Part of Jaisalmer's charm is just wandering the narrow streets, getting lost and looking in the shops. Fabrics, embroidery, camel-skin slippers, traditional dhurries (woven rugs) and shawls. Predominantly silver jewelry for every part of the female body. Nose, head, fingers, ears, ankles. Studs, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, bangles in big, chunky and massive. Old and new. Buyer's remorse has haunted me ever since the trip into Rajasthan. Why was I so dumb and stupid? (Actually, young, dumb and stupid.) Why didn't I do any homework to find out what to see or do? There is one bit of extenuating circumstances - no Internet to surf but still.... When I think back of the treasures to be had for a pittance. Boo-hoo...

Purely by luck, my eye gravitated to shops selling nothing but embroidery and mirror work, both old and new. That required a long sit-down to examine the shelves of patchwork, embroidery and mirror work piled up and hanging from the ceiling. There were place mats, bedspreads, banners, table runners. Ah me...should I buy old, new, small, huge and in what shades...and don't even get me started with the gorgeous rugs. By now, ex-Marine was having one of his hissy fits and muttering, "Buy one, any one...buy two if you can't make up your mind...let's just get the hell out of here."