Catching up: Varanasi

Note: these posts are being written after the fact. We arrived in Benares Feb. 9. Beatrice promised gruesome details about our arrival in Benares, but I will most likely not deliver in the same detailed vein in which she would have. Suffice to to say that after our taxi driver from the train station intentionally or cluelessly confused the name "Rashmi" with "Lakshmi" we had to walk through the early morning alleyways of Benares to our hotel. Anyone who has been there before knows that it is best to avoid the alleyways (galis) until after the sweepers have been through to clean up the cow/dog/whatever waste left behind overnight. So, the bottoms our our suitcases got a little dungy (is that a word?). We did eventually arrive at our hotel, and very much enjoyed its riverside location, with a marvelous view of the river Ganga, easy access to walk up and down the ghats, and a simple trip out our second morning there to take a boat ride and observe the city from the river, which is by far the most scenic way to do so.
We also were taken to a Saraswati Puja (a ceremony honoring the goddess of music and learning) by my tabla guru, A. Ramchandra Pandit, at the home of his music partner, sitarist Goswamiji. We were there for the prayers, the offerings of food and sweets, a concert by Goswamiji's students (accompanied by Ramuji on tabla), and lunch. It was definitely a unique experience which I think the girls will not soon forget.
I also had an early morning meeting with my Hindi language guru, Virendra Singh, which we were unfortunately not able to schedule at a time when I could also introduce him to the rest of my family.
Aside from simply not leaving enough time to visit all the wonderful friends I made in Benares when I lived there in the late '80's, we had an absolutely wonderful time in Kashi, the city of light, much to the surprise of some of us.