Sunday in Palliport

On Sunday we awakened early to travel north to the seaside village of Palliport to attend mass in a Passionist congregation. We were supposed to attend a children’s program before mass, but our bus was an hour late. So instead, we stopped at the beach briefly to stick our toes in the water before going on to the church, where the children and their parents were graciously waiting for us.
The church was brand new and very beautiful, the dancing was splendid, and the welcome warmhearted.












After church we rode a fishing boat in the Arabian Sea, watching eagles and spotting dolphin and seeing how fishers worked. Then we split into small groups to eat lunch in the homes of several church members. Our host was a woman whose children were grown, who had bought her home on the seashore by working several years in the Emirates. Once again, the fish and shrimp was splendid and plentiful. After lunch we walked up a lovely seaside lane to visit with other parishioners briefly and eat ice cream before returning to the bus and to Cochin. Sea towns, including Palliport, all seem to share a laid-back, sunbaked character. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the people very much.

That evening we had our final farewell dinner in a very nice restaurant. Some of the group had been craving pizza, and they got their wish—in addition to salads, sambars, pastas, and incredible desserts, there were tiny pizzas. Sadly, after this the group that was taking the overnight bus to Bangalore had to leave us, and the remnant made our way back to Cochin realizing the adventure was almost over. The following afternoon five others would fly out of Cochin, and Claire and I would be the last ones left.

I think the poor fellow in the last picture was wondering why he wasn't getting many dates, till we told him what his t-shirt said.