On a clear day.........

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Good morning from Agra! We just got back from a visit to the Red Fort and I decided to take this bit of spare time and share the adventures before we head out to Dubai this afternoon.

Please know that I am so, so, so frustrated with the way the photos are uploading here on the blog - the captions scramble after I 'save' the photos - so sorry about that. I'm sure it must be interesting (and perhaps a bit of fun, too) to try and match everything up, LOL!!!!

We were up and at 'em early - it's a gorgeous, sunny day here - but the smog is heavy. We were at the Red Fort for a tour and, typically, one should be able to see the Taj Mahal from there - but, the smog is SO thick, that is not possible. I tried to get a photo anyway.

And it's always interesting to drive the streets of the cities and see how people work and live and play. Traffic was quite heavy this morning - lots of cows, goats and dogs on the road - they are sacred, so we must find a way around them, even in our big tour buses. I saw a billboard for dental implants - wanted to get a photo because it was rather amusing but wasn't able. Today is still a holiday here - it's the day of the 'sister' - so the brothers will go to the homes of their sisters and bring them gifts, etc. Nice thought! We should do that! (right, Art???????!!!!!)

Sanjay, our tour leader, was amazing. I have been to the Red Fort 2x before, but I learned so much more from him this morning. He is very good at what he does. I would encourage you to google the Red Fort and read about it - way too much information for me to include here, but it is extremely interesting. And the architecture - WOW! I tried to get as many unique photos as I could - from many different angles. The marble is exquisite - the etchings, the colors, the formation - all extremely beautiful. And the 'story' behind all of it - well, just downright 'movie' stuff, really. So much to learn.

We'll be heading for lunch shortly - that always excites me because I love to try new things - and I do LOVE Indian food - all that curry - YUM!

And then we are off to Dubai - one of my favorite cities. Will have lots to write about from there, that's for certain.

So, enjoy this special little blog post. Know that we are all thinking of you, appreciating your notes and comments - and knowing that we are brining you some pleasure too as we travel on this trip of a lifetime.

Two things - I am having 'Dancing with the Stars' withdrawal - can someone please update me/us? Staciann? Who got booted?

And second - my Mom has not been well these past few days. Prayers, please? and thanks!

Take care, Mom - I miss you and love you!

Happy Pat

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Comments

[Yan Fortin]

Comparing smog level...
About the smog, sometimes we complain here is Canada but when we compare, it's nothing! Beautiful Taj Mahal, looks to me like one of the sacred place of our planet earth...

[pauline evoy]

beautiful stories
Thanks again Pat for all the beautiful stories and pictures, can ,t wait for them everyday. Lacey and Chaz were sent home Pauline Evoy

[jan bradley]

Agra - Red Fort
Hi Pat, sorry to hear you are having to worry about your Mom when you are away. We will keep her in our thoughts and prayers for sure. As for DWTS, not sure where you left off. Chynna Phillips is gone, Carson Kressley is gone, Chas Bono is gone. Getting down to the chaff of the wheat now...hope you left them PVR'ed back home. Loving your blogs and still amazed by all the time you find for this!

[staci blank]

DWTS WHATTTTTTTTTT
I am FREAKING OUT. I have direct messaged you on twitter after every single dance every single night...WHAT THE HELLLLLL....you haunt gotten any of them??? I'm literally about to cry. I told you every little detail, every score, the big len-maks fight thats still in the news 4 days later. Before I start ALL OVER i must know if you can check your direct messages from twitter. if not, I will re-write it all right here....OMGGGGG. still hate brooke.xoxo

[anonymous]

staciann kristin chenoweth did an amazingggggg act. carson back to choreograph group dance which is up next!!! hope or chaz.....i think hope. 24 Oct at 21:49 staciann JR will win the mirror ball. hands down. will get back with score. 24 Oct at 21:34 staciann hope got a 20. maks went nuts on len........holy crap. i think she leaves tomorrow 24 Oct at 21:26 staciann len slammed the shit out of hope and maks. they just killed RENT for me. but len and maks had a WAR. will be on you-tube FOR SURE. 24 Oct at 21:23 staciann pretty sure unless hope sucks chaz goes home. his phantom of the opera was poor, lacey was a bitch and chaz is sweating to DEATH. 19 oy vey 24 Oct at 21:09 staciann ricki lake just KICKEDDDD ASSSSSS. (luck be a lady tonight )waiting on her scores. def 10 coming. Brooke BLOWSSSS. she got a 10 9 10 len/9 24 Oct at 20:57 staciann david did Grease. i loved it. he got a 23. little off sync but cute as hell and great energy. he will stay. 24 Oct at 20:45 staciann I did not care for nancy but the judges did 24....pretty sure she will live another week. hoping chaz or hope goes....she did spamalot. 24 Oct at 20:36 staciann Rob sucked and the entire kardashian clan was there. i puked from his mothers pre- game pep talk to him. 22... 24 Oct at 20:22 staciann great beginning to bway week. brooke looks like a 16 yr old. 24 Oct at 20:03 staciann is Ghaddafi being killed big news there? 20 Oct at 18:38 staciann as i oredicted...carson. and i will be bold and predict hope for next week. 18 Oct at 22:01 staciann perfectly great first 1/2 hour but nothing to report but hop is in jeopardy and ricki isnt 18 Oct at 21:29 staciann Brooke actually looks amazing. I'm beside myself. that doesn't mean she isn't as dumb as a rock.... 18 Oct at 21:06 staciann chaz's dance made me throwup. he's like a weeble that won't fall down...but he needs too. BARFFFFFF 17 Oct at 21:33 staciann Jr - best dance if the season. SMOKINGGGGGGGGG HOTTTTTTTTT. if he doesnt get 10's i will die. hot hot hot. watch it on you tube. ASAP 17 Oct at 21:04 staciann nancy was charming and engaging...she will live another week. 22. 17 Oct at 20:46 staciann Carson was a 10 Cuteness wise but the dance sucked... 18 :( i sooo dont want him to go. 17 Oct at 20:36 staciann So far... hope and maks- def impr. she def fought her masculine side. 888. ehhhh 17 Oct at 20:23 now just to make sure....chaz got kicked off....even though hope sucked just as badly....he has been appearing all week on everything...ellen, the view, gma etc. and FINALLY looks like he's having fun with lacey. He still sweats like he is walking across the desert in a parka but whatever.....The make-Len fight will NOT DIE. Every day another comment, another re-airing...and more smack talk from Maks. It's the only thing that may keep hope here for another week. She will go, then nancy, then rob, then david then ricky and jr will win. Thats my call. Ricki lake looks like she's lost about 600 lbs. It's surreal. Also a big subject of gossip is WHY Courtney Cox is always there. To me thats a no brainer. She is the mother of his child and where else would she be. Carson came back to coregograph the group dance last week...he is so beloved by everyone...I started a huge campaign for him to take over for brooke. He is so charming and upbeat and funny and NATURAL. He has also taken richard simmons face in the media as a correspondent re" all things DTWS. I guess that's about it. Oh. Rob Kardashian is a big arrogant pain in the ass and watching his family bark in the audience makes me dislike the kardashians more every week. Love Bruce though..... God I hope you get this. xoxo

[Joseph Diniz]

Amazing (but not a) Race
Such images, Such storytelling. Such adventure. Forget so-called 'reality tv' ... this is MUCH better. Especially like reading about how the local people live and partake in their communities.

[Mike Foreman]

Photo titles
Dearest Pat The fact that you take so much valuable time to share these pictures with us on the other side of the world is just perfect. Of course it is nice if the captions line up appropriately as you had planned but each picture speaks volumes. Thank You for sharing with us back home! This will give us tidbits to relate to when we get the stories live.