OCT 20, 11 .. CALCUTTA TO AGRA CANTT / SEALDAH DORM ROOM
Let me.. allow me.. to take you step by step here ..
IF you are not current.. PLEASE READ FWIW.. 44 and FWIW .. 48 and FWIW.. 48.l ..
THE MOVE OUT OF CALCUTTA TO AGRA CANTT FORMALLY BEGINS..
TUESDAY.. OCTOBER 18, 2011
8:30PM (2030 Hours).. Tuesday.. October 18th.. ARRIVE at Sealdah Rail Station in Calcutta.. go to my Dormitory Room and settle with all my baggage..with several hours to relax.. I did several small but important projects with my Bobbseys.. I took a short nap ..
ON A ZERO (0) TO TEN (10) SCALE.. THE DORMITORY BROKE THE BANK.. A SOLID FIFTY (50).. it was not good.. it was PHENOMENAL .. photos and more discussion to follow.. when I left.. I gave the Attendant (who was very surprised by the way) a good tip ..
10:45PM (2245 Hours).. down from the Dormitory to Platform Numger 9A.. for my train departing at 11:20PM (2320 Hour) .. down the stairs.. as I had come up the stairs.. with my two bags and my back pack ..
10:55PM (2250 Hours) .. BACK UP THE STAIRS TO THE DORMITORY (I paid a porter to assist me.. a FIRST EVER FOR ME IN INDIA to pay a porter for assistance) .. I was OH-SO-HAPPY that I had given the Attendant a good tip for my prior stay in the Dorm..
I WAS ALSO.. OH-SO-HAPPY.. THAT I HAD A DORM BED TO STAY IN..
MY TRAIN WAS LATE.. NEW DEPARTURE TIME .. 1AM (0100 Hours) on Wednesday.. October 19th.. a one hour and forty minute delay..
Approximately 1,200 other passengers.. were ON THE PLATFORM..
I WAS IN MY DORM.. IN A BED.. SLEEPING AND RELAXING..
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WEDNESDAY.. OCTOBER 19, 2011
12:20AM (0020 Hours) I went downstairs.. confirmed my train departure was still 1AM (0100 Hours) then back to the Dorm for my bags ..
I PAID.. AND I HIRED.. A PORTER TO ASSIST ME TO GET FROM MY DORM BED.. DOWN THE STAIRS.. AND OUT TO THE TRAIN.. almost a half a mile walk to my coach A1..he took one bag and I wheeled India Bag on my luggage trolley with my back pack.. and we two “humped’ it out to my coach .. onto the train with me he went and he got my bags situated.. HE WAS FANTASTIC..
1AM (0100 Hours) .. SHARP.. we rolled for the West ..
IF YOU CARE TO DO SO.. GO BACK TO For What It’s Worth.. 12.. September 11, 2011.. and READ that writing about my train ride from New Delhi to Calcutta.. just to REFRESH YOURSELF ..
I was berthed (in a lower berth.. almost a first ever for me as I ADAMANTLY PREFER the upper berth for many reasons.. but I had no choice.. there was ONE and there was ONLY ONE.. Tourist berth on the entire train and it was lower berth 33 and that was that Captain..) with an elderly Indian Couple (the man aged 66 years) who were directly across from me..he in the top berth and she in the lower.. above me was an elderly business man who had a family in another part of the coach so I HARDLY ever saw him..
THE ENTIRE TRIP.. ON A ZERO (0) TO TEN (10) SCALE.. WAS OVER THE TOP.. AS GOOD AS IT CAN POSSIBLY GET .. A FIFTY (50) LIKE THE DORM BED AT SEALDAH STATION..
SO GOOD IN FACT.. that Patti talked with the man several times.. Patti and I were in ALMOST CONSTANT CELL PHONE CONTACT..
FOOD WAS WONDERFUL.. THE NIGHT SLEEPING AND THE MANY NAPS I TOOK.. ALL WONDERFUL.. AND.. THE LOWER BERTH WAS NOT-SO-BAD ..
THE FOOD.. THE EATS.. WONDERFUL.. WATER AND SNACKS CONSTANTLY AVAILABLE.. ALL OF THE OTHER (53) PASSENGERS ON THE COACH .. WONDERFUL .. THE CHILDREN.. WONDERFUL..
I have a good number of nice stories to share with you all about the train trip.. complete with photos.. coming along later..
11:30PM (2330 Hours) ,, just a tad over four hours late.. INTO AGRA FORT we pulled..
I got a taxi and was at my Hotel Pawan soon there after.. just before mid-night.. Wednesday. October 19, 2011..
ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL..
over and out for now.. with love .. cap..
More to come in FWIW.. 50.. October 20.. 2011..