Calcutta, day 2
Victoria Memorial fine, market more interesting.
Am becoming a fan of this city, my circles widening a little by the day, going deeper into the market this morning and finding the water just fine.
Sitting under a tree by Victoria Monument yesterday (it's been said but will say again - a hulking marble edifice of sheer British jutz-pah - glowing white, it's just had a bath) and didn't have the bench to myself for long. First the mother daughter pair from Tamil Nadu - her husband's posted here for the military. The daughter was the main event - dressed in pinks with a big pink sash, tiny bell earings, two strands of necklaces and a pixie cut - she cowered and peeped until her mother pushed her slight frame forward to sing. She knew all of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and sang in a lovely small voice. She also had a dance to go with it but didn't see that.
Mother and daughter departed and a middle age couple sat down directly beside me in the not-great space between me and the bench-end and proceeded with their conversation. Apparently happy to be sharing a seat but otherwise hardly interested.
But the most fun, again this morning, is the market. Was late for the covered fruit market - most of the goods packed up - but the coconut vendors insisted on pictures. Fish market in full swing, ditto vegetables and, sadly, missed the fowl market.
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Have to pack up room by mid-day, and then kill the afternoon till the train this evening at 7:30. Next check in from Darjeeling.
Love to all,
C
Am becoming a fan of this city, my circles widening a little by the day, going deeper into the market this morning and finding the water just fine.
Sitting under a tree by Victoria Monument yesterday (it's been said but will say again - a hulking marble edifice of sheer British jutz-pah - glowing white, it's just had a bath) and didn't have the bench to myself for long. First the mother daughter pair from Tamil Nadu - her husband's posted here for the military. The daughter was the main event - dressed in pinks with a big pink sash, tiny bell earings, two strands of necklaces and a pixie cut - she cowered and peeped until her mother pushed her slight frame forward to sing. She knew all of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and sang in a lovely small voice. She also had a dance to go with it but didn't see that.
Mother and daughter departed and a middle age couple sat down directly beside me in the not-great space between me and the bench-end and proceeded with their conversation. Apparently happy to be sharing a seat but otherwise hardly interested.
But the most fun, again this morning, is the market. Was late for the covered fruit market - most of the goods packed up - but the coconut vendors insisted on pictures. Fish market in full swing, ditto vegetables and, sadly, missed the fowl market.
<
Have to pack up room by mid-day, and then kill the afternoon till the train this evening at 7:30. Next check in from Darjeeling.
Love to all,
C
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