We flew into Delhi just a bit late Thursday morning and were met by a driver straight away for our drive to Agra, about four hours outside of Delhi. It was an awesome road by Indian standards (straight and paved, not too many cows), a welcome surprise, and traffic was light, this being the "off" season. Ok HOT season... we were fairly warned by everyone I came in contact with since first mentioning the trip... "You're going to Delhi...now???" "Why?!?!?" But that part comes later... first the Taj...totally breath-taking.
We also made the most of Agra and visited Agra fort, a marble inlay shop (if anyone wants a $10k dining table, I know of an awesome one) and the restaurant in the hotel - where they served AMAZING food and even a nice pinot grigio.... mmmmm. One aside from the trip to Agra is that the contrast between "rich and poor" is made more stark. At the foot of the Taj is a very confrontingly poor town - quite a thought provoking dichotomy.This is a closer look at the marble work at Agra Fort - super impressive...the picture doesn't do justice. And I could barely touch on the story of either this place or the Taj. We had a great tour guide, but you can see why books are written - it's the stuff of soap operas and movies - love story, money, grandeur, murder, and family feud.
We also stopped at Fatehpur Sikri about an hour outside of Agra on the road to Jaipur, once a seat of the Mogul empire under Akbar. It too was a place for which my narration or pictures could not do justice. I highly recommend you visit.
So stop one was a resounding success and a huge highlight I think for Sarah's trip as well as mine (albeit longer trip). I feel incredibly lucky to have gotten such a cool opportunity to go, and can't wait to go again with my husband, son, parents and sister in tow.
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