A Couple's Day Out

A couple indeed! The man, 52. The woman, 52. in their 25th year of marriage. Only son, in the last leg of his post-grads in Delhi University. The duo staying in Kolkata for the last 12 years! After a quiet Saturday at home, they decided to have a "Tram Day" on Sunday. A "Tram Day" is the day when the two move out of their home and move along the city, aimlessly and from one corner to the other by riding the heritage transport of Kolkata.

After some weekly chores at home, the two had an early lunch and set for the adventure. It was all fun!!! The only bus journey (as there was no tram route till Gariahat Tram Depot) was from Bosepukur to Ballygunge Phanri (Outpost). 

Instead of waiting for the tram to roll out of the Gariahat depot, the two walked their way towards Ice Skating Rink where some winter garments sale was on. A little digression into the Rink more to take the warmth of the winter garments than to purchase. After a brisk stroll there, they hit the road again. 

This time, the majestic tram car was approaching and they rode the car. The car under the pantograph moved through Park Circus, AJC Bose Road, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road and when it reached Wellington Squire, the duo disembarked. 

Wellington Squire has a special charm in the winter days. The people, especially the girls, from the hills assemble on the footpath and set up makeshift shops selling winter garments. It is an attractive sight. After a small purchase, the couple starts strolling towards Bow Bazar where from they take another tram car to Shyambazar. This time a real heritage tram car. Curtained. cushioned seats. Relatively expensive tickets.  

Elated

Jovial

The ride from Bow Bazar to shyambazar was so full of fun that the duo decided to ride the same tram car on its way back to the esplanade. While on both the ways, the tram strolled through ollege Street and the Bidhan Sarnani with a number of landmarks and a lot of fond memories of the University days. 

The University

Presidency College

Thonthonia Kalibari

The Star Theatre

After reaching Esplanade,  some more aimless movement and clicking of photographs:

Then commences the last leg of the journey- from Esplanade to Gariahat Tram depot.  The tram car rolls and so rolls an exciting fun filled day for the elderly couple...

A favorite quote

"I dream, therefore I exist"-

August Stindgberg, A Madman's Defense

Introduction to Dreamscape

Dream is a recurrent theme in my world. In the early days of my career in the field of development, I was at Moyna of the then undivided Midnapore for more than seven years. From the sixth year of my posting as the Block Development Officer there, we organized a "Book Fair" which was like dream-come-true to the young students of such a remote corner of the State. We used to publish a souvenir to commemorate the initiative. During the second "Book Fair" I wrote an article in the souvenir wherein I depicted the Moyna as I dreamt of. It was like a journey through dream wherein a pen-picture of proposed development initiatives was drawn.

When I first developed my official website as the Sub-divisional Officer, Alipore, the refrain was John Lenon's 

"You may say I am a dreamer/ 

But I am not the only one/ 

Hope some day you would join us/ 

And the world would be as one."

In July 2011, when I developed my first blog, it was "devdreamer.blogspot.com". In devdreamer, I have planned to post articles associated with my experiences as a dreaming development professional. However, of late I have started feeling that there should be an opportunity to publish my personal world of dreams, my personal feelings and experiences and at times the creative outbursts that are released at a personal level. Hence this dreamscape, http://pacingmydreams.blogspot.com.

Come, join me. Anyone interested may join as a member and the facility to post her dreams would also be extended. Thus I propose to develop this as a shared blog with some kind of an editorial right reserved for me so as to ensure validation of the contents.

Happy blogging!