Ah the Views!

After five days of monsoon and mist, we woke up last weekend to clear skies.  The view to the Doon Valley to the south was particularly clear, as one could see beyond the Siwaliks.

The snow-covered peaks to the north had some clouds, but at least we could see that they do exist!

Fancy Hotels

One morning we walked up the hill from Church View to see the Kasmanda Palace Hotel. This iwas the summer home of the Raja of Kasmanda, and has been converted into a Heritage Hotel. It is quite grand and is full of all of the features that one would expect in such a place .. tiger skins, mounted heads of wild sheep, snooker and polo trophies, etc.

Another day we had a late lunch at the Savoy Hotel.  The Savoy was built around 1900 for the British, and had fallen to near ruin 100 year later.  However, it has just been completely restored and was reopened for business in June of this year.  The restoration job is magnificent .. all of the teak doorways and window casings stripped of years of grime and rubbed with oil .. brass chandeliers gleaming .. a grand dining room with excellent service.  The hotel has a exercise room, wifi, and all the other 'mod cons.' 

On the grounds are two ancient Deodar trees overlooking the garden where Queen Mary had tea in 1906.

Prices at these hotels are on the low end of what would pay for a room at good hotel in a U.S. city (in the range of $150-$350 per night depending on room and amenities).

Christ Church

Our flat is just above the hill from Christ Church.  This had been the church that CW attended when she lived here, and we both had brought extra suitcases with needlepoint kneeling cushions for the church, so this is where we had to go on Sunday morning.

The church was built in the 19th century as an Anglican Church for the British community in Mussoorie. It was beautifully restored a within the last 20 years. It is currently a part of the Church of North India, a union protestant denomination.

I couldn't resist taking these pictures of the organ, which is badly in need of restoration.

 And a picture of the electric panel which is an odd mixture of new and old!

There are many memorial plaques along the walls .. this one for a British soldier who died in Waziristan .. a place where many are still fighting and dying.

There is a tree outside of the church that was planted in 1906 by Queen Mary, wife of King George V.

Church View

For these first 3 weeks we are staying in a flat in a house called Church View in Library Bazaar (now called Gandhi Chowk) which is about 4 miles from Woodstock School.  We've been taking a taxi to the school the (mornings we work, and then walking all or part of the way back.

We are staying on the 2nd floor of this house.

Some of the (misty) views from the flat or nearby.

We have been preparing our own breakfasts and dinners in the nice kitchen.

Lingering Monsoons

I have not taken many pictures so far as the weather is still 'monsoony.'  The first morning we were here there was thunder and a hard rain. Every day there has been fog and clouds.  A few times the fog has lifted enough to see an outline of Witches' Hill and the schools across the valley.  Everything in our flat is damp, and clothes came back from the dhobi (clothes washer) still wet. The tourist population in the Library Bazaar area is much lower than other years because of the weather. The forecast is for sunshine on Sunday and Monday, so we are very hopeful!

Humayun's Tomb

In Delhi we played tourist and went to Humayun's Tomb.  I had last been there in the 1960s and it was quite desolate in the center of a big weedy field.  Now, however, the site has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and money has been poured into restoring the buildings and the gardens. Humayun's Tomb is now a beautiful showcase for 16th century Islamic architecture and landscapes.  We are so glad we went!

At Work in the Archives

I am back in Landaur and working in the archives at Woodstock School, this time with two other volunteers, and two more that will come later this month.

In 1997 T. and I started work in the new archives room.

Within 10 years much more 'stuff' had been put in the archives room.

Now we are trying to clear out what doesn't belong there so we can make room for what does!