19 Feb 08 - WE LEFT RANTHAMBORE BY RAILWAY AT 7:10 AM. IT WAS AN UNEVENTFUL RIDE, BUT THE TRAIN WAS UNEXPECTEDLY COMFORTABLE. WHILE THE RAIL STATION WAS QUITE AN ADVENTURE. LOTS OF POOR PEOPLE AND A LADY DANGLING HER BABY OVER THE TRACKS TO PEE.
WE ARRIVED IN FATEHPUR SIKRI AND WENT TO THE GHOST CITY AND THE PALACE OF THE WINDS, BUILT BY AKBAR THE GREAT. IT WAS ORIGINALLY HIS SEAT OF POWER IN THE COUNTRY, BUT HE REALIZED IT WAS A BAD LOCATION, SO HE MOVED IT TO A PLACE LOCATED ON THE SILK ROAD. THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT THE GHOST CITY.
WE PICKED UP OUR GUIDE, RAIS. HE WAS EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE AREA, AND ALSO THE WILDLIFE AND BIRDS OF THE AREA.
LATER WE WENT INTO AGRA AND VISITED THE SHERATON, WHERE WE GOT OUR FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE TAJ MAHAL THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF THE JUNIOR SUITE. WE WERE ALSO TREATED TO A LUNCH WHICH HAD THE GREATEST SELECTION OF FOODS YET, INCLUDING CHOCOLATE MOOSE! YUM!
WE CHECKED INTO OUR HOTEL, THE JAYPEE PALACE HOTEL AND GOT READY FOR OUR SUNSET TRIP TO THE TAJ MAHAL. WE VIEWED IT FROM THE BACK SIDE, FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER. WE HAD AN INCREDIBLE VIEW, WITH THE TAJ REFLECTED IN THE RIVER. RHONDA AND MAUREEN HAD THEIR PICTURES TAKEN ON A CAMEL. SEEING THE TAJ FOR THE FIRST TIME TOOK OUR BREATH AWAY -- THAT AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WERE BURNING BODIES IN A CREMATORIUM ALONG THE RIVERBANK A FEW HUNDRED METERS FROM THE TAJ.
WE RETURNED TO OUR HOTEL FOR A LATE DINNER.
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