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Advantages: Calm professional staff, quiet setting Disadvantages: If you can't get it at a bargain rate, it's not worth the price.
Ciao must despair of some of us members and the near-geological timescale we seem to work on. I requested this hotel over three years ago and have finally got around to writing about it. Proof at last that if I'm given long enough I'll eventually get round to almost anything.
When and Why?
We visited Delhi at the beginning and end of a tour to Ladakh, high up in the Himalaya range. Ladakh is at such high altitude that you really can only sensibly go in the summer months and since there's no option other than to go through Delhi to get there, that's an absolutely dreadful time to be in the city in terms of the heat, but a fantastic time to get a bargain on a hotel deal. The Metropolitan was one of our summer bargains.
My love for Delhi
I love Delhi and nothing gives me more pleasure than to stay a few days in this ...
Advantages: A landmark hotel Disadvantages: It's a long way from home
Before we start, a warning. This is a long review - you might want to go and get a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits before you start reading. I got a bit carried away.
Are we ready? OK, let's go and visit one of the world's classic hotels.
Background to our visit
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Back in February I placed a booking with Exodus (an 'adventure travel' company) for a trip to Ladakh in the Indian Himalayas with a stay in Delhi at either end of visit. I'd rejected the flight inclusive option (because it used Gulf Air) and splashed out many years worth of Virgin Flying Club 'miles' on two economy tickets for my husband and myself. I love Delhi and I wanted some extra time to see a couple of the museums and monuments so I booked the flights a day early on the way out and a day late on the way back. Consequently I needed to find ...
Advantages: The funny parts are hilarious, some interesting cultural snippets Disadvantages: much unnecessary political stuff; unlikeable author
Brigid Keenan's "Diplomatic Baggage" is a prime example of one of those books where one does not have to particularly like the narrator in order to gain enjoyment from reading. Perhaps it's hard to believe that I laughed out loud while reading this on an aeroplane, but seconds later found myself involuntarily clenching my fists and seething in anger? But that is exactly how I felt, reading these memoirs of a "trailing spouse".
A "trailing spouse", for those who don't know, is the wife (sometimes the husband, though, I am sure) of a diplomat, member of the armed forces or even an international businessman, who follows their husband around the world, living wherever the job takes them.
Brigid Keenan's husband is a British diplomat who worked mostly for the European Union, taking up postings in places such Barbados, India, Trinidad ...