Flight XX to Mumbai: The Queen's Necklace and Indian Weddings

The Queen’s Necklace, Marine Drive  in South Mumbai  is a 'C'-shaped six-lane concrete road along the coast. When viewed at night standing top a ledge anywhere along the drive, the street lights resemble a string of pearls in a necklace. The view is breathtaking and brings reprieve to the bustle of the city and the hustle of the impoverished.

Henna tatted up and traditional sari for celebration (day 9)

I travelled to Andheri for an Indian wedding in the fall of 2013 and was blown away by the beauty of it all. Similar to my experience at Marine Drive, it was breathtaking. I mean I’ve been to a handful of weddings, current lifetime count=4. So my standard was average at best. But 10 days to celebrate the union of two people with enough dancing to feed the soul and enough food to feed a village is beyond comparison. And the idea of starting it right, with a lot of family, food, and fun appeals to me. 

Family and gracious tour guide standing in front of the Queen's Necklace

When you put your prayers up at 7 am and they've been answered by 7 pm....

22 Clark St. to Little Cuba

Wandering down Clark St. in my city of new, I pass a small café en route to New Lyfe. It is called Havana. I step inside and the smell brings me to that little sandwich place right outside of Breaking Pointe in the Dominican Republic. I am instantly transported to the open air space in Malaga where authentic paella takes over my taste buds and the colors remind me of Mexico City. I am in 3 places instantly without even dragging my britches down the road, so I sit down and have lunch.

It gives me home, and I’m at home. I still take the non-dairy, health conscious route new lyfe would have offered, but I am grateful for the additional flavor and the reminiscence of cultures. This place and the sun and the open air bring me back to island life. To a place I have never been. Unknown but missed. And I think of love. And of course, plane tickets to Havana.

Picture courtesy of http://allworldtowns.com/cities/havana.html

At the L.A. on Randolph 45 minutes later, I wonder if the walk up the 3 flights of stairs to the main floor is workout enough. Oh well, the meal was light and the plantain chips/ceviche was worth every bite.