FRANCIS BRENNAN’S GRAND INDIAN TOUR
PROGRAMME 3 – JAIPUR – SYNPOSIS
This summer hotelier Francis Brennan is putting his 5 star day job on hold and taking 12 paying guests on the surprise trip of a lifetime – to India!
Francis is keen for his travellers to experience all that India has to offer and has arranged a 6am Yoga class, but the group struggles to keep up and ends up in a fit of giggles. Hairdresser David Martin from Co Wicklow couldn’t keep it together, “I was falling over and the giggles set in – then everyone’s laughing”.
Next on Francis’ itinerary is a visit to the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri, where the group falls victim to the soaring midday heat. Until it was abandoned in 1585, Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the great Mughal Empire, but not everyone in the group is that impressed. Financial Advisor Sean O’Mahony from Co Cork admits, “Once you’ve seen one fort, you’ve seen them all”.
It’s clear that Francis has his work cut out for him, the group is a hard bunch to please as not everybody is impressed with the accommodation for the evening. Francis has chosen something a little different for his guests’ stay in Jaipur – a traditional Indian hotel known as a Haveli – which is smaller, and less modern; and Garda Nollaig Mc Andrew from Co Mayo is not impressed with the hotel’s level of security, “Never had a padlock as a key before”.
The next day the group visits Jaipur’s top tourist attraction, the ornate 16th century palace – Amber Fort! Francis has arranged for the group to take an elephant ride up to the palace.
Hairdressing husbands David Martin and Andrew Mc Kenna from Co Wicklow struggled with the elephant ride. Andrew explains “We were veering towards the drop an we had our first domestic on top of the elephant”, as David admits he is terrified of heights, at one stage he thought he was going to fall off and die!
Thankfully there were no casualties apart from Francis Brennan himself. After a long day, things have got too much for Francis, “And I’m as tough as old boots. I suppose the Delhi Belly just got me. Please God I’ll be fine tomorrow”. Here’s hoping he’ll be well enough for the rest of tour!