昨晚坐7小時飛機，在晚上近12時到達斯里蘭卡首都科倫坡，睡覺時已是午夜。但翌日早上4時多便起床，在5時許到機場，準備坐7:25的航班到科欽，很累。
從科欽機場到旅館Green Woods Bethlehem要一個多小時。
接下來的幾天大部份都在Fort Cochin。
這個城市頗受天主教影響。
在公元後一世紀，阿拉伯及猶太人已在科欽從事香料貿易。科欽的藩王為香料貿易與古里(Calicut)人爭戰。這爭戰讓葡萄牙人在1500年代有機會染指科欽的事務。在1663年，葡萄牙又給荷蘭人打敗了。一個世紀後，英國勢力入侵。
西方人在這裡興建了不少教堂。當中最美麗的應該是聖克魯茲教堂(Santa Cruz Basilica)。
這教堂在16世紀由葡萄牙人興建，但在1795年被英國人破壞，而在1902年重建。裡面的玻璃雕刻及裝飾實在很吸引，色彩艷麗。
這教堂也有舉行英語彌撒。我也參加了，我對天主教的一些禮儀不明白，也不懂他們唱的詩歌，但神父的講道則十分清楚，他說在神凡事都能。
聖芳濟教堂(St Francis Church)是印度最早由歐洲人興建的教堂，建於1503年。教堂原本用木興建，但在1562年改用石重建。在英國於1779年入侵後，教堂成為基督教的會所。
在這裡可以看到達加馬的墓地。達加馬是最早到印度的歐洲人，於1524年病逝科欽。其屍首在教堂埋葬了14年，其後被運回葡萄牙首都里斯本。
而印葡博物館也讓我了解一下這地方的歷史。
I had spent seven hours inside the flight, and arrived Sri Lankan capital Colombo at 12midnight. I needed to wake up at 4am the next morning and arrived at the airport at 5am for the flight to Cochin, which was departed at 7:25am. I was exhausted.
It took me an hour from Cochin airport to Green Woods Bethlehem guesthouse.
The city is influenced by Catholic.
Arab and Jewish had traded spice in Cochin in the 1st century AD. The rajas of Cochin had fought with Calicut for territory and spice trade. The fight was the reason the Portuguese were welcomed in the early 1500s. In 1663, the Portuguese were defeated by Dutch, and the British invaded a century later.
The Westerners had built many churches in the city. The most beautiful one is Santa Cruz Basilica. The church was built by the Portuguese in 16th century, but was destroyed by the British in 1795. It was rebuilt in 1902. The glass painting and decoration inside are attractive and eye-catching.
English services are held in the church. I have attended one of the English services. I do not understand the rituals of Catholic, nor the song the people sing. But I clearly understand what the father says. He says nothing is impossible in God.
The St Francis Church, built in 1503, was the first church by European in India. The original structure is wood, but it was rebuilt with stone in 1562. It has been converted into an Anglican church after the British invasion in 1779.
Vasco da Gama, the first European arriving India, was buried inside the church for 14 years after he died in Cochin in 1524. The remains of the body were moved to Lisbon afterwards.
The Indo-Portuguese Museum gave me the chance to understand more about the history.
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