Kochi Proper
Kochi is near the southern tip of India on the west coast. As such it abuts the Arabian Sea which itself is part of the Indian Ocean. It is definitely a town for sea food.
Along the beach of the Fort Kochi section of the city there are large fishing nets which are mechanically raised and lowered into the ocean and are commonly left only a few minutes before being raised again. The catch from these nets is said to be fairly modest and I would confirm that from the time we watched. However the nets are beautiful themselves and beautiful to watch in action.
And, if there is fishing along the beach, can a fish market (beach variety) be far away? Of course not.
Indeed, even vaunted Parisian restaurants seem to be opening branches here in Kochi.
Kochi is also a well known spice region
and cooking oil producer.
And the screen ornaments above the Oil Exchange can be disturbing to some of us if we don't know that it was the Nazis who usurped the swastika symbol. If have been around for probably 3 millenia and is considered a scared symbol of auspiciousness. And then there is the little yellow and green sign about mid picture. Is there really a synagogue in Kochi? The answer is yes ... a very old one and quite a popular attraction considering that, according to some sources, there are fewer than two handsful of Jews left in Kochi.
Unfortunately pictures are not allowed inside. The origins of the Jewish community in Kochi is pre-Macabean. And the formerly Jewish quarter of Kochi is known as Jew Town with a Jew Street and Synagogue Street there.
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