I went to Rome directly and spent the day attending to routine formalities at the FAO headquarters.
In the evening, I flew to Stuttgart, arriving there about 10 p.m., almost two hours later than my wife's arrival at the local Holiday Inn.
Being late, I was in a rush to join her.
I made it quickly to the taxi stand outside the airport and waited anxiously for what would be available while lining up.
Suddenly, I saw two cabs travelling in the direction of the taxi stand from a distance.
I could not believe my eyes. They were exact replicas of the dream car we had selected after many days of exhaustive research and consultation in Canada.
I got into the taxi, almost in a state of shock.
After a short ride, I arrived at the Holiday Inn which had been reserved for us from London by our brother-in-law.
Lavinia was relieved to see me joining her as promised.
After enquiring about her flight to Germany, my first question to her was:
"How did you arrive here from the airport?"
She was ready for a brisk reply.
"By taking a taxi."
I could not wait any longer for my next question.
"What sort of taxi?"
As she lifted her face to answer, I could discern a gentle smile, as if she knew what I must be knowing as well.
"A taxi exactly like the dream car we had ordered from Canada!"
It was too much to control our emotions any longer.
We simultaneously burst into a loud laughter as if saying to each other, "A dream car? What dream car!"
We had both worked so hard on coming to a consensus on the selection and design of our car.
And, obviously, the one chosen by us was also the favourite car of the cab drivers in Stuttgart!
Recreational Mecca
Danube Island festival
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Iran Odyssey 1
Iran Odyssey 1
Having just returned after an marvellous vacation with my wife's family in London during 1977, the Edmonton city where we were living looked dull and less attractive.
However, this is where I and Lavinia had settled after my immigrating to Canada
in 1965 to work as a Research Officer, and soon thereafter as Scientist for the Government of Canada.
My research assignment in hydrology and water resources along the eastern slopes of Canadian Rockies was a pioneering project involving cooperation from different departments. As a coordinator for one of these, I had enjoyed the challenge of working with others of diverse ethnic and national origins.
A pile of mail had accumulated during the three weeks we had been away. To check it was my first priority.
Sorting out letters and packets, the one that caught my eyes was an envelope with unfamiliar markings.
As I opened it, there was an unexpected but joyful surprise: a job offer for
one-year assignment as a watershed research expert on the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) in Iran, operated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
I had always dreamt about the privilege of travelling in other countries under diplomatic status accorded to those working for the United Nations. Here was an opportunity to go to Iran, a country with ancient civilization which had long contacts with India historically.
Iran was in great turmoil immediately prior to the events that eventually led to an open revolt against the Shah. His nemesis, Ayatollah Khomeini, was in exile in France and working hard for the downfall of the regime at that time.
When I mentioned the idea of going to Iran to Lavinia she told me that I needed my head examined for conceiving such a dangerous proposition. She was right. The media was already reporting serious political crashes within that country.
I had to use all my negotiating skills to pursue my wife to agree to the trip. This included a promise that we would travel in a new car, to be purchased in Europe, to start the journey.
The idea of buying a car came from Dr. G.S. Attariwala, an optomologist I had met in Calgary. He told us that we should use the golden opportunity to bring home a Mercedes car free of import duty.
The suggestion coming from a family friend worked and we both agreed to accept the assignment offer.
The next hurdle was how to raise the needed capital for such an adventure. Our immediate and major liability was the car to be purchased.
A bank loan was negotiated as we finally decided that our next car was to be a Mercedes car, custom-built in their factory in Sindelfingen near Stuttgart in Germany.
We spent many restless nights pondering over the attractive options offered to us by the manufacturer. Although we were anxious to join the rank of Mercedes car owners, we knew fully well that we could afford a modest amount only.
The important criterion while travelling, we were told, was that the car should be easily visible from a distance, especially under low visibility conditions caused by weather or by air pollution en route.
The potential concern was the risk of being hit accidentally while passing through the densely populated areas in Europe, especially during peak hours when traffic was heavy.
We considered many factors, such as the exterior paint colour, and the choice of interior design and the radio and stereo system for keeping in touch with the news and enjoying music during tiring distances.
The more time we spent on deciding the available choices, the more excited we got about the entire trip. We became increasingly aware that travelling by car through Europe and middle East was perhaps an opportunity of a life-time.
Just as we were ready and waiting for the day to start our travel, a telegram arrived from the FAO headquarters in Rome. It asked me to arrive there one day ahead of the scheduled visit, to join others to receive briefing before proceeding to the countries of our assignment.
This caused a slight change in our plans. I decided to fly to Rome a day earlier than Lavinia's scheduled flight via London. We agreed to meet each other in Stuttgart to pick up our new car from the factory at the promised time.
Having just returned after an marvellous vacation with my wife's family in London during 1977, the Edmonton city where we were living looked dull and less attractive.
However, this is where I and Lavinia had settled after my immigrating to Canada
in 1965 to work as a Research Officer, and soon thereafter as Scientist for the Government of Canada.
My research assignment in hydrology and water resources along the eastern slopes of Canadian Rockies was a pioneering project involving cooperation from different departments. As a coordinator for one of these, I had enjoyed the challenge of working with others of diverse ethnic and national origins.
A pile of mail had accumulated during the three weeks we had been away. To check it was my first priority.
Sorting out letters and packets, the one that caught my eyes was an envelope with unfamiliar markings.
As I opened it, there was an unexpected but joyful surprise: a job offer for
one-year assignment as a watershed research expert on the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) in Iran, operated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
I had always dreamt about the privilege of travelling in other countries under diplomatic status accorded to those working for the United Nations. Here was an opportunity to go to Iran, a country with ancient civilization which had long contacts with India historically.
Iran was in great turmoil immediately prior to the events that eventually led to an open revolt against the Shah. His nemesis, Ayatollah Khomeini, was in exile in France and working hard for the downfall of the regime at that time.
When I mentioned the idea of going to Iran to Lavinia she told me that I needed my head examined for conceiving such a dangerous proposition. She was right. The media was already reporting serious political crashes within that country.
I had to use all my negotiating skills to pursue my wife to agree to the trip. This included a promise that we would travel in a new car, to be purchased in Europe, to start the journey.
The idea of buying a car came from Dr. G.S. Attariwala, an optomologist I had met in Calgary. He told us that we should use the golden opportunity to bring home a Mercedes car free of import duty.
The suggestion coming from a family friend worked and we both agreed to accept the assignment offer.
The next hurdle was how to raise the needed capital for such an adventure. Our immediate and major liability was the car to be purchased.
A bank loan was negotiated as we finally decided that our next car was to be a Mercedes car, custom-built in their factory in Sindelfingen near Stuttgart in Germany.
We spent many restless nights pondering over the attractive options offered to us by the manufacturer. Although we were anxious to join the rank of Mercedes car owners, we knew fully well that we could afford a modest amount only.
The important criterion while travelling, we were told, was that the car should be easily visible from a distance, especially under low visibility conditions caused by weather or by air pollution en route.
The potential concern was the risk of being hit accidentally while passing through the densely populated areas in Europe, especially during peak hours when traffic was heavy.
We considered many factors, such as the exterior paint colour, and the choice of interior design and the radio and stereo system for keeping in touch with the news and enjoying music during tiring distances.
The more time we spent on deciding the available choices, the more excited we got about the entire trip. We became increasingly aware that travelling by car through Europe and middle East was perhaps an opportunity of a life-time.
Just as we were ready and waiting for the day to start our travel, a telegram arrived from the FAO headquarters in Rome. It asked me to arrive there one day ahead of the scheduled visit, to join others to receive briefing before proceeding to the countries of our assignment.
This caused a slight change in our plans. I decided to fly to Rome a day earlier than Lavinia's scheduled flight via London. We agreed to meet each other in Stuttgart to pick up our new car from the factory at the promised time.
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