital of a princely state and it boasts an opulent palace built in the very early 20th century after the original palace burned during a royal wedding.

Before entering the city, we drove up Chamundi Hill to the famous temple there -- an important Hindu pilgrimage site. Peter got his first lesson in what happens when you show interest in the postcards and tacky gewgaws that are thrust in your face when you arrive at a tourist site. Consequence 1: your mother drags you away with perhaps a touch too much force in her loving grasp. Consequence 2: the vendors follow just inches behind you and refuse to take no for answer until your mother is forced to ask them what part of no they don't understand. Consequence 3: your mother firmly tells you to keep your eyes on your shoes the next time, making you very upset because you didn't do ANYthing and she is yelling at you for NO REASON and you didn't want to come to nasty old India anyway.

The kids were very psyched to shop today so we went to a government handicrafts emporium to pick out a few special things for ourselves and others. Peter chose a nice wallet that won't fit American money but shut up mom it'll fit and why won't you leave me alone and get out of my business for once?

Peter has always had a soft spot for Lord Krishna, so he happily posed for a photo next to the first statue of Krishna he laid eyes on. It was much too large to go home with us even if we carried it in our own backpack, and PLEASE mom, I promise I'll carry it all by myself because it's really not that heavy and see, I can lift it myself, OK, OK, don't yell at me, I'm putting it down but it's not fair, you never let me do ANYthing and all you ever do is YELL AT ME!

Then we had lunch at a cute little Austrian cafe that was much harder to find than expected. Grilled cheese sandwiches (with basil and tomato for grownups) really hit the spot, especially with chocolate milkshakes to wash them down.

Peter was awestruck at the palace. Sometimes when I expect him to be quickly bored and fidgety he surprises me with his appetite for seeing everything there is to say.

We're on our way back to Bangalore now. Yet another unforgettable day.
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