Monday Mumbai meet-up

Monday 19 February 2024

I had a morning to fill/kill before Caitlin and her friends arrived so went down to the harbour and installed myself in a wonderful roof top café for an hour or so.  Wonderful views, give or take the haze thing, and I could see a lighthouse.  A relaxing start to the day.

I then finished off a few buildings on the architectural walk I’d not yet seen.  I stuck my head into the Sassoon Library but only as far as non members can tread.

I revisited the university properly whose clock tower is modelled on Big Ben.

I passed the usual street stalls everywhere such as sugar cane sellers.

I spotted a church and decided to swing by.  As I did I found the zero marker for Mumbai which, of course, was hugely exciting.  The church itself is quite austere, I prefer simplicity to bling, and full of memorials to Englishmen and women who had died whilst serving in India in the 19th and 20th centuries.

I met up with Caitlin and her friends, Lucy and Tom, and we started off with coffee.

Then a short tour of the railway station.  Apparently it’s a ‘thing’ that white women are frequently stopped for photos.  Tom told me this whilst Lucy and Caitlin were stopped for a selfie with someone or other. “You must be used to this,” he said.  It occurred to me it had never happened!  When Riona and I were in India she was always asked for photos, never me.  And in China my older (male) colleagues were stopped but I was not the object of their photographic interests.  It’s not that I’m ugly, it’s just that I’m too old for them to be keen to have me on their phone and, due to the patriarchal viewpoint, older women are not venerated like older men.  It’s as if in society, men become more interesting as they age, and women diminish.  I didn’t have much patience for this, even though harmless. Just thought it a waste of time! 

Anyway, a quick photo shot - with me! - outside then off to visit the university again (my third time) and Caitlin, Lucy and Tom wanted to see.

I loved the motorbike cover with ears!  And I saw these semi static police points dotted around the city. Saves rental space I suppose.

I found a sign to have my photo taken in front of, even if it was the Indian Navy.  Its HQ is in Mumbai which made me very happy.  As an aside, I tracked down the Mumbai maritime museum but sadly it was a 90 minute taxi journey each way and I had no way of knowing if it was open until I pitched up.

More coffee and rest then shopping time.  Caitlin and Lucy bought earrings, Tom did other tourist shopping and I was happy watching.

We had a fabulous meal in a lovely Indian eatery and, at just before midnight, we waved Lucy and Tom off to travel back to the UK.  And then we were two.