New Ride

Our fine old reliable Saturn VUE SUV lasted 12 years and almost 100K miles. It still looked great but would not pass inspection due to frame corrosion so on the advice of our mechanic we reluctantly traded it in on a new Toyota RAV4. The new car is fun with lots of upgraded safety features and neat accessories like Bluetooth smartphone connectivity. Cars are only new once so I took some detailed photos of the brand new vehicle.

Homeward Bound

We are in London en route home to Philadelphia. We had a fantastic time in India!

Visiting The Taj Mahal

Taking golf carts from our hotel to the narby Taj Mahal in the early morning, before sunrise, is the custom in Agra. We waited with a large throng of tourists from many countries. The Taj is beautiful from any angle, and the monument built by Shah Jehan for his favorite wife, whose tomb, like his own, rests under the magnificent dome. Two additional square pavillions located on either side of the main monument emphasize the overall symmetry of the site. - Dan

Agra

After a long, five hour journey by motorcoach, we arrived in Agra, the Mughal city. We checked in at the elegant Oberoi, and then toured the vast and amazing Agra Red Fort, a stronghold with gardens, a moat, and quarters where the maharajas lived. It was here that the great builder Shah Jehan was imprisoned by his son, but could still see the Taj Mahal from his elaborate palace-room windows. We spent an hour at the red fort, but only saw 25 percent of it. Then we went to the opposite banks of the river to view the Taj Mahal at sunset. Its beautiful proportions have deservedly made the Taj the most famed of all Mughal monuments. - Dan

Touring Jaipur

We toured three beautiful and fascinating parts of Jaipur. In the thousand-year-old city we explored the huge complex known as the Amber Fort, perched high on the hills. The kings had royal apartments covered with tile and mirror moasics and a large wall protecting the old city. After the fort we toured the city palace of the current maharaja, or "great king," and saw the royal throne room and various treasures. Finally, before lunch at the Raj Paace Hotel (a different palace,) we saw an ancient observatory. The Indians were and are interested in both astrology and astronomy. - Dan