Galle Day 2

After going out to find breakfast because this is the first place that doesn't supply it we took a car with driver to Merissa. This is the town 30+ kms back along the coast from the direction that we came from yesterday. We didn't pass through it then because our driver brought us along the main highway which is also a toll road. Merissa is one of three surfing communities along the coast from here. It is a pretty coastline but we found there was no major town centre to explore. It is rather like the stretch of road between Busselton and Dunsborough with endless accommodation places and restaurants. We went up to a local lookout called Coconut Tree Hill for a view of the coast and bay area. You will see from my photo how it earned it's name. The surf didn't seem particularly larly significant to me and I was much more intrigued by the out rigger fishing boats. If you can enlarge my photo you will see the outrigger is made of rough bush timber and apart from providing stability it is very useful for dragging these heavy boats up the beach at the end of the day's fishing. There were 8-10 men working on the one we photographed to lift/drag it up the beach. Even though Merissa is only about 30 kms away the road is narrow and winding like most roads here so it was an hours travel each way. When we arrived back we went for a walk around town until it was lunch time. Scouting was beneficial as we found a bakery with freshly baked rolls. We needed the change from rice or noodle dishes for lunch and dinner. They were delicious even though Bob was disappointed that the best option was tomato and white (bland) cheese with pesto.I also bought two chocolate chip biscuits because the commercial biscuits are pretty tasteless. They were a success. Might go back tomorrow. This evening we went for a walk after dinner around the top of the Fort walls. These are very tall being about 25 feet high, built of stone and broad at the base. They were commenced by the Portugese in the 15th Century and then improved by the Dutch invaders and finally the British. They also provided protection from the most recent Tsunami. Tomorrow we have been promised a walk around points of interest by our host. Particularly the magnificent old churches that we haven't ventured into.