In and Around Colombo

 

We actually visited Colombo three times during our trip--when we landed, on a return trip from Galle for a Christmas Eve Dinner, and then an early morning return from Kandy to catch a plane back to Singapore. Arriving in the early evening, we spent our first night in Sri Lanka at the Colombo Hilton, shown in the photo to the left. The Hilton, located on the south end of the Galle Face Green overlooks much of the city. The Hilton itself is a wonderful facility, with a beautiful breakfast room overlooking a series of ponds, a great adjacent Italian restaurant, and a large swimming pool complex. We got to enjoy very little of this, however, as we left early the next day for the southwest coast. Our second visit to the Colombo was a bit more leisurely (1 full day) when we returned up the Galle Road to enjoy a Christmas Eve feast with Jim Spain, the ex-US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, and a friend of Tracy's from her time there. Jim invited us to join his son, daughter-in-law and two children for the evening at his apartment just across from the Galle Face Hotel. When his tour of duty finished, Jim elected to retire in Sri Lanka, and we always look forward to his lively company when we visit. Jim has kept active during his retirement; his efforts include a marvelous book, In Those Days, where he reflects on his career as a diplomat in Turkey, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. Jim's son is also in the diplomatic service. Over a dinner of wild boar (which Jim shot himself earlier in the month) we were regaled with stories of life in the post-Taliban Afghanistan. Our favorite was Jim and his crew's escape from capture by warlords. Even in retirement Jim maintains an active life, and remains an unparalleled host. Prior to dining with Jim we participated in what has become another ritual when we visit Colombo, visiting Barbara Sansoni's marvelous textile gallery, Barefoot. This time we picked up full length textiles to use as wall hangings in our office and film room. Barefoot includes a wonderful shop filled with original hand-made textiles from the island, as well as an exhibit of art work and a cafe. No visit to Colombo, however, brief is complete without a visit to this special spot.

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