Today we reached Cochin, India. This is a seaport city that has seen many foreign rulers. First were the Chinese, followed by the Portuguese, Dutch, and English. When the Portuguese governed this area, they established the oldest church in their fort named St. Francis, a Catholic church. This church was changed to a protestant church, Dutch reformed, with the arrival of the Dutch. Finally it was changed again in 1804 to an Anglican church with the arrival of the English and remains an Anglican church today. This area many years ago also had a large Jewish population and a Jewish quarter of the city. There are only 8 Jewish families left, but there is still a lot of English influence in the architecture, even in new buildings being built. Another famous site remaining is the Chinese fishing nets that were introduced here more than 400 years ago and are still used by the local people today.
Over the last few years the city is trying to be developed for a tourist area. From what we were able to see, because our tour did not go to the new area of the city, there are new high rise buildings in the city, but other areas still remain poor and not very clean. There does not seem to be a good infrastructure to deal with garbage and the environment.
An interesting interview of two staff Indian staff members onboard the ship was held as they are both soon to be married, one in a Catholic service and the other in a Hindu ceremony. Learning about the traditions of the Hindu wedding was most interesting as it is an arranged marriage, which is still a part of the Hindu Indian culture.
Since we will be in port on Easter Sunday, the ship will be holding an Easter service today presided over by a retired minister who is a passenger. We are happy that this will be available. There is a Catholic priest who has a mass each day but the protestant services are usually held by the crew only when we are onboard on a Sunday.
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