Taj Mahal

So beautiful, so iconic, the Taj Mahal needs no introduction or words. This was the first official day of the start of our trip and, after our drive from Delhi to Agra to get here, we spent the rest of the day touring the Taj Mahal and the Taj Fort. 

Of the dozens of photos I took, below are just a random smattering and are in no particular order.  The photos do not cover how much there is to see here. 

Must have been drunk when I took this

Rhesus Macaque

Five-striped Palm squirrel

Cattle Egret

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

In training for Trump visit

There is a story attached to this.

We visited on Sunday, February 23rd - the day before Donald Trump's visit.  Everywhere the streets were being cleaned, barricades put up and ubiquitous signs like the one above hung from every lamppost, fence and building.  Most of the signs were of  Trump standing alone or juxtaposed with Narendra Modi, India's Prime Minister.  The Indians certainly had Donald Trump's number.  Once inside the Taj Mahal grounds a few of us were sitting on a ledge waiting for our guide to rejoin us.  Out of nowhere, a young woman with a microphone in her hand came up to us and asked where we were from.  Carli proudly announced "California" (six of ten in the group were from California.) The reporter asked if we would mind commenting on Donald Trump's visit for their news story.  When she walked away to get her cameraman we were in a panic.  Oh my god, what are we going to say?  We knew we couldn't say anything uncomplimentary.  We didn't have time to think about it because she was back in seconds and was holding the microphone up to Carli.  "He's going to love the Taj Mahal.  It's so beautiful.  We love it."  Moves to the next of us who repeats the same thing.  Next, the same; next the same.  Finally she gave up.  The reporter must have thought she was interviewing a bunch of dummies.  I hope they didn't show it on their evening news.

One of the signs, however, did show something which I liked very much.  It showed Modi and Trump standing together with the following words written above, "The world's oldest democracy meets the world's largest democracy."  I liked the sound and the feeling of that.

For our very early departure the following morning even more barricades were up and our van had to find a way around these.  It was obvious that men and women had worked through the night to finish the spruce-up and were still at work in the early morning.  It was touching to see how nice everything looked.     

Sleeping bats

Architectural detail

Spotted Owlets from the Taj Fort grounds

Our north India group!

Of course, the Taj Mahal is now closed secondary to coronavirus.  But it will reopen one day.  One cautionary note, I learned from a colleague that the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.  So, if you go, don't plan your visit for a Friday.

This ends post #3.  Next post:  Tiger