Christmas Message from Calcutta

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Ho Ho Ho - Happy Christmas everyone.

We have just had a Christmas breakfast of mango juice, chaas (yoghurt drink with coriander/mint and pepper in, porridge, croissants, eggs Benedict, sausages, tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, tea and coffee. So feeling pleasantly stuffed and thought I would wish everyone a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

It is all very festive here with Christmas decorations everywhere and lots of lights. The reception staff is wishing everyone Happy Christmas. On the TV the presenters have Santa hats on - bizarre!!

We went out for a walk last night in the main shopping area and there were queues to buy Christmas cakes and plum pudding. Children all had Santa hats on and there were loads of adverts for Christmas parties, dinners etc at the different hotels and clubs.

Today we are going get the car to drive around and see more of Calcutta as Carol is feeling better and we will go to Church.

Well, if there is anything we've learned this Christmas it's that the Christmas message of Joy To The World is expressed everywhere....whether the origins of the message are understood is another story. It's very comfortable here in Calcutta. Everyone is walking about or picnicing in ks etc and people are calling "happy Christmas" to us everywhere we go.

St Pauls Cathedral was packed with people.. not necessarily all Christian, but the service was going ahead with a very different style to that of St Maurice in Horkstow! We couldn't understand the language but joined in usingthEnglish words to " O Come All Ye Faithful"

Wonderful jewellery shops here girls, but we resisted. Gong to a lovely hotel for Christmas dinner and some festive cheer.

Hope that Chrismas and the new year is everything that you wish it to be. (We are having a short rest before this evening and "Snakes on a Plane"!!!! on TV

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Comments

[Gaurav Majumdar]

Merry Christmas!
Hi,I am from South Kolkata.I have been an avid travelblog reader for quite sometime and was following your travel through India.It feels good to hear that you have come here in our city.Wish you a Merry Christmas.Also,if you want to dance away the night,there is quite a number of good nightclubs out here like Tantra at the Park,Underground at Hotel Hindusthan International etc.Enjoy your stay here!

[glyn]

Broccolo for breakfast...
...on Christmas Day would challenge some people's Christmas spirit, but I am glad to see that it didn't put a dent in yours! Your blogs have been great to read on dull grey UK days, just like this one, so keep writing... and in the meantime I hope you had a great Christmas and it certainly sounds as if you did.