Thursday - Alarm at 6.30 so we can go to the Botanic Gardens to bird watch. Sadly R is not feeling great so ornithology is postponed. After a couple more hours kip she has recovered sufficiently to partake of some light tourism. It feels a little cooler this morning and there is a light breeze which helps the comfort level. Today has been deemed a day for treats. For Dave this means a return No 36 tram trip across the Maidan to Kidderpore. Experts will appreciate the articulation displayed to advantage on this photo.
The Maidan is a bit like Central Park but with cricket and herds of goats. Apparently it was created to ensure good fields of fire for the garrison after the Mutiny.
Fortified by lunch we decided to brave the New Market. Inevitably we attract a tout, a well spoken young man who promises to find D some large size, single strap flip-flops. We are led through a maze into the basement where we are introduced to India's most incompetent salesman. After about 20 minutes of him running backwards and forwards with various items of footwear it becomes obvious that he doesn't have any. Even the tout gives up in disgust but does have the decency to show us the way out.
Kolkata hasn't changed much in the last 11 months. Somebody has decided to paint the trees in blue and white hoops (QPR?) and has also decided to dig a foot wide trench along every pavement in the city and then part fill it with loose rubble. If I were a Kolkata ratepayer I would be fuming.
After a period of rest we headed out to a bar we had spotted for cocktails. Outside it looked quite respectable - inside it looked like an 80's disco. We sat at the bar and were handed a price list that would have frightened JP Getty. We had one small beer each and three and a half stone of complimentary nibbles. When the bill arrived it was marked down by 50% for Happy Hour. What a relief! Tonight's restaurant choice was Oh Calcutta! A bit upmarket for the likes of us but we had read good reviews. We had fish in mustard sauce (again) and Railway Canteen Special Mutton with Pilaf Rice which was absolutely brilliant.
Crack of dawn tomorrow we head off to the Sunderbans on safari. Not sure how the wi-fi situation will work out so - Watch this Space!
Hello parentals,
ReplyDeleteTalk Talk need Dave's authorisation to send me a new router, Talk Talk call centre is in Calcutta. Could you go down there and shout at them for me please?
Alternatively please let me know when we can Skype.
xxx