Galle is a place for meandering around, admiring the architecture and soaking up the history, stopping every now and then for refreshments and to dip in and out of the little galleries and shops selling over-priced Sri Lankan art and devil masks, as well as knick knacks, souvenirs and clothes for tourists. A walk round the walls is a pleasant way to while away and hour or so and provides a bird’s eye view not only of the sea and surrounding town but also the international cricket ground which sits between the fort and the new town centre beyond.
We vist the white Dutch Reform Church built between 1792 and 1795 where we are greeted by the caretaker who is eager to show us round and point out the interesting gravestones from the old Dutch cemetry which pave the floor.
Just a little further down the street is the Anglican church which could have been lifted directly from an English village and deposited here.
Once again we bump into the Kiwis, Joanna and Amelia, who arrived here today having spent three days in Unawatuna. They are no longer travelling with the Israeli who, it seems, had become a little tiresome.