I wasn’t feeling well when we arrived in Jodhpur. The overnight train ride from Udaipur to Jodhpur had increased the pain in my already aching joints. The evening we arrived, I was not in the mood to dodge traffic and cow patties.

We had found rooms for the night at Nirvana, a beautiful converted Hindu temple.

But on our first evening in the city Rand was leading us through the busy streets, up the winding alleys to check out a guesthouse with a view of the fort.

At this point, I decided I didn’t like Jodhpur and was wondering if I was tired of being in India in general.

The next day, feeling better, I sat eating a meal at our hotel’s rooftop restaurant (we decided not to switch hotels). Admiring the panoramic view of the Mehrangarh Fort, I reconsidered my hasty first impression of Jodhpur.

After a good night’s sleep, the narrow streets of the Blue City seemed charming instead of claustrophobic. The market seemed energetic instead of chaotic.

The food at our guesthouse was so much better than anything we had eaten in Udaipur. And we found delicious omelets at a stand just past the market through the arch.

From the rooftop of our guesthouse, we could admire the town square clock tower and look out over the lower roofs where local women were hanging laundry and cooking and kids danced and played games.

When a teenage boy on the next roof caught me peeking, he shouted, “Hello, Where are you from?” and we attempted a conversation across the roofs.

The steep walk up the hill to the fort was totally worth it. We stood mesmerized by the majestic stone fortress. We opted not to pay the fee to go inside the fort, feeling that the impressive parts were on the outside.

Arwen and Sierra were so inspired by the carved stone that they broken into dance in the walkway.

From the fort there is a view of the city that illustrates why Jodhpur is called the Blue City.

India, and Rajasthan in particular, can be overwhelming especially if you’re under the weather. I’m glad I gave Jodhpur a second chance at making a good first impression.