Agra, India

 We rode the early morning train to Agra to see the most famous building in the world.  We got a car and driver for the day, which was efficient and reasonably priced.  I also thought it would keep the ripoff artists away from us, but I should have realized that we had just put a ripoff artist in our car for the day.

 You pass through this tight gateway and get your first glimpse of it.  People start losing their minds at this point and every camera is lifted high.

 And then, there it is.  The Taj Mahal.  It does not disappoint.  It is actually rather hard to properly photograph.  The pollution is thick in Agra (as it is everywhere) and the Taj is so gleaming white, blindingly white, it just disappears into the fog from any distance.  I have a dozen pictures of us standing in front of nothing but fog.

 After the Taj, we had lunch at a nearby rooftop restaurant I chose with a view.  Tour guide was pissed that he couldn't steer us to his buddy's restaurant to get a kickback.

 Then it was on to the Agra Fort.

 Kinda similar to the Red Fort in Delhi.

 The Taj off in the distance.

 Aaron has confused India with Egyptian mummies.

 Indian people don't smile for pictures.  Such colorful saris!

 After the Agra Fort we visited Fatehpur Sikri, an abandoned city from the 1600s.  Of course we got scammed here once again.  An insistent wannabe tour guide finally convinced me to give him 100rupees ($1.60) to take us around.  He then took us to the free mosque area, NOT the abandoned city.  We ended up having about 15 minutes to look at Fatehpur Sikri.  We got sucked into buying some handcarved stuff from who I assume was his cousin.

Afterwards we drove back to Agra for dinner.  Suprise, the restaurant I wanted to go to was "on the other side of town" and we would never have time.  So ripoff guide took us to an outrageously overpriced restaurant with one other diner.  Yep, got us again.

Delhi, India

 We started off our time in Old Delhi with a 630am Delhi By Bicycle tour.

This was the best thing I did in my three days in Delhi. In fact this was the ONLY fun thing I did in Delhi, because, lets face it, Old Delhi is a hellhole of honking horns, pollution, excrement, and misery. BUT, this bike tour starts early in the morning when the streets are (relatively) empty and you can cycle freely without risking your life. It was so much fun to pedal through tight back alleys and see the city waking up. People showering in the street, an open slaughterhouse, temple goers, lots to see.

 Our great guide Bedi. I would have done a different tour every day, if they weren't already sold out! Book early.

 I'm on a bike!

 Turn right at the white cow.

 Dark alleys abound

 This gentleman has no idea what his shirt says, but he was happy to pose for a picture.

 After the bike tour we hit the Red Fort.

 It is red.

 And huge.  You could spend all day here.

 A pleasant hassle free place to walk around.  And that is saying something in India!

 Of course, eventually Aaron ended up in the jail.

 I bet the moat was pretty cool back in the day.

 This is the view from the tower of the Jama Masjid.  It opened in 1656.  The folks that manage this mosque are unapologetic assholes.  You have to pay to get in.  If you are not properly dressed some guy will grab you, start yelling at you, and make you put on a dirty sheet, which of course you will have to pay for.  When you get to the tower, you'll have to take your shoes off.  Fine, but you can't carry them into the tower, you have to leave them with a guy.  Who will then charge you to get your shoes back.  Meanwhile, you'll be hassled but a half dozen men wanting to be your tour guide who won't take no for an answer.  I recommend skipping this place.

Jama Masjid
 

 On Day 2 in Delhi we visited Humayun's Tomb.

 These kids asked us for a photo.  I see a couple smiles in there!

 After this picture she shouted, "Mommy, I got a picture with the big hairy man!"

 Aaron felt the need to be sacrilegious and eat a burger.

 Then on to Qtub Minar,  A really old minaret.

 And finally The Lotus Temple

 We ended the night in Hauz Khas, which was billed as "the" nightlife area in New Delhi.  Up til now, we have found Indian nightlife to be completely nonexistent.  Like ZERO.  If you can find a bar, it will have only young Indian males inside, and when you walk in, the music scratches to a halt and everyone stares at you like you have two heads.
Hmmm no towing?  They just pop your tires.  Nice.

 We had very low expectations, but were pleasantly surprised.  Hauz Khas has actual bars!  With normal people!  Drinking!  With music!  Apparently this is where the upper crust of Delhi society goes.  If I ever come back to Delhi, I'm getting a hotel right here.  We had a decent time, hopping between bars, restaurants and even a dance club.