I can only tell you about the temple because cameras are not allowed inside.

First, we purchased some garlands to place on the shrines inside the temple.

This is also where we shed our shoes. Nana knows this vendor and likes to make sure our shoes will be there when we return for them. Very nice people, and happy to pose for me.

This is where everyone else leaves their shoes.

Because it had recently rained, the pavers were wet, slippery and gooey.

There are lots of vendors outside the temple selling garlands, friendship bracelets & the like.

Little did we know that we would have to wait in a long line to get into the temple. The line was set up the same way the lines at Disneyland are set up. In fact, it felt as though we were in line for the Pirates of the Caribbean, except we were the tourists.

At one point, the line interweaved its way through a small room wherein there were seven lanes zigzagging back and forth. There must’ve been close to 200 people in that room, and of those 200 people, I was the tallest… and I didn’t look like everyone else… and neither did Sharon. I could see everyone in the room, and all eyes were on me. Robb, you would have soared!

As we zigzagged through the line, we passed different people as they stared, smiled and touched us. There was a good looking young boy, probably 12-14 with his family, who spoke English. He asked where we’re from and I told him he speaks very good English. That made him smile. It made his family smile, too. It made everyone else smile, too. It made me smile in a big way. In fact, the euphoria I felt was absolutely incredible. The people were so nice.

The lady in front of me spoke very broken English, and I struggled to understand her, but she told me I couldn’t put the small rose at the deity because it had a scent. I didn’t understand why, but I did what I was told.

The inside of the temple was very small and only a few people could be inside at a time. It was very old and encased in concrete or other kind of block. We spent only a short time there before being moved on. We saw other rooms of worship, and in one of the rooms where there was very beautiful tile work, we sat with Nana as he told us the story of St. Dnyaneshwar, his two brothers and sister, and how St. Dnyaneshwar took “live Samadhi” at a very young age – he was entombed alive in a state of Samadhi.

After we left the temple and slipped our icky, muddy feet back into our shoes, we moved on for some chai. This is the view from inside out of the chai vendor.

… and here’s Nana and Sharon sitting across from me. Did I mention that Nana is the greatest rickshaw tour guide in all of Pune? He knows everyone, remembers their names, knows where everything is, and knows all the history. We are so lucky!

That’s all I’m sharing today, but fear not, I have more pictures from Alandi I will be posting tomorrow.

This morning I had a great 2 hour practice, I have medical class at 4pm and will observe one of the 6pm classes. Right now, I’m headed out for coffee and chocolate cake!!

From Pune with love.