Jaipur - La Ciudad Rosa

Pintada en rosa para recibir al Principe de Gales en 1853, muchos de los edificios de la Ciudad Vieja permanecen pintados de este color. Cientos, que digo cientos, miles de bicis, motos, rickshaws, cerdos en las calles, carros tirados por camellos, mulas o bueyes, elefantes, camellos cargados de turistas subiendo la empinada cuesta al magnifico Fuerte Amber, ruido, contaminacion, basura, todo esto deberia de sonaros ya, y es que hemos vuelto a la gran urbe, a Jaipur, la capital de Rajastan. Con su soberbio Palacio de los Vientos, su magnifico Palacio de la Ciudad, llena de museo sy lugares de ensuenio a las afueras como el Fuerte Amber, o el de Jaigarh, o el de Nahargarh, tambien conocido como el Fuerte del Tigre, y otros muchos lugares, y es que Jaipur tiene mucho que ver, a pesar de ser una de las ciudades en las que el acoso de vendedores y conductores de rickshaw sea peor. La Ciudad de las piedras preciosas, aunque hay que ser un experto para que no te timen, mas de lo mismo, seguramente habra mucha gente que no este de acuerdo conmigo, pero en este pais, o piensas mal o eres carne de canion. Cualquiera que sea amable contigo, o tiene una tienda, un hotel, un restaurante, un rickshaw o algo que vender. Es tremendo. Hoy sin ir mas lejos, hemos alquilado un rickshaw para todo el dia, y asi negociar solo todo de una vez, y el tipo se las ha ingeniado, previo intento de llevarnos a la tienda del amigo, primo, hermano o suegro, para no llevarnos a algunos de los sitios a los que queriamos ir, alegando que su rickshaw no podia subir las cuestas (he de decir que es cierto, solo que obvio ese detalle cuando estabamos negociando).

Venta de piedras preciosas, plata, alfombras, seda, artesania, y cuanto mas amplia la gama de productos, mas amplia la gama de "cazadores". A pesar de todo esto, merece la pena visitarla.

Suntuosas casa de ricos, y en sus aceras mendigos, y es que en este pais el rico es muy rico y el pobre muy pobre. Proxima parada: Bundi

Jaipur - The Pink City


Painted in pink to greet The Prince of Wales in 1853, many of its buildings in the old city have remained painted in this colour. Hundreds, what am I saying? thousands of bikes, motorbikes, rickshaws, pigs on the streets, carts pulled by either camels, mules or oxes, elephants and camels carrying tourists uphill to the magnificent Amber Fort, noise, pollution, rubbish... , this should ring a bell by now, and that's because we're back in a large city, Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. With its superb Palace of the winds, its magnificent City Palace, full of museums and dreamy places in the suburbs, like the Amber Fort, or Jaigarh Fort, or Nahargarh Fort, also known as the Tiger Fort, and many other places. Jaipur has a lot to enjoy, despite being one of the places where the hassle of shopkeepers and rickshaw drivers is harder. The city of precious stones, although you need to be an expert not to be cheated, more of the same, there are probably people who do not agree with me, but in this country, you think badly or you are "cannon fodder" I think you brits say:-). Anybody who is kind to you, either has a shop, a hotel, a restaurant, a rickshaw or something to sell. It's amazing. Today, we've hired a rickshaw for the whole day, so that we only had to bargain once, and the guy has managed not to drive us to some of the places we wanted to go to, claiming that his rickshaw couldn't go uphill (I must say it's true, but he forgot to mention it while we were bargaining with him) of course he also tried to take us to his friend, cousin, brother or father in law's shop. Sale of precious stones, silver, carpets, silk, handicrafts, the wider the range of products, the wider the range of "hunters". Despite all this, it is worth a visit. Sumptuous houses with beggars in their sidewalks. In this country the rich are very rich, and the poor are very poor. Next stop: Bundi