In the morning, Nirav invited us to his country club to try a few irons on the driving range. Joe was able to get the hang of things with his swing, but Sophia and Sonya ... uh, just wanted to hit the ball. Fifty balls later, we set up a competition to test our accuracy. Although it brought out our competitive sides, the game was a peaceful way to start the day.
Biraj and Nirav took us to the Step Wells (Vavs) in the afternoon. Six stories deep into the belly of the earth, we made our way down the dark staircases to the well. The wells represented a sanctuary from the heat, people suffering from the drought, an oasis for travelers, refuge during invasions and even a final stop for an unfortunate number of lives.
At night, Biraj and Nirav drove us to a remote farm property, owned by Nirav's cousin. It was a small, outdoor party with tasty appetizers, Hindi music for dancing and a fire pit to keep everyone warm. Joe joined the men for a game of soccer and French cricket, while Sophia sat near the fire, chatting with the family. We didn't even realize it was 1 a.m. by the time we headed back.
We didn't tuck into our beds until 2 a.m., knowing we'd have to wake up in just three hours to be on the road.
Love,
Joe and Sophia
