Rendezvoused at the designated time (this is a good group, no one is lagging, we are all on time), we troop out the exit, then walk a ways to get on the electric carts that will take us back to the bus. (Bhanu had originally said if we didn’t get a cart we could walk, but its a far piece from the bus parking lot to the entrance, I’m thinking there might be those among us who will wait for a cart, regardless!) We get lucky and there is a cart right there, so we are back on the bus in a jiffy where we get the Price is Right options, then off we go. but in the meantime we got this great shot of Ganesh, the God of Luck and Prosperity. I can’t remember for the life of me remember where he was, but it’s an awesome shot, and I’m going to say it was at the exit of the Taj Mahal since it was about half an hour after our last Taj Mahal shot.
Next stop – the marble factory. Hey, when in Agra….I mean the Taj Mahal is called a “Dream in Marble”! At the marble factory we get the tour, plus beer (yay!) and an explanation and demonstration of the age old tradition and ancient ways of creating and inlaying marble. It’s all very interesting, and the showroom is amazing. They have beautiful marble table tops (the table stand is included free!) that I would love to have shipped home – but we have no place to put them, even the small little side tables. We wander a bit, and final get to the “small pieces” showroom where we actually find a really neat candle holder, cylindrical with inlay and lattice type cut outs. We bite the bullet and have them fix the bottom (it wobbles), then wrap it up in more bubble wrap than is environmentally friendly, and we are back on the bus with the rest of the gang – a few of whom also bought tables, etc., to be shipped home.
Back at the hotel before noon, we take some time to freshen up then head out to one of the two restaurants we wanted to try while in Agra – Golden Street Restaurant. We drove right past it on the way to the Taj Mahal this morning, so we know exactly where it is located, and it’s an easy walk. (Its an easy walk to the other restaurant, The Foyer, as well, since it is only a few hundred yards down the road from Golden Street.) The four of us intrepid travelers hit the lobby and head out into the honking, dusty road, crossing a deserted parking lot, then heading down the smallish road that leads to the Taj. On the way, we of course dodge stray dogs (who take a distinct disliking to Richard), walk around old men hanging outside shops and manage to cross the road to get to the restaurant without incident in a little less than 10 minutes.
Inside, it is cool and lovely, and totally uncrowded. We are the 2nd customers of the day, although more will come as we have our meal. The menu is pretty extensive, and it is all traditional Mughlai cuisine (from the Mughal empire which was the ruling empire in these parts), which is strongly influenced by Persia (Iran) and Northern India (Punjab and Kashmir). Low fire cooking, whole spices, enticing aromas, ghee and sauces made from cashew nuts along with the use of the Tandoor (the earth oven) all signify Mughlai cooking. The lunch was amazing – creamy cashew and almond based sauces, a tomato-y butter chicken and excellent naan! Ed’s Chicken Badami with cashews was the clear winner to me – but everything was delicious and totally filling.
Out on the street we are greeted by a goat herder that we follow for a block or two – it all seems so normal now to be walking down the street with goats) before turning back to the hotel.
We have a few minutes to relax, then hit the bathroom, before heading out for our afternoon visit to the Red Fort of Agra.
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