October 7 – Viewing a Wonder of the World

We left the hotel shortly after 6AM so we could go see the Taj Mahal as the sun rose in the sky. Arriving at the parking area, we were given a bottle of water and boarded a bus for the short ride near the entrance of the Taj complex. We had to pass through security there. (We had been told that we couldn’t take anything other than personal things and no electronic devices. There is always the threat of something happening at/to the Taj so they are very strict.)

I’ve been looking forward to seeing the Taj for so long and was not disappointed. It was kind of surreal being there. We watched as the light changed the look of the structure. Of course, I took a lot of pictures. Steve had to check his video camera since they are not allowed past a certain point, even though he paid 25 rupees (50 cents) to be allowed to use it. There was a professional photographer who took a group picture and many pair/individual ones of Steve and me. (Yes, we purchased them because they were excellent.) The photographer is the one who photographed Princess Di when she was there. When she was there, there were no people in the background because it closes to other people when some dignitaries visit. We were able to walk inside the mausoleum, wearing our shoecovers. Sanjay repeated what I had said about the Taj probably closing to visitors in the not-too-far future. (That’s the main reason we decided to take the India trip this year.)

Breakfast back at the Grand Buffet in the hotel and a short time to relax before leaving for our visit to the Red Fort, commissioned by the Mughai Emperor Akbar in 1565 A.D. It was here that the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal to be built as a monument to his late wife, was “imprisoned” by his son for the last eight years of his life. He had a view of the Taj but could not go there. He had a restricted area to live and visit with his concubines, and could not leave the area.

Because there was a wet moat where the crocodiles would feast on any invaders stupid enough to try to cross (there was also a dry moat with wild animals, in case they tried to poison the crocs!), Sanjay described the over-aggressive hawkers as “reincarnated crocodiles.”

We visited a marble inlay center for a demonstration of the process and looked at beautiful marble tabletops, plates, and objects in the showrooms. Exquisite but more money that I wanted to spend. Besides, I really don’t have room. (I know… could make room for something if I really wanted to.)

We decided to not go to the optional evening show/dinner and have something to eat for dinner at the hotel. Stopped in the hotel shop to buy a miniature marble Taj Mahal (only place I saw this one) and a couple of other things.

Happy that I can upload to my blog today. Rates are good at the hotel.