Today was about seeing some old Christian churches here before going to work. However, I had some post cards, I wanted to mail first. The driver found the post and I mistakenly went i to the ATM and was redirected. Inside the post office I wasn't sure where to go. One guy sent me to the neighboring desk where the man weighed the post cards and decries 40 rupees a piece.
Unfortunately the post office doesn't take debit card, so it was out to the atm again. I waited almost ten minutes for a guy to finish. I mean the guard there went to check to see what was taking so long! I did not have success with my first try so I tried again but was still declined. I went back to the car in defeat, but the driver loaned me 200 rupees so I was back in business.
I returned to the stamp desk with my money and then this meticulous, detail orient man took forever to find the stamps fold the stamps just so to tear them off and slowly detached them. He showed that three stamps were required for each card. I asked where to post. He said glue and pointed to a lady dispensing glue into a tray. Ok, no licking or self adhesives stamps here.
I thought I could lightly dredge the stamp across the glue but that attached WAY too much glue to the stamp and I had a sticky mess. For the remained, I used my finger in the glue and put the glue on the back of the stamps. The first card was still much too sticky, but fortunately as I usually do, I had a napkin in my purse which I used to wipe off the excess. I then fanned them all for some tome to try to get them to dry. I'm still not sure they didn't get stuck to other mail. We shall see if they show up
My first church stop wa St. Andrew's Kirk, a Scottish Presbyterian church that is still active since it was built in 1821, which isn't really old for here. Supposedly modded after St Martin in the Fields, it is one of three churches in India with a circular floor plan under a blue ceiling with gold stars that weren't really visible to me. Instead of all wood pews, these have came seats and a man was repairing some while I was there. The place was also under renovations, but I'm guessing in this climate that is probably almost always the case. The touted climb to the top of the steeple was not available.
Before arriving at the church, the surrounding wall was covers in Bible verses and homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk. Inside the church grounds there was litter as there is in so many places. They did have a school and outreach to the poor.
Next stop was St Mary's which is inside the government fort complex. I was going to go to the government museum also, but with all the police around, I got a bit intimidated. This church was much older with tombstones dating from the 1600s and plaques inside as the other church had as well. The art of writing obituaries has been lost since these tiles were carved with flowery language extolling the virtues of the deceased.
Beside the tomb markers, the most interesting piece was a baptismal. It has been in used since 1680 and supposedly the three daughter of Job Charnock were baptized here. Job is credited with being the founder of Calcutta, but he is also known for saving a Hindu woman from being burned on her husbands funeral pyre per the custom here at the time. He married her and she bore the three daughters. I love that story!
I had one other stop planned, but after the debacle at the post office and traffic, plus we had to find a working ATM so I could get money for the driver. I was ready to call it a morning. I had the driver drop me at Chamiers where I had a nice lunch the first week I arrived. I made the short walk back to the hotel, so he could go get some lunch and rest before heading to the office.
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