Visiting old Fort Cochin

We visited Fort Cochin, where Vasco de Gama lived. He died of cholera in the early 1500's. He was actually buried here for 14 years until they took his body back to Portugal.


Right at the gates of the church where Vasco de Gama was buried, Tenzin finds a goat and an impromptu clothing store under tarps.


We also visited the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, which fishermen rent out from the owners of the rigs. If we can figure it out, we'll put up the video of Tenzin and Maggie hoisting the giant levers that swing the nets.



Tenzin meets a fish.


Tenzin and Karma inspect the catch.

Fort Cochin was the home of a Jewish community that began thousands of years ago. It is mentioned in ancient Greek texts as a trading center. At one point, they suffered terrible discrimination at the hands of the Portuguese, but were restored by the Dutch in the mid-1600's, when they built a synagogue in Fort Cochin. Here are some photos:



This stone is inset in the outer wall of the synagogue.


This is the inside of the synagogue, with its' dutch tile floor, and balcony. Chandeliers fill the ceiling. There are services held here every Friday and Saturday for Cochin's remaining Jewish community of 4 families. There is also an active synagogue about 60 kilometers away at the place of the original settlement of Jews in India.