Finally.... The Beach! And Galle Fort - UNESCO Site #5

Our last weekend in Sri Lanka, we went with Jon, Tharangi and one of T's friends from school, Ritu, to Galle.   Galle is on the southern coast, the 3rd largest city, and a major tourist spot, due to both the large Portuguese fort there (5th World Heritage site!) and the nice beaches. 

However, like most of our trip, we were tight on time.  Marsh & I were staying overnight there, but they weren't and they had a wedding to attend later.   So, with getting a somewhat slow start, and traffic being what it is, we didn't have long to look around.   We started by going to Unawatuna, which is a lovely beach along a natural bay.  The water here is usually turquoise blue and very calm, as well as being shallow, so its a popular swimming and snorkeling beach.   The day we were there, as it had been rainy lately, the water wasn't as clear as usual and it was choppier.  So we opted for a very tasty seafood lunch on the beach instead.

Here's that map again. It shows the beach, and all the other spots we went, for any fellow map geeks out there.  :)  And its late to note this, but you can click on any of these pics to see bigger ones.  Especially useful for something like a map.

We stopped at our hotel first, and this is the view of the promontory poking out into the bay by the rocks.  This is not in Unawatuna, but between there and Galle.

The guys pretending to be beach bums...  Where's your surfboard, dude?

Our little beach lunch cafe.  Add a glass of wine?  Lovely way to spend an hour

See!  We finally got to dip our toes in the Indian Ocean.  Which, for us pasty Northern landlubbers, is probably enough.

Access to the beach is through small alleys that run along behind the waterfront restaurants, guesthouses and housing.  On the way back to the car I snapped some shots.  I especially like the advert for the ayurvedic spa.  RUN, don't walk, around this corner to get a massage.  Oh, if only.....  :)

After the beach, we wanted at least a quick peek at Galle Fort.Built in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century, it is our 5th and last World Heritage site.  The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own property inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world.  The fort covers this entire tip of peninsula that juts out into the bay. We only walked along the very bottom rampart, between the light house and the left corner.  Then Tharangi and they were heading back, and as we wanted a drop off at the hotel, we went with them. I wanted some more time to shop and look around, but Marsh was fried and didn't want to "sight see" anymore, let alone wait while I shopped, so that was the extent of our visit to Galle.  Too bad, as supposedly it is lovely.  Full of small streets, old Dutch homes, very nice (expensive and booked, so we couldn't stay there) hotels and restaurants.  Something to plan on for our next trip!

Aerial view from Google showing the layout of the peninsula and the fort.  The hugely fortified wall runs all the way around and you can walk around it, if you have time.

Also from Google, a good shot showing the height and width of the walls.  This was a serious fort, with cannons and everything, meant to withstand heavy bombardment by sea.  Galle was a critical port for the spice trade and coveted by various nations over the years, and eventually won from the Portuguese by the Dutch, then the British.

 

We are actually on top of the wall at this point, walking along the ramparts...

That point is where we are headed.  From there, young teenage boys gather and offer to dive into the ocean for money.  We didn't encourage them, as it looks shallow and rocky, and a great way to break your neck.

On the point, looking back towards the lighthouse