Travels around the world.

Besides the Taj Mahal, we also visited the Red Fort in Agra. We had previously visited the Red Fort in Delhi, which was built by the same Mughal Emperor, so we weren’t sure this one was going to be worth the visit, but we were glad we went here.  It was quite a bit nicer than the one in Delhi . There is a permanent bridge now replacing the old wooden one which was used to cross the moats to the main gate of the old fort.There was a fort in this location as early as 1080, but much of the earlier structure was razed and replaced with the structure that exists today, by the same Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal. The fort, which is really a palace within a fortified walled city, was built for him, his wives, concubines and court to live in. This is the main gate, where we entered. Detail of the colored parts in the towers seen above. I think this is inlay work, but am not sure. This gate was called the Elephant gate, because elephants used to enter through it. We ...

When I was about 10, my parents enrolled me in the Weekly Reader Children’s book club .  I was an avid reader then, but was content to work my way through the Bobbsey Twins series.  My library had lots of those.  So, I think my parents were trying to expand my reading horizons.  I don’t remember many of those books, but one I do remember was entitled “ The Road to Agra .”  It was about an Indian boy and girl walking to Agra.  The subject and cover didn’t appeal to me. It was all so far out of my realm of experience, that it took me quite a while to read it, but when I did I enjoyed it. The description in that book of the Taj Mahal made me want to see it in person some day. At that time I thought that was impossible, but some times things just take time.   When Jim told me we might be going to India, I told him I had wanted for years to see the Taj Mahal, so he put that on our agenda.  He’s like that. Before we went, I read some more about the...

We’ve been in Delhi for a week now. We’ve learned some things and still have much to learn.  We know how to use the metro, rented a car one day to take us to several interesting monuments, tombs and temples, have walked around downtown a bit, have fought off many people trying to sell us something or get us into a shop where they will get a cut if we buy something.  We are unfortunately learning that not all the helpful tips we are offered are true.  We found a metro station that we like. It’s one station past the big interchange station at Connaught Place. It’s quiet and clean and there are no crowds. We can remember it because it sounds like ‘Barak Obama.’ The name of this station is Barakhambra road. We used it twice before and recognized the entrance.  So when a fellow tried to direct us to a shop, I said, “No, we are just going to the metro.” and I pointed towards the station. He said “The metro is not that way. It’s back this way.”  We knew he was lying ju...

We have been in Delhi, now for 3 days.  We are in a nice hotel in the western part of town, about 35 minutes from the town center. There is a metro stop very close to the hotel, so we have ridden the metro a few times.  It’s easy to use, but I have to buy tokens every time we ride.  The fare is different for each stop, so we have to tell them where we are going.  You can buy a card, for 3 days, but it’s 300 rupees, and so far the most we’ve spent for one trip is 38 rupees, so it just wouldn’t pay. The rupee is about 2 cents (US) so the metro is pretty inexpensive. The people here are so very nice, polite and helpful.  They put their hands together as if to pray and bow slightly every time they greet you. They smile all the time and are always wanting to help.  Here in the hotel they are helpful and friendly, but the taxi drivers and auto rickshaw drivers outside can get a bit annoying. Still we’ve seen that in other places.  You just have to keep wal...