Fort Cochin

After the Munnar tour we spend a day in Fort Cochin. I learned in one of the museums (maybe the Bishop’s house) that Fort Cochin is named the cultural capital of Kerela because it has been multicultural for a long time due to it’s physical characteristics. In 13 something it was created as a natural “safe port” by a flood which originally attracted the royal family, and by the 15th century settlers from all over. Since this time it has been multi-ethnic, and multi-faith (which is pretty cool when you compare it to alot of other places around that time in history), but that coolness has certainly been exploited more recently by tourist ventures (way over-priced spices, fancy designer shops that have nothing to do with Fort Cochin, posh resorty type places, and loads of backpacker style places ect.). Tourism is Kerela’s biggest industry, so I guess one can only expect it to be at it’s peak in Fort Cochin. It’s the most European place I’ve seen in India, and certainly some of that is enhanced for the tourists, but alot of it is old. It’s been a place of many people for a long time.  One of the things I remember the most about Fort Cochin was the sounds. The bells of the Catholic Church, and the chanting from the mosque, and the squealing from the elementary school at lunch time. The synagogue was closed because of the day we were there, but all of the places of worship were huge, and within a 20 minute walk of one another. Lining the shore tieing everything European, middle eastern and Indian together are the Chinese fishing nets. Strange contraptions of long sticks, and string, that look like giant gangly birds reaching out over the water. 

I noticed many cats hanging out in this area, and they looked much better fed then most other cats I had seen in India. I walked by a couple of fishermen who were actually petting a cat. This was the first time I had seen ANYONE in India pet a cat. In Chennai a few people had pet dogs, but cats were strictly street animals (not to be touched!!!!) It was nice to see a friendly cat, and it was clear why (smart cat). The fisherman/cat friendship made me smile.

The fish, and seafood at this market looked cleaner, and fresher than any other fish I had seen in India, but after all the diarreah I’d had in the past I’d just as soon leave it to the cats.