Old Delhi

Eight of us decided to venture into Old Delhi today. We wanted to see the infamous Red Fort, and walk around the area. The red fort was pretty interesting, but a little too hot for my taste. It was less fort like, and there were more gardens than I expected. The architecture was pretty incredible.

We met an interesting man, who seemed to be very well travelled. He was leading tours around the fort. It was our day off, and we do not particularly enjoy spending money, so we just walked around on our own.
After the Red Fort, we headed back into the city to search for Jama Masjid, which is the largest mosque in India. We walked around the chaotic streets, and by walked around I mean some people actually knew where they were going. I did not, so I followed blindly. This is a video of us crossing a typical street in Old Delhi. New Delhi is a bit easier, but the same general chaos is there.

So we eventually got to the mosque, which is indeed quite large. It was an interesting experience to say the least. We had to cover our arms and legs, and take off our shoes, as with all mosques. Once inside, there was a large courtyard area. It didn't seem like a holy space to me. It was really neat. There were children running around and playing, and people socializing and relaxing. We stood out in our brightly colored smocks that were given to us before entering. But then again, we stick out most places we go. Like at the Red Fort earlier today, a whole Indian family (grandparents, children, et cetera) joined our group in the grass for a picture. They did not speak English or Hindi, so we just kind of sat there and smiled for a picture. Similarly, I was on the stairs outside the mosque and a man came up and sat near me. He proceeded to pull out his phone and take a picture of me after only saying hello. Then, his friend came over and the first man moved to sit next to me, put his arm around me and had me pose in a picture. This has not been an uncommon thing for people in our group. It is an incredibly bizarre experience for me, and is definitely taking some getting used to.
It was really great to get out and see Old Delhi. It's a different atmosphere and energy than New Delhi. I still can't seem to find the words to describe it accurately.