Blooms, Bells and Victoria - second day in Calcutta UPDATED

The flower market was recommended to us by Judy ,the Indian travel agent's representative in Sydney.  And it was an excellent recommendation.  These flowers come in early, each day.  Hindu worship plus cultural practices use inordinate amounts of flowers!  As our guide said, it is not "neat and clean" and I could see that people slept under (and above) the stalls.  But it was teeming.  Pics below. They were taken in the more open part of the markets.  Nothing could capture the crush of the inside stalls.

Yes, they are all flowers!

These are a couple of pics taken inside.  Still not a good indication of the crush, but the best I have got!

KM going up the staircase leading to the market. Our guide, in pink, is keeping an eye on us!

We saw St Johns Church, modeled on St Martin in the Fields.

There was a belltower, a trapdoor and a staircase, but we were told the only bell was a chiming one.  No way were they going to let us up.

The memorials had a story on them, some matter of fact, others heartbreaking.

And how many different renditions can you have of a farewell dinner?  Sensitised by my trip to Italy last year, I have begun to notice them. According to Google, it was painted by Johann Zoffany and contains Indian references and implements.  The faces were important people of the time, including those who worked for the East India Company.

And lastly, the Victoria Memorial, or the Raj Taj.  It was explained to us that the Brits considered that if the Shah Jehan can build a beautiful memorial to his wife, then they should be able to do equally well for their Queen, even though Victoria never visited India.  It is a grand building, but I think the Taj is more elegant.

Is this the same as outside the QVB in Sydney?!