Varanasi: leaving

We were essentially in Varanasi from 7am until our train left in the evening.

We had an 8:15 train and we were at the train station by 6:45. Afterall as our driver said, "you can wait for a train but the train won't wait for you". It had rained significantly so the dry floor sitting options were limited, especially given the amount of orange travellers. We found a place and parked ourselves on our bags. Waiting can be fun. Waiting until 11:45 for an 8:15 train loses its charm after a bit. Rain delays, I suppose. Some interesting things did happen: there was a persistent beggar boy who was very good at being dramatic by pointing to his belly and putting his fingers to his mouth for food. We didn't budge. We entertained ourselves by watching the many mice and rats in action on the tracks. We were also quite the show for many passing men. We were dressed in capris and tshirts but we still drew a boatload of attention. So we played it up a bit to the guys on passing trains who had no hope of seeing us again ;) When one train was stopped a mouse was flung at us. I didn't understand right away what was happening but then I realized the mouse landed on the concrete in its belly with its arms and legs to the side so he clearly did not climb up from the tracks. Then I saw smiles from boys on the train and I clued in. Thanks for the gift, boys. Unfortunately for them I didn't react too excitingly: I just stood up and shooed it away.

After over five hours if waiting and a nearly four hour delay we boarded. This train was better than the last as all beds were only two high. We each had our little compartment with our own curtain and we slept the night away...fetal position for me and more comfortably for Michelle and Teresa.

And then we arrived in Kolkata, found a hotel, checked in and went to volunteering orientation.