Perfect Symmetry

I woke on the train at 0600 to a baby crying below and a loud snoring man to my left. It is amazing to get any sleep on the trains with all of the distractions and smells but most nights have been OK. The train is a great way to see the country while staying budget conscious. There are options of 1st/2nd or 3rd class AC or the always-classy and stylish 'general sleeper' class where Ann and I have stayed on each train ride. We have met some very interesting people, been stared at and seen amazing countryside. One thing we have never felt however, is unsafe.
We arrived at the Agra Fort rail station and were whisked away by an autorickshaw who must have been telepathic because he knew everything we needed to have a great day in Agra. First, we went to get tickets for the train to Delhi that night, then he helped us get our luggage secured and finally, he took us to the Taj Mahal. I was suspicious he might be scamming us because of his insistence and persistence and in the end we ended up with a minor argument and frustration over our connecting train reservation, but everything worked out.
We were approached at the entrance of the Taj by a young man in fake Dulce and Gabbana sunglasses, a button up shirt and nice jeans. If I didn't know better, I would have mistaken him for a Bollywood star:) He said he was 'official guide' and wanted to take us on a tour of the Taj. He showed a badge and when I asked for government paperwork be handed me a formal letterhead that stated he was NOT an official guide and didn't have a license. I think he must have produced this paperwork many times for tourists and people didn't read the fine print. I questioned him and he smiled and said 'tour?' We accepted, mostly because he was amusing and we were lead to the majestic Taj Mahal. The entire building and grounds is in 'perfect symmetry' and those words were ingrained in our heads by our enthusiastic guide. We spent the morning wandering around a wonder of the world before heading to the Agra Fort a few kilometers away. After spending the day in the hot sun we braved the train station, met a fellow traveler from Canada and headed to Delhi on a 'superfast' (meaning 5 hour) train. We arrived to a backpacker street, checked into a guest house and fell asleep.
In the morning Ann and I went to the famous markets and bargained ourselves some treasures before going to the airport for a 2 hour flight back to Calcutta. It was a whirlwind trip and we saw a different and diverse India. I loved it. Part of me will always stay here. The differences are vast between India and home but it truly grows on you and will be sincerely missed.