Vacation catch-up - Agra

My father, Milos and I hired a car to go to Delhi. At 7am our driver met us outside our hotel and we began the journey to Agra. He was a nice guy and my dad enjoyed talking to him, but I was annoyed because he took us to a really expensive tourist rest stop for lunch and when I complained about the price he said it was "normal" for India and I was like look pal I live in India, I'm not stupid these are American prices and he just smiled silently. He also neglected to mention that the Agra Fort closed at sunset (not sure if he was lying) and drove us past there saying we couldn't go inside. On the way home he took us to a marble dealer, and probably got a coupon or some money for doing so. He seemed mad that we didn't buy anything, as did the store owners. It's a cheap trick used by auto drivers and apparently other more costly drivers as well. Sometimes it is nice though because you get to see interesting wares, and if you have nowhere to be it is a nice thing to do for a nice driver (go in and check out their "friend's" merchandise).

Photo at dusk outside the 'closed' Agra Fort.

Outside the Taj Mahal, we paid foreigners price in rupees (they recently stopped accepting US dollars because of the declining value). After checking our sweatshirts (Delhi and the North is cold at this time of year!) and other non essentials and collecting our free water bottle (part of the international ticket price) we waited in line only to get to the front and be told no bags, no purses, no exceptions. We cursed and went back to the locker room, placing as much as we could in pockets and in my camera bag (which turned out to be an exception). Returning to the line, I was ushered through after being frisked behind a tiny curtain in the women's line, and waited on the inside for Milos and Chuck. As men in public places far outweighs the number of women, lines for women at temples, movie theaters, sites, etc. are generally much shorter.

There is an archway that you walk towards, through which the Taj Mahal slowly begins to materialize.






We spent hours at the Taj simply enjoying the view and basking in its glory.


Up close the Taj is no less impressive, with intricate details, beautiful carving, and extensive marble work.





Care hire to Agra: $120 (US dollars)
Ticket price: Rupees 750
Photos taken: 240
Postcards purchased: 12
Tips for "free" lockers: Rupees 10
Seeing the Taj Mahal in person: Priceless