Lawyers on Street / Fish with Mustard!

This was our first full day in Kolkata. We were pretty jet-lagged so we took it easy. The city is old, dirty, teaming with 15 million people. Our hotel, The Oberoi, is one of the best hotel in Kolkata. It is an old Raj Era building that is been remodeled into a wonderful hotel. Once you leave the grounds of the hotel, you are in the middle of the masses. There are obviously lots more people then jobs. I was wearing an Obama tee shirt and everywhere I went people commented on how happy they were with the election returns. The people of Kolkata (and the whole world were watching this election). It is amazing being in a foreign country and experiencing the uplift the people are feeling about America.

We walked around the large market area. It is packed with people. Merchants try to get you to enter their stall, men attach themselves to you and suggest which shop you should stop in. There is no way really to avoid them. On the sidewalk (or what passes as a sidewalk) there is an occasional goat or cow, people selling everything and an occasional very sad sight of a cripple begging. We also passed an outdoor office in front of the courthouse where documents are typed on the street!

There are almost no new cars, lots of noise from the constant blaring of horns and great smells of food cooking. We had a 90 minute massage (of course) and it was wonderful.

For dinner, we went to a Bengali restaurant. Although we have had lots of Indian food in the past, we had never had Bengali food. Kolkata sits off the Bay of Bengal and fish are a primary staple. The chief seasoning is mustard! So fish with mustard sauce is a must! They also have a big time sweet tooth and we have enjoyed their desserts. Early night, we have a full day tomorrow.