WE MADE IT!!!

It’s been a busy few days. We left Cochin and flew to Delhi on Spicejet airlines. I think it’s equivalent to Spirit in the US. We had a stop halfway there but couldn’t get off the plane. Security came through and had each of us identify our carry on bags in the overhead compartment. Our landing for that stop was the hardest I’ve ever experienced. Guess the air currents were pretty bad. We finally made it to Delhi and went to the Meridian Hotel. It’s a Marriott property but a step up from what we were in. We had our usual Indian buffet for dinner.

The next morning, we went to see The Red Fort. It was pretty hot there. We went on half the tour, then waited ay the entrance for the group. As we were waiting, there were several school groups lined up near where we were sitting on a wall. I said Hi and many of them replied. Others looked at me like I was nuts. They were very cute in their uniforms. As usual, the kids in the back were the ones not paying attention. From the Fort we went back to hotel for lunch. Then we gathered to make our first stop at the Taj. The bus can’t get close so we got big golf carts to take us to the entrance. We went down a street filled with shops. It was tantalizing to look at them, but no stopping. We got in the “express” line because we already had our tickets. It took us almost 30 minutes to get to the entrance. On the way everyone had to avoid the cow dropping. After we got through the gate we had to go through security. We were told not to bring purses or backpacks, so I had my pockets full. The men went in one line and the women in another. Since I can’t go through the sensor I was patted down and had to empty my pockets, cell phone, chapstick, Kleenex, boring. Then we walked down a street with some brown brick buildings, not sure what they were. We went through a big arch in one of them and there it was, in all its glory. There must have been 100 people stopping to take that first photo. We went off to the side a little bit with our guide who explained a few things and gave us our booties for our shoes. We needed them to go inside. We had a group photo taken, then individual ones. Then we were let loose for 1 1/2 hours. It was in the 90’s, but not so humid. We started walking towards the building so we could go inside. Of course there were lots of steps. We at least got to sit down to put on our booties. Then we got in a line to go up the steps to the main level. It was out in the hot sun and we had to wait in a line .. Bunny got a little overheated so we stopped and rested and drank water. After a few minutes she was ready to continue. We went inside a dark area after being in the bright sun. It was hard to see the beautiful inlay work on the walls. We were far enough away that we couldn’t touch it, as much as I wanted to! The tombs were in the center of the room surrounded by screens so it was hard to see them. Before we knew it we were on our way out. We exited in the back, which overlooks a river. Then we walked around to the shady side and rested a bit. Bunny was still a bit shakey. A nice Indian man and his wife helped her down the steps. I asked if she wanted a wheelchair to get back and she said yes. The man overheard us and offered to negotiate with the guy. He got him down to $10 and she said yes. The man told us not to give him any more. He took off with her and I tried to keep up but lost them in the crowd. I finally saw them heading back to where we were to meet. The only problem was the bathroom was in the opposite direction. I yelled at them to stop and shouted toilets. He got the message and took her there where I met them. I asked him to wait. He said No Wait! So we paid him and used the facility. Then we walked back to the meeting point

. We left there and went to a marble shop where we had a demonstration of how the stones were formed and inlaid. I thought it was fascinating since I like to do lapidary. Of course we were then led into the showroom. There was everything from small, medium and large tabletops to plates, vases, boxes, elephants. You name it, they had it. I picked up a box and a salesman was at my side. I asked the price-$400. Too much for me. We kept looking and I found one for less than half the price. I asked for some pieces of scrap marble so I could make jewelry and they gave me some. I was very happy. I paid for my box and the guy called me over to the counter where they wrap the packages. There were 3 other young men there. He said to me, we all give you this gift. It was an elephant with inlay patterns on it. I was floored. I don’t know if they do that for everyone or it was my lucky day. Probably do it for everyone. They wrapped everything up and put it in a zippered tote bag. I have no idea where that will all go when we fly back to the ship!
We went back to the hotel, had another buffet dinner and crashed. I will continue tomorrow with our sunrise visit. I walked over 13500 steps yesterday. I think that’s a record for me since Covid!! I will just put in a couple pix tonight and more tomorrow.
The flowers were in the hotel in Agra. Living proof that we were there. A long shot with all the people.