Fathepur Sikri - It’s a GOOD CAR madam!

So....train 2 Agra at 7.15am. Quite ok. AC worked. Was clean enough.

Got off in Agra: went straight 2 a prepaid taxi stand. Got a 1/2 day ride 2 Fathepur Skiri (abandoned city, 55km away) & back in an AC car. 900rs for 2 (15eur)

A really nice guy Rashid was 2 go with us next 2 the driver. He could actually speak Eng. We set off. ALREADY at the parking lot: the car wouldn’t start. So the friends of Rashid had 2 push it. No biggy...

Until we got to an intersection 5 min further. A REALLY busy one. Engine died. Wouldn’t start. Police guys came, told the guys to pull of. HOW DO YOU PULL OFF a car which isn’t working - and that: from the middle of an INDIAN intersection (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A NORMAL INTERSECTION!) - this one was absolutely FULL of vehicles of all kinds and sorts... but they managed. Police guy was arguing with them... but the car started and we went 2 nearby gas station (20m away we’re talking). They tanked it. And it was SUPPOSED 2 start. By then we already got annoyed (we only had 7h in Agra and had to catch another train in the afternoon, time was ticking and we were by no means getting close to the destination, on top of that, the airco wasn’t working – of course, the engine was dead and nothing worked). So i asked if we can go back and get another car. But no, IT’S A GOOD CAR MADAM (riiight... other than it not-starting…)... They anaged to start it. But then it died again... So they agreed to go back and get another car. We got another one. Small one. My backpack wouldn’t fit in. So they wanted 2 put it on the ROOF (HELL NO!). When all was finally in the car: it went easier. Got to Fathepur Sikri (I’m not describing the way our lives have been risked 55 times during that ride - how i pictured myself under these huge busses, beeping at us and trying to push through - as bigger users of the road)

Fathepur Sikri was magnificent. with stone carvings - big see-through screens which looked like lace (very thinly made, i have no idea how - u will c when i uplod the pics – it’s silly 2 write about this, u need 2 c it!)

Now 2 make long story short: on the way back our 2nd GOOD CAR broke down as well... AGAIN at the biggest intersection in a village... felt like in an ants house.. Again, friendly ppl pushed the car off and it started... got to Agra on time…

Left our luggage, went to dinner at Shanti lodge where we were supposed 2 stay in a few days (2 check it out, after our experience with Namaskar). Roof terrace VIEW: MAGNIFICENT – straight in the Taj, wont even try 2 describe –will put here pics 2morrow! SO CLOSE. AMAZING! Food: good, could have been served in cleaner bowls… but oh well (STILL NO DELHI-BELLY- knock on wood!)

but the hotel was crappy – the bathroom: DISGUSTING and DIRTY – if possible, worse than namaskar… I don’t even want 2 think about it… boys and girls who will join us in Kolkata: WE SHOULD look 4 a different one! (Dorotka will write u email about that!)

now will spend the night on a train 2 Varanasi! :-S leaving at 21.00

- Fathepur Sikri