The sweetness of Southern India circuit (Day 10 early afternoon) - Saint Thomas Basilica, Chennai - The 20th of February 2015

On the way to Saint Thomas Basilica (our last visit) we drove by the Bay and the beach that stretched for kilometres. We were allowed out to take a few photographs. It was really hot and the more our flying time got closer the more we felt we would miss the heat  of the country and the warmth of the Indian people.

 

 

 

 

 

Considered the principal Church  of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore the Neo-Gothic Basilica is said to have been built by the Portuguese in the 16th century over the supposed tomb of Saint Thomas, as well as the remains of the original Kapaleeshwarar Temple, which Portuguese explorers had destroyed earlier. 

 

 

As we visited it I somehow felt our minds were already half way back into Paris and the routines we would soon have to get used to again (not to mention the cold). A few details did get my attention particularly the presence of two peacock representations (highly symbolic in India) by the feet of the life-size statue of Jesus Christ together with the "Deus Meu" (written in Portuguese) on the representation of Saint Thomas. 

 

 

 

 

 

The local agency offered us a fantastic meal at a local restaurant (located in a back alley which could hardly  be seen from the "outside") ... It was clearly the best meal we had throughout the whole circuit (and we did have some really good meals!...) An almost "bitter-sweet" meal, as we would soon be gone ...

 

The last half an hour  in Indian territory (before making our way to the domestic airport through the dense city traffic) was spent at a local seven or eight storey-high shop, so as to spend our last rupees ...

One last "experience" ... one last image ...







 

The sweetness of Southern India circuit (Day 10 late morning) - The Fort Saint George's area - St. Mary's Church, Chennai - The 20th of February 2015

We drove to the coastline so as to visit the Fort St. George's area, which we had access to after a thorough "screening" by guards at its entrance. The Fort is said to have taken its name from Sint George who is believed to have had a significant influence in the region in 1644, with the Fort's completion coinciding with the Saint's birthday.

 

 

Primarily erected as a trading post it is now divided into two sections - Saint Mary's Church and the Fort Museum.

 

 

We visited Saint Mary's Church because of it being not only the oldest Church built by the British but also the oldest Anglican Church East of Suez. Constructed in 1678-1680 Saint Mary's interior caught my attention, and I believe every other visitor's because of the numerous memorial plaques and monuments around the nave and the aisles' columns. I couldn't help photographing some, as well as the baptismal font's plaque with the rather interesting history of the font.

The Church was "invaded" by school teenagers in their uniforms as we made our way into the churchyard gardens, but no sooner than that we were followed by some of those teenagers, particularly girls, who were dying to talk to us and have their photos taken with some of us.

Carole surrounded by school girls

 

As we made our way out I unexpectedly noticed a Hindu shrine I hadn't noticed on the way in, which was worth looking at, though I would have to ask Sagar for further explanations regarding the worshipper's posture.