February 11

Today was a laid back day. We took it easy!! Jeff went down and ordered same breakfast as yesterday (Jeff said the guy was surprised). We enjoy the Poha and Upma dishes. May be a new go to breakfast for us. After we ate we decided to go for a walk about. We went back down to the Godavari River and then meandered back along the side to our hotel. Then we chilled out so to speak. I tried to take a nap, but was unsuccessful. Jeff did more planning tweaking a few things for the rest of our time in India (just under 40 days). He also got a trial version of couple of channels so we can watch the Chiefs win (fingers-crossed) the Super Bowl. (Two channels because he wanted one for a back-up).

Now the interesting and incredible part of the day… late lunch. It was about two pm and we were hungry. We looked for restaurants around this area, but Google was striking out. Then Jeff thought of some Shawarma – Oh Yeah!!! There were only two listed here in Nashik! We chose Vazeer's Shawarma. It was just about a two mile walk. We were hungry now. So Jeff hiked a tuk-tuk through Ola. He got us close two times. We opted to just get out and walk the rest of the way after the second time. Paid him and walked around the corner to a little alcove of two apartment complexes. I saw the sign on a balcony with clothes hung out drying. I was confused and ready to leave. Jeff was puzzled too. We were ready to regroup, but Jeff asked a man standing there. He did not know or understand, but a kid nearby pointed to the sign and said, “Up there, second floor.” So we started to go up some stairs, but another man pointed to other stairs. So we went up these. There were pretty dark. I was wondering what are we getting into. on the second floor there was another sign – Vazeer's Shawarma, with an arrow pointing to an apartment. So I went up to it. The main door was open and through the scene door I saw a man lying watching TV. It was a regular apartment not a restaurant. I looked back at Jeff he motioned me go, and “to knock”. The guy inside waved us in. Jeff inquired, “Vazeer's?” The man nodded yes, turned down the volume of the TV, and pulled up a menu on his phone. A lady and another man scrambled about. The lady motined to the couch and the first man motioned to a plastic chair opposite me for Jeff… So we sat in their front room and looked at his phone at Vazeer's menu. It was kind of strange but interesting to say in the least. We ordered a Classic Chicken Shawarma and a Chicken Tikka with Cheese Shawarma, Peri-peri Fries, Samosa X1, but I think they gave us X2. Jeff had a sprite and me a coke (both were the little 8 oz, bottles). Before we got the food he asked, “Takeaway or here?” Jeff replied, “Here, if that is okay.” He said, “Sure.” We all made small talk in the living room waiting for our restaurant food order. We got our food and ate the shawarma's and french fries. It was sooo good. Amazing food! (The shawarmas actually came wrapped in what appeared to be a McDonald's wrapper??) I felt bad to interrupt their afternoon-felt like we barged into their home. But while eating the food I forgot about it, mostly. I did have a dejavoo to eating at our homestay in Alleppey, where we were eating and just being watched for reassurance that the food was good.

Anyway, it was an incredible experience. The samosas were so hot we took them to go. We walked back to our hotel, along a different route. Definitely know I am blessed, saw what must be some of their shanty town/area. Back at our hotel, we ate our samosas, while they were still warm. Hope to catch up with some family and church family later. It was a good but unusual and humbling day!