No trip to the south of Sri Lanka is complete, I was told, without a visit to Galle Fort but first, a stop to buy some fruit from the local supermarket.
Tuk tuk transport is pretty cheap here and in good supply,
many drivers waiting patiently outside most of the hotels. Generally, these guys not only speak good English but also are well informed. So it’s really a cheap guided tour.
Galle Fort was originally built, using granite stone and coral, by the Portuguese in 1588 and extended by the Dutch in the 17th century. Moving past the outer walls where youngsters were having a cricket practice
and onwards past the lifeboats
(or I assume they are although I wouldn’t like to be launched by the one on the left), you come to the inner wall
where a tunnel underneath the law courts brings you out into the original part of the fort.
Close by these courts there are numerous law firms, notaries and so on, some of which obviously have close links with Galle’s colonial heritage.
Mr da Silva is hardly a Sri Lankan name!
Once past the legal offices you enter a myriad of quite narrow streets
full of art, antique, jewellery shops, restaurants and a few small boutique hotels.
All quite bohemian and all quite chic.
Some of the old colonial buildings are quite striking
but others might need some TLC fairly soon.
Inner Galle Fort is a fascinating place. At every turn you see something interesting and different.
As a result, I spent far longer here than I or my driver had intended, so it was time to go. I think I’ll have to come back tomorrow to check out the rest.
Phileas
thelasthurrahsite 