Agra's Amazing Architecture

And there it was. Positively glowing in the just-crested, red, morning sun. After all the hype - the talk and the photographs - the stories and the fables - the early wake up call and the long line. These things are not worth listing, for none of it really mattered once the magnificent structure stood boldly against the sky at the far end of the perfectly straight garden. Knowing that I was embarking on the final steps of a long path to perhaps the most beautiful man-made structure in history brought through me a sense of awe, coupled with an odd serenity despite the hordes of fellow onlookers. Approaching the jewel, I found the tower tops and the infamous dome to be radiating a warmth towards me that eased the chill of the morning. Finally reaching my destination it was only a matter of soaking in the grand sight of Agra's Taj Mahal.

Accompanied

Since Larissa has been here we've been stuck in large, polluted, smelly cities. It is unfortunate because this masks the wonderful parts of India and they are more difficult for her to see through the smog. I hope that during the week she will at least catch a glimpse of what I've been able to experience over the past four weeks.

Delhi gave us a look at the history of the country by a morning at the national museum, as well as a trip to the house where Gandhi spent his final 144 days until he was assassinated on those very grounds. It now serves as a memorial for him, including his final golden footprints and a shrine where he died.
Old Delhi was a hubbub that almost got to Larissa on the second day but luckily we made it to the 25,000 person capacity mosque and were able to take it in, including a somewhat hazy but otherwise enjoyable view from atop the 40m tall tower.

Train from Delhi to Agra was her first legitimate train experience - in any country - and unfortunately was a trying one as it was delayed for an hour and the food I hopped off to grab at a station was deep fried, cold and thoroughly disappointing. In Agra we took a bell-ringer tour trying to see the 'Baby Taj' and then the real Taj before sunset. Both were accomplished.. as we watched the sun set from across the Yamuna River (second holiest in India) while viewing the Taj. It was splendid but still somewhat abstract or removed, picture-like, since we have yet to touch it. Tomorrow!



With the Taj closed on Friday's we boarded a city bus (jump-started via pushing!) along with a hundred other people to rumble and rock and smoke all the way to Fatehpur Sikri - the short lived capital of India in the 16th Century for only 14 years. It was nice to see the old palaces (3, one for each of the emperor's wives) and the gardens and the grounds.

It has been great to have family here, quells the homesick feelings that would rise from time to time and gives me someone to share India with. Looking forward to the rest of this country and then onto Thailand and beyond.