Cultural Mosaic

Oh my, I fear I have let the blogging slip a bit while we have been enjoying the beautiful state of Kerala. Known for its spices and coffee, there are hints everywhere of its colonial past as various cultures vied for the highly desired spices. British, Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese....to name a few left their mark in the architecture, religion, food, etc. Our first stop, Kochi, was a perfect example of this fusion, a principal trading post after the spices were brought down out of the lush green hills. Quiet, narrow streets bring the tourists in droves...and we were no different. We enjoyed several quiet days in the lazy town center, caught a traditional Kathikali theatre performance, and visited the (now touristy) spice stores displaying large sacks of black pepper, cardamom, ginger, chili peppers, star anise, and the list goes on.