February 16

We awoke to news… Train is two hours late!!! It was scheduled to arrive at 0955, leave at 10. So we leisurely got around. We went out at nine for breakfast at Amazing Restaurant. We had a tomato and mushroom omelet; a masala omelet; and a gobi paratha (cauliflower fried flatbread); and we both had mango lassis. Then went back to our place and packed up. Train was even later! At elevenish we went up to the rooftop for a last view of Taj Mahal. Then we checked out of Big Brother Hostel. We hired tuk-tuk to take us to Agra Fort Train Station. Arriving at the station, we put our luggage in the cloak room. Now we went on walk about since the train won't be here until after two pm!

We just looked around for stuff, without luck, So we decided to get lunch at The Manoj Restaurant. It was a very local establishment. We ordered a butter paneer masala dosa; half order veggie chow mein; one Thums Up (their Coke equivalent, and is made by Coke); and a water. After lunch, we walked more, and successfully found some tissues and deodorant for me (these are things you would think would be readily available, but not really). We also found a pharmacy and picked up more Ibuprofen. Feeling our luck changing (maybe) we went back to the train station around 1:15 pm. On the way, we had a vantage point overlooking a big active Mosque (we would not be able to go in, but did take a picture of it). Now at the station again, we waited and waited. A train arrived and I thought they said it was ours, so we rushed over to it an even boarded, but realized the mistake and got off. This is some of the problems of trains running so late!! Finally, our train arrived at 1455, we boarded it and it pulled out at 1457. It is 4 hours and 57 minutes late!! Only in India. Wow!!

The ride itself was uneventful, and the train was not full. The conductor told us we could sit together. Originally, we were 6 and 10 seats, but that put us in different compartments – he okayed us to be 9 and 10.  🙂   This train started in Calcutta and ended in Udaipur City. We got on in Agra, and we are going to Jaipur. We ate a light supper on board the train. Finally we arrived at our destination at ten pm (was supposed to have been 3:55). We hired a tuk-tuk and the same game as in Agra, another man joined us to get us to book with him tomorrow. Jeff took his info on WhatsApp (everyone uses this). 

We arrived at our hotel, showered and crashed!