Agra Fort

Alarm call at 545am although we were awake before then. Out to the lobby. Picked up our packed breakfast- dairylea sandwich, boiled eggs, piece of cake, banana and apple.

Jeep to the railway station and caught the 0720 to Baratpur. We only had 2 mins to get off but we all did. I gave the rest of my breakfast bag to a begging woman who had a baby on her shoulder. Our bus was waiting and drove us to Taj View Agra.

We were greeted with juice, a dob on the head with something and a bead necklace. After a time to freshen up we were taken off to the Taj Mahal restaurant for a Thali lunch. This was essentially little bowls on a big platter. The vegetarians came off a bit worse as they had the same platter but with the three chicken dishes removed and not replaced with anything else. Tonic water was 200 rupees.

Following lunch we went to Agra fort. It was sweltering hot. I struggled in the heat. Shakeel had said not to take a bag in. At the entrance we were separated into men and women queues and as women were patted down by a woman security guard. Shakeel took us around the fort and we had a bit of free time. But I found it a bit much. Had a delightful shower when we got back.

Evening meal was up to us. Some of the party went off for a show but we went up to the roof - known as the sky deck - and had something to eat and drink. I had a lime soda and a lamb kebab. I had asked the chap if it was spicy and he said not really. However it was on the border of what I could deal with. We saw plenty of bats flying around. There was a lot of smog. Saw some people flying kites. They put a burning stick under the table to stop the mozzies.

It was a very comfortable bed. However the alarm call was at 445am!

Rob had heard from Jonathan. They had visited May in hospital and she was naturally nervous about having the op.