Taj Mahal & Fatehpur Sikri

Taj Mahal & Fatehpur Sikri

I think that our tour is exceptional. The only drawback is my inability to stop when I want to take a photo. I have passed so many things I would like to photograph, but it is not built into the schedule to make a lot of stops. I have taken several just riding, but I am afraid the quality is not going to be good. Oh well, it is the best that I can do.

We did not find a card reader today. That makes me sad as I have taken so many photos I want to see. Maybe tomorrow.

Today we got up early and had breakfast at the hotel. The hotel we stayed in last night was almost too attentive. They called at 10 last night to see if we needed a wake up call. Three waiters per table is a little much. Oh well, nothing was left undone.

Our taxi driver is so good. He is so patient. He never loses his cool with other drivers. At any given time there can be cows, pigs, water buffalo, camels, dogs, people walking, bikes, motor cycles, people herding goats or sheep, tractors, taxis, trucks, cars, and so on. There can be any combination of the above and so many other modes of transportation. Eric says it is a game of chicken all the time. I am not sure what it is, but it can be a little scary. I wish I could describe it better for you. Maybe another day I will not be so sleepy.

Today we left our wonderful little jungle resort and went toward Agra. There, we saw a beautiful old city built almost entirely from red sand stone. It is all carved work not an overlay. I can not even begin to describe the magnitude of this place.

After that we went to the Taj Mahal. That is something you see in books, but you really never expect to see. I could think of so many adjectives to describe it, but it is so much more than it is in photos. Unbelievably beautiful. After the visit to the Taj, we visited a marble inlay demonstration and show room. The quality is great. I am certain that should you want something like that, this was the place to go. It really just does not appeal to us as something we just had to have.

Our guide today is much harder to understand. We will have him tomorrow as well.

We have decided that all the tour guides are in cahoots. Even the taxi drivers must get a kickback from anything the tourists spend at the stops. This place gives tourists trap a whole new meaning.

Our hotel tonight is very, very modern on the inside. It is a direct contrast to the one from last night.