Driving to Agra today....
First stop is at Fatehpur Sikri - an ancient city. It is huge and we are led around by a guide - bit too fast really to take it in, and hot, hot, hot! 43◦ today! We move from shade to shade while the guide tells us all about it. We took hundreds of photos but we were glad to get back on the bus.
Beginning to feel exhausted!
Next stop is a little café on the side of the road where we buy some biscuits and get back on the bus. Late lunch stop at the Marriot Courtyard Hotel - beautiful hotel and food seems good! - Soup and curry! Onwards to Agra and we arrive at the hotel for a 45 minute break. Room 110 - very nice room again. Back on the coach and a drive to the Taj Mahal where we transferred from the coach to a small trolley bus to take us the down the long road leading to the arch where we walked through for our first sight of the palace. Its huge and teeming with tourists. Jo and I don't want to stay but stick around for the group and individual photos before sneaking off on our own. And its amazing. We are there as the sun is going down and the white marble looks pale yellow. It is a really imposing building but stands serene despite the hundreds of people. We don't bother going in but we do walk to the wall overlooking the river. We also reach "Diana's seat" and chat with a lovely Indian couple who seem impressed with us! We sit and take it all in - try to be "in the moment" but its difficult due to the noise of tourists all clamouring to take the "perfect shot"!
Back to trolley bus and back to coach and back to hotel. We ache all over and are very tired, its been a long, long day. Order omelette and chips for the room and bed but cant sleep as overtired and achy!
First stop is at Fatehpur Sikri - an ancient city. It is huge and we are led around by a guide - bit too fast really to take it in, and hot, hot, hot! 43◦ today! We move from shade to shade while the guide tells us all about it. We took hundreds of photos but we were glad to get back on the bus.
Beginning to feel exhausted!
Next stop is a little café on the side of the road where we buy some biscuits and get back on the bus. Late lunch stop at the Marriot Courtyard Hotel - beautiful hotel and food seems good! - Soup and curry! Onwards to Agra and we arrive at the hotel for a 45 minute break. Room 110 - very nice room again. Back on the coach and a drive to the Taj Mahal where we transferred from the coach to a small trolley bus to take us the down the long road leading to the arch where we walked through for our first sight of the palace. Its huge and teeming with tourists. Jo and I don't want to stay but stick around for the group and individual photos before sneaking off on our own. And its amazing. We are there as the sun is going down and the white marble looks pale yellow. It is a really imposing building but stands serene despite the hundreds of people. We don't bother going in but we do walk to the wall overlooking the river. We also reach "Diana's seat" and chat with a lovely Indian couple who seem impressed with us! We sit and take it all in - try to be "in the moment" but its difficult due to the noise of tourists all clamouring to take the "perfect shot"!
Back to trolley bus and back to coach and back to hotel. We ache all over and are very tired, its been a long, long day. Order omelette and chips for the room and bed but cant sleep as overtired and achy!
Day 2 of Agra and up late! Haha - 8am start.........
On coach and off to Agra fort today. Very imposing red fort - looks dark and menacing from the outside. Monty has arranged for us to be taken around by an old gentleman - 78 years old, a real expert and very interesting. His pacing is just right, his delivery of the information peppered with dry wit.
The fort inside is astounding and we get a distant view of the Taj Mahal before seeing the interior - beautiful buildings! amazing architecture - I really enjoyed this visit. Even hotter today but I think I'm getting used to it.
Back on coach and off along the Yamuna Expressway - bit like the M6 toll road, empty save a few cars so our driver was able to put his foot down. Stop at service station for Costa Coffee (yay) + Pizza (yay) - best thing all week!
Eventually get back to Hotel Eros and back in the same room - 618 - so a bit like coming home! Get showered and dressed and go out to a restaurant for dinner. Lovely salmon for me and chicken for Jo so we surfed & turfed! Early to bed, attemted to watch TV for a bit but we were both knackered!
The fort inside is astounding and we get a distant view of the Taj Mahal before seeing the interior - beautiful buildings! amazing architecture - I really enjoyed this visit. Even hotter today but I think I'm getting used to it.
Back on coach and off along the Yamuna Expressway - bit like the M6 toll road, empty save a few cars so our driver was able to put his foot down. Stop at service station for Costa Coffee (yay) + Pizza (yay) - best thing all week!
Eventually get back to Hotel Eros and back in the same room - 618 - so a bit like coming home! Get showered and dressed and go out to a restaurant for dinner. Lovely salmon for me and chicken for Jo so we surfed & turfed! Early to bed, attemted to watch TV for a bit but we were both knackered!