A long day!

We got an early start today, leaving our hotel at 4:50 and catching a 6:00 train from Delhi to Agra. The ride between cities provided us with sights of beautiful countryside as well as a view of the poverty in which some people live in this country. 

Once in Agra, we found our tour bus for the day and got on our way. India is a country of 1.3 billion people, making cities crowded and sometimes difficult to travel through. The driving "rules" are fairly relaxed compared to in America. Here, you drive on the left side of the road but the lane lines are really just "guidelines". If you need to use the right side of the road, you do it! Roads can easily become jammed with buses, cars, bicycles, people, and animals! 

Our first stop of the day was the Taj Mahal! Though it was pouring rain during our visit, we were able to see why this majestic building is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. 

Much of the unique craftsmanship of the Taj Mahal is a result of marble inlay. We made a trip to the marble craft shop, where we saw men work to carefully handcraft these detailed designs. The tradition has been passed down proudly from father to son for centuries, and they often work for months at a time on a single piece. 

After a delicious local meal, we took a ride through the countryside to Fatehpur Sikri, the ruins of a deserted city that was once the capital city of the region. Much like at the Taj Mahal, we were impressed by the detailed stone work of this palace. 

Arriving back at our hotel at 11:30 pm, we are ready for a good night's sleep! Tomorrow we will again wake up early to catch a train to the north, where we will stay for the next three days.