The Taj Mahal is a testament to undying love

Our day trip to Agra was long: To catch the 6 a.m. train, we rose at 4:30. The train itself, which was equivalent to what in Europe would be third class, got us into Agra by 8. We'd pre-arranged a tour, through Amin Tours, and so were met by a guide and a driver. Our guide, Hilal, shepherded us through the lines and onto the grounds of the Taj Mahal long before the place became jammed by crowds. While I didn't experience the sense of wonderment that other world sites (Saint Peter's, for example, or the Sydney Opera House) have instilled in me, I was still suitably impressed at what is a tomb built by an emperor to house the body of his beloved third wife.