What an incredible building!! I can’t believe the entire thing is built out of marble. The experience didn’t really meet expectations though – A BIT OF ADVICE: GO EARLY!
The grounds are incredible (my pictures don’t really do it justice), but they really gotta do with something about all of the scammers on the inside bugging you while you walk around.
It’s hard to take in and appreciate the views when you got some guy telling you that it would be better from the other side or that he’ll take a picture for you or that you need a guide and his uncle would be more than happy to show you around. oh yeah – everyone is everyone else’s ‘uncle’ here…
This one kid convinced us to use his uncle as a guide. He basically forced us to with, ‘My uncle is going to walk with you, but don’t worry, you don’t have to pay anything…’. Well, without any choice now, we allowed the guy to follow us around. He helpfully chatted the entire time and pointed out obvious things – very helpful… so anyway, at the end when we were leaving we decided to give a bit of money, and the kid takes us to the side and tells us, ‘Don’t pay my uncle any money. He is rich. Give me the money instead’. Wow, great family ties…