Not the 06:26 to Waterloo !

Very early start this morning – up at 4.45am (are we back at work?) to catch the 6am Shatabdi Express from New Delhi to Agra Cantonment Station, with our excellent breakfast boxes packed by the Imperial. 

The journey from the hotel to the train station was a fairly tame affair as so early in the morning, however at the train station….. total chaos, people everywhere, waiting to help you, take your bags, take your money etc.  Thankfully our friendly guide helped us navigate the chaos and get us safely onto the train where we settle in and enjoy the ride.

Although just a 2 hour journey it gives us a feel for the different countryside out of the big city we will see over the coming days.

Mrs & Mr M.

An Ambassadors Reception

After the busy morning taking in the sights of Chandni Chowk, the Red Fort and RajGhat, we followed the advice of Kate’s Delhi tips and had lunch at the Imperial.  Many different dhals and channa dishes were followed by green forest cake and lashings of delicious Assam tea.

We then jumped in an Ambassador taxi, resplendent in the full interior carpet treatment, for a trip to the lovely Lodi Gardens, and then back via India Gate.

I couldn’t resist grabbing a quick bit of video as we left India Gate in the Ambassador so you could all get a little bit of the sensation of being in a Delhi institution.

A swift change and then we were off out for another of Kate's tips and a fun dinner at Masala Art with mobile chefs cooking and baking bread in the restaurant.

Early start tomorrow for Agra.

Mr M

Delhi – City of Contrasts

We are collected from our hotel by our guide Devindra and visit the Friday Mosque in old Delhi first before being taken into the heart of the old city.  It is such a contrast from anything I have ever seen before.  Tiny streets, criss-crossing everywhere, cables overhanging dangerously everyway, mud, rubbish, each tiny shop selling something completely different – ribbons, sequins, spices, tyres – you name it I’m sure it was there if you could find it.  The noise from the street sellers shouting at you to look and come buy, trying not to get run over by a tuk tuk, rickshaw, lorry, bullock cart… all the different smells, colours.  It was so difficult to process everything that you saw and so hard to take everything in. An amazing experience – I loved every minute.

Old Delhi

 

Mrs M