The Taj

A 5:30 start in the morning comes pretty early. We all piled onto the bus and were driven to the parking location. We could choose to either walk the 10 minutes or take a rickshaw. This early in the morning, we decided that the walk would do us some good. Get the blood flowing, so to speak.

As we approached the entrance, the gates opened. The line to get in was short; twenty people in each line (men's line and women's line). Not as long as we were told to expect. We went through the security (where they seemed to actually pay attention to the metal detectors and checked my pockets) and wandered toward the site of the actual Taj Mahal.

Friends, allow me to tell you that if you have the chance to see this sight, TAKE THAT CHANCE! This is truly a wonder to behold. Like many things of its nature, words cannot describe it. We spent the next couple of hours taking photo after photo and walking the grounds. Over the first hour, the sun rose higher in the sky and the light changed on the Taj. It seemed to take on slightly different colors. During our free time there, most of the other people on the tour stopped and thanked Barbara for insisting on the sunrise. Many of them expressed that it was what they wanted as well, but, didn't want to rock the boat or force the issue. None of the others were upset with her, at all. They were thrilled that someone would not back down.

Back to the hotel we went. Due to the early departure time, nobody had really had the chance to get breakfast (or a morning shower for many of us). Everyone was happy to have some time to rest, relax, eat and wash up. As a tourist in India, I will take any opportunity for a shower. Do I really need to say anything about food opportunities?

We head off for our next adventure; The Red Fort of Agra. Built by the Moghal Kings, it was home to their seat of power. It was where the 5th Moghal King watched as the Taj Mahal was built. 22 years he watched. Of course, shortly after he buried his wife there, his son overthrew him and kept him prisoner here. This place was pretty enormous. The entire thing is built out of red sandstone. The nearby river was used to fill the reservoirs of the fort (three of them cascading uphill) to provide water for its inhabitants. Due to the height of the final reservoir, the water had enough pressure to power the fountains within the places of the king and family. It also rand down a cleverly designed screen that the wind blew through; an early form of air conditioning.

We get some lunch and then stop off at an artisan education facility. Much like the carpet market. This time the art is marble inlay. We watch in abject fascination at the delicate, precise work of these artists while shaping tiny, tiny pieces of precious and semi-precious stone to be laid into the hand gouged grooves of the marble. Color me impressed.

We head to the tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah, or the Baby Taj as it's sometimes called. It is a smaller version of the Taj Mahal. It's inlay is mostly intact (due to the much more common materials used for the inlay work). It was actually built before the Taj Mahal and was used as a model to build a bigger, more extravagant version. It was nice. I'm sure that it would have been more impressive if I had not already seen, I hesitate to say, the real thing.

Shankar tells us that our next stop is a local market so we can wander around. When we get there, he points to where it is and basically says, there it is, have fun. Now friends, there are no sidewalks in this market. But, there is a busy street that we get the opportunity to walk down. It's a good thing we had a guide to tell us what was what. Oh wait! He had stayed on the bus. We were given a half hour to walk around the market. We were all pretty much done within 10 minutes...round trip. None of us really knew what it is we were supposed to be experiencing. Nobody was in the mood to buy produce.

He then took us to another market to wander. We each looked at one another. Again, seriously? Similar procedure. We arrive, the direction is pointed out to us and we were given the have fun speech again. It was a five minute walk and we had to cross a busy intersection. There is no such thing as right of way or crosswalks in India that I can see. So, crossing was a slightly harrowing experience. Granted, this market was a bit more upscale...it had a sidewalk and the stores offered goods, not just produce and promises of unknown bowel issues to come. We actually spent most of our half hour time walking around the area.

Back to the hotel where Barbara and I had dinner on the top floor of our hotel. That restaurant, I had read, had a glorious view of the Taj Mahal at night. Friends, I was lied to. The Taj, apparently, does not get lit up at night. So, while it may have a view of the Taj, it could not possibly be considered glorious, as it's pitch black in that area of town. The food was decent, but, not altogether mind blowing as I had hoped. The service was outstanding.

Tomorrow, we depart for Jaipur.