After another long day of travel and all the inconveniences that entails in a place like India, we have had our first glimpses of India's iconic monument. Our hotel overlooks the Taj so we decided to have dinner at the roof-top restaurant to enjoy the views, but all we got was a beautiful silhouette since the marble masterpiece is not illuminated at all like some of us were expecting. The bustling city of Agra (pop 1 million +) is the opposite of our previous days visit, in the peaceful town of Orchha (pop 8,000). We all enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere there and the relatively non-polluted air and water (although the river was still too dirty for swimming, but at least it did not reek of sewage like the river waterhere in Agra). Orchha was full of giant temples and palaces, which took all day to explore (withlots of climbing). In the everning we attended a special Rama celebration in the main temple. We did not know what to expect, but at exactly 8pm, after half an hour of mass chanting, the large silver doors opened revealing the Rama image and a rush seized the large crowd, alnost suffocating Janet against the gate (she is fine, a large police officer helped her escape). Janet has convinced us to see the Taj at first light (6AM) to beat the crowds and heat. Luckily we are within walking distance of the entry gate!
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