GammaGammpa Sprague

Tyler's parents, GammaGammpa Sprague, arrived Wednesday evening.  Tyler and I had the very wonderful and very surreal experience of meeting them at the train station; two kind and familiar faces speckled among the enormous masses of people... I'm still not sure exactly how we managed to find them.  We took them back to our place and got to hear all about their fabulous India adventures.  Trips to Delhi, Agra, a journey to see Bengal Tigers, elephant rides, rug shopping, Jaipur, on and on and on; so many colorful stories and places that made us a little envious.  We always have to remind ourselves that we are indeed on a work-type trip for Tyler.  We will return to India again someday and see the sites, I am sure of it.   But, anyway, they were in good shape, and we were all very happy to be together.

On Thursday we tooled around Chandigarh a bit.  GammaGammpa brought so many lovely things from home-- candies and almonds, books for Violet (to add to her parade :), diaper cream and coffee and other medicinal items,  and even a couple of wonderful little packages from my parents with a Valentine making kit for Violet, and play-dough, and a beautiful sweater for me... (thank you mom and dad!)  We spent much of the morning just enjoying each others company, and then went off to the Rock Garden in the afternoon, which again was simply fabulous.  Violet loves the animal statues and all of the little doors and pathways.  We were stopped and photographed about ten times, so Carol and Monroe got to see a bit of that action...
The night ended nicely with dinner at the The Taj Hotel, the very new and modern and elegant hotel in Chandigarh (where they stayed).  They had a buffet, and Tyler and I ate at least two dinners each; the food was some of the best we have had here with Indian and Chinese dishes, and a lovely dessert spread with honey mousse and toffee pudding and various little tarts and cake squares.  
It was refreshing and strange being in that hotel.  We took cycle rickshaws from our house, passing families making bonfires on the side of the road, and then stepped through the doors of the Hotel, and suddenly we could have been anywhere in the world.  There was this huge glass elevator, kind of like the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, and beautiful fountains everywhere.  A 5-star hotel, very very impressive.  Oh India, you truly are the land of great contrasts.
More to come soon on their visit!  But Violet wakes us up at 5:30am every morning now, so we'll save part two for another day.

A few photos... (click to enlarge)

Gammpa Sprage at the Rock Garden

Violet and her daddy climbing climbing climbing

Spring is here! 

Tyler, Violet O, and Gamma Sprague

We got to see the waterworks in action at the garden!