Friday, February 17, 2017 ~ Cochin

Friday, February 17, 2017 ~ Cochin This morning the guests on each houseboat ate breakfast. Then we left the boats, got into tuk-tuks and rode to our bus. In about an hour we arrived at Paradesi Synagogue which was founded in 1568. The old tiles on the floor were beautiful. We went to a laundry we people took their clothes to have them washed and/or ironed. Both men and women were employed there.
We walked on a walkway beside the beach. I put my hand in the Arabian Sea. Then we had lunch in a restaurant that used to be a British officers’ club. Next, we went to Francis Xavier’s Catholic Church, the original burial site of Vasco de Gama. His remains were later moved to his hometown in Portugal. 
We checked in to our hotel. This evening we went to a Kathakali performance. First the actors put on their face paint in front of us. Then the female character that is traditionally played by a man demonstrated facial expressions and body movements to drum music. After the demonstration, the two actors and the drummer performed part of a traditional drama.
We had dinner at the hotel, then went to our rooms.