The marvelous Taj Mahal and her city

After a longer than the 4 1/2 hour time we were told drive, we arrived in Agra. We left the hotel in New Dehli at about 8am, but didn't get to agra until around 2 pm. Our group then quickly took our suitcases from the bus into our new hotel rooms and then came back out to the bus.

The big stop for today: The Taj Mahal. Yep. Fun stuff. :)

First, we met our new guide for the day (a local of agra) and went to eat at Restauraunt. There were a bunch of vendors in the streets before we got in the restaurant and some preformers (wanting money) after we were in the fence of the restauraunt. We ate outside, which was nice. The natives think it's very cold, but to us it's like a North Carolinian spring. Over in the corner, there was a man making pottery on a wheel. Only- not electrical. Because (duh) we are in India and outside.

Anyway, he asked me if I wanted to try. Of course, I said no at first, but Aneel told me to go ahead. So- I made a pot/glass/vase. Whatever- I made some pottery. He helped a lot, because I'm not a skilled potter (contrary to popular belief). Later we learned that the wheel he was using was his great grandfathers, and he buys the clay at the market. Also- we watched him start the wheel turning: in the wheel there is an indention and he has a big stick. He used the stick to turn the wheel around many times, very quickly so that then he can stop and the momentum keeps the wheel turning. It was... fascinating.

Aneel worked (and haggled) out the details and it was agreed that he would fire the piece I made and give it back to me before we left. So, now I have pottery to take back home with me. Success.

Then- the great Taj Mahal. I really don't have very good words to describe this, but it's wonderful and beautiful. We took a group photo and several individual photos and of course a ton of photos of the building itself. We got there right before the sun went down- so we also have some sunset pictures. The only downside was that pictures were not allowed inside- but that is because it is sacred.

For the people who don't know the story, here it is: When the emperor of Agra's (capitol of the Munghal empire) 3rd wife died, he was devastated. He promised her that he would never marry again and that he would build a temple for her as a tomb. 22 years of painstakingly perfect work and many deaths (the workers) and the Taj Mahal was complete. When the emporere died, his son burried him next to his wife, because 1) he had no money for another monument and 2) he believed that his father and mother would be happier together. Today the Taj Mahal is one of the 7 wonders of the world.

We had our first real experience with some indian monkeys today. Earlier, when we were stopped along the road some men came with pet monkeys that did tricks.(of course, wanting money). Everyone took photos and the monkeys were very energetic. Later, after we saw the Taj Mahal, we saw an old monkey with an injured foot and no tail.

Of course after this long day- yesterday- and the flight from the day before, we were (and still are) very tired. So, we then returned to the hotel for supper. Now, I'm writing this on wordpad, so as not to use up my 1-hour internet card that we bought.

I don't know when else I'll be able to get internet- of course I'm hoping for Jaipur (our next stop) but it's not certain.

So, until then, my friends.

** New word of the day: Dumni vad (thank you - Hindi)