My arrival in Pondy was consequently early, but finding
accommodation took hours. Rooms were pricey, and the cheaper
ones were full. But, what felt like hours later, I eventually located
lodging at a reasonable rate. Ernest must’ve had the same problem
as he arrived soon afterwards.
Pondicherry
Many moons ago, in 1523, the Portuguese arrived in Chennai,
followed by the British and French nearly a century later. In 1746, the
French attacked and seized control of the British-built fort. It didn’t
take the British long to recapture the fort, and the French sailed for
Pondicherry, which remained under French rule until 1954. Even
today, the old part of town is still lined with French-era townhouses,
coffee shops and restaurants.
I spent the day in Pondy, as it is referred to, indulging in cheese and
biscuits as it was here where one could find all kinds of cheese as well
as wine - two things I haven’t had in a long time.
Even though it was a coastal town, the beach was rocky and not
popular for swimming. A walk along the beachfront was pleasant and
led past old French buildings, making the town slightly different from
the rest of India.