I had a house in India...but, not yet.

We started in Pune India where we are staying in the lovely Oakwood Hotel. Three and a half hours of grueling, bronco like driving brought us to Phaltan India where we are looking for a house to live in for the next two months.

I find it difficult to experience the fine art of Indian driving without fearing certain death or dismemberment of myself or someone else. Part of this driving technique is to honk your horn, wave your arm out the window, weave suddenly, brake here dodge there. Rarely there is a break in the oncoming traffic. But, when there is a moment of space this seems to be thought of as an opportunity to create a one way road...at the last moment just before impact of the oncoming cars and trucks everyone pulls back onto their own side. Though I have seen where two or more vehicles are forced to a complete stop in front of one another. Peacefully, with no sign of anger or issues they work their way around one another. 

Do not try to drive in India if you have not been born into it.

The streets of Phaltan are lined with the constant sounds and daily activities of life in India. Ritu is the woman in charge of helping us to find a house. She calls on her phone speaking to someone. She then speaks to our driver and finally lets us know that we will wait here for the agent that will take us to the houses we will view. Some short time later our "agent" arrives. Three young men on one motorcycle ride up beside the car and signal our driver to follow.

We wound down and around the dusty roads for hours viewing multiple houses. We did not find a house we wanted on this day...but we did get to enjoy the three and a half hour experience of the road trip once again on the way home...only this time in the dark.

Tuesday we will repeat the trip from Pune to Phaltan.