Agra (again).

Saturday morning, we took the 6am high-speed train from Delhi to Agra (after nearly missing the train due to a scam artist telling us we didn't have the right tickets, leading us all over the train station, etc).  The AC car we were in was comparable to older European trains, and we were fed strange foods and warm bottled water.  Within two hours, we made our way through the crowded train station in Agra to our fancy driver waiting with a personalized sign (Ms Boogh Boughan?).  As we climbed into the SUV, children grabbed at us begging for money, and disabled people crawled after us from the ground.  There were so many people grabbing, you have to be careful not to shut anyone's hands in the car door.

Thirty minutes later we arrived at the nicest hotel in India, I'm sure of it.  Oberoi Amarvilas.  Ahhh pure bliss.  Delicious brunch (with fresh fruit, and juice, and salad!), french press coffee ... We visited the shops, swam in the gorgeous pool, and wondered how we could afford to live like this all the time.  Walked a short ten minutes to the Taj Mahal, where we bargained for some gifts outside the gates before joining the thousands of people inside.  Pics show it best ...