Crossplanet

So many experiences in just 2 days: the train from Delhi to Mathura (not so bad), my first bargain in hindi with a cycle-rickshaw-wallah (I'm getting good at numbers), a tough encounter with a cow (it still hurts), the local bus from Mathura to Agra (yes I'm proud of myself, I did it!)

But this morning the day started very differently than usual. Mathura is a holy city, the city where Krishna is born, grew up and had many adventures. There is a beautiful ghat on the Yamuna river with a temple to celebrate the place where he took rest after a battle. This morning I woke up at 5 to go to the ceremony and chanting by which the devotees wake up the gods, the morning pooja. The river was so beautiful at sunrise, with the boats, the candles, the flowers for Krishna. Many people were bathing for purification. I had the pooja with a devotee, who did the prayers and was quite surprised that i didn't to drink from the river! Then I walked around the little streets around the temple, crossing temples for this god or that god. I joined the devotees at the main temple, meeting people who explained me many things (though I didn't understand everything). It gave me a hint about what Varanasi can be.

Then by local bus, I arrived at Agra, which is as dirty and chaotic as any other cities. I found a nice hotel in Taj Ganj, a hotel that wouldn't meet most people standards of cleanness, but its main quality is the toproof, a nice terrace with an incredible view on the Taj mahal! I haven't gone to visit yet, that's tomorrow's program, but I can say that it is as beautiful as I imagined. With an aura of magic!