Trip to Agra

     Woke up @ 3:45 to get to the train station. I highly recommend using the rails if you have one piece of luggage each. Yeah we didn’t, we still had 6 pieces. When we arrived a “porter” started helping us but it took 3. One piece on their head and one in their hand. We get to the platform and they throw everything into a pile. About 45 minutes the train arrives and we are one of the first on to make sure there is room for out luggage. 

            We traveled in Executive Chair Class which was nice but was still below American standards. Meals on Wheels is the food program for Exec. CC. Tea, corn flakes with Hot Milk, I didn’t get to try mine, found a small fly in mine. Omlette with potatoes, juice, white bread. Not bad for a rail car with no kitchen. When we arrived at the Agra station we had to get help from the people on board including other tourists. Once off we were selected by a guy to use his taxi. In typical fashion he tried to charge us double but Vatsala and Raju (Brother-In-Law)’s negotiating skills won out. We were taken the back way which made me nervous but the porters seemed okay with it so we went along. 

            Once out of the station there were a bunch of children beggers. I felt sorry for them at first but then they tried to touch me. Not a good thing for anyone to try, so I shooed them off and then unfortunately had to push one with my carry-on because they were getting in my way. Not one of my proudest moments but had to be done. Once in the taxi we were driven to within a quarte-mile of our hotel. That was as close as the driver is allowed to the hotel since it is in the No Drive Zone for the Taj Mahal. We then negotiated with to bike rickshaws that just happened to show up and they loaded all the bags and Vatsala and Priyanka. Raju and I walked as it was not far. The driver didn’t think we would like the accomodations and wanted to wait for our return but we assured him we would be fine. Once we arrived at Hotel Sheela we checked in with little hassle but had to wait 30 minutes. The rooms were basic, 2 beds, 1 night stand, 1 vanity, toilet, and SHOWER. No tv or other fluff. Though it was great getting acclimated with family to begin our trip it was nice getting out on our own and experiencing India like a REAL TOURIST.