Day 88 - MUMBAI, INDIA (Day 1)

 Date: 4/2/2024       Day 88    Port: MUMBAI, INDIA  (Day 1)

Description: Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and one of the most populous cities in the world. This bustling city offers a seemingly endless array of sights and cultural activities, and is the commercial and entertainment capital of India. Mumbai is home to India’s Hindi film and television industry, known as “Bollywood.” Mumbai is also one of the few cities that accommodates a national park, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, within its city limits.

Planned Excursion: OLD MUMBIA

8.5 Hours    Moderate Activity     # MUM-001: Free

Explore Old Mumbai through its most historical and architecturally important landmarks.  Gain an understanding of why different ethnic groups moved into Old Mumbai.  Watch a demonstration of sari tying in a 19th-century mansion.  Meet some dabbawallahs, who will explain how they deliver meals throughout the city.  Dine on cuisine similar to that found in the tribal areas between India and Pakistan.

Today's Notes:  At each of the ports in India we have pulled into, our access to the Internet has been blocked or very limited.  One can only think that it is deliberate.  By whom is not known.  It has made it very difficult to update this blog.  

The weather in Mumbai has been a bit cooler than the other 3 stops in India to the south.   The traffic in the city was heavy I am amazed how our bus driver navigates the crowded and narrow streets.  The city is loud and noisy with many types of vehicles blowing their horns.  Everything has a layer of dirt, if not many layers of dirt.  Add to this the unpleasant smells, we general did not care for the city.  Once back on board, we all (myself, Cathy, Joe and Pat) decided to cancel our next excursion our second day in Mumbai on April 3rd.  

Again once we are back out to sea and away from India should we regain our higher speed Internet connections.  We leave Mumbai India on April 3rd.  I have pictures to upload in the two sea days before our next port-of-call.