Kolkata or Calcutta, this is a great city.
Not what I expected. What I have seen has been very built up-- stores with glass fronts selling expensive goods, fancy call centers with very modern architecture. A mall! I guess this is the "New India" we keep hearing about. We're staying in a suburb (!) recommended by my dad's friends.
The city itself is large with a lot of aging victorian-style buildings holding brand-new shops and restaurants downstairs.
Bengali is a lovely language. It's warm and the people are warm. Tasty food. Elements of the India I have seen are still here, but there also seems to be a lot more money and a sizable middle class. Of course the slums are still here, but they seem to be more out of sight.
Tonight we're taking a train to Darjeeling. Back to the mountains one last time before I come home.