The Last Week

24^th

We both walked into Calangute for a bit of shopping but caught a Tuc-Tuc back.

As Ted was in Panjim for the evening we walked up to After Dark for a meal and bumped into Richard and Marie ( a couple we met down on Coco beach and who came to our party ) and had a very pleasant evening together ending up with some very interesting coffee, in a bar after the closing time.

25^th

Ted was going to the Mermaid for coffee so we hitched a lift into Candolim and had a look round, did a bit of shopping including buying a silver necklace for Sand.

We have started to pack what we won’t need for our last few days.

In the evening we went to a restaurant called Sublime, it is the nearest thing to “fine dining” that we have found but with prices to match the beautiful setting. Wine was around £30 a bottle, so we had Gin and Tonics.

26^th

Stayed around the apartment

27^th

Had a last day on the beach and a last meal at Riverside.

28^th

I walked into Calangute, to the travel agent, to confirm our flights home, the times have changed yet again,now leaving earlier from Dabolim, meaning an even longer stay at Mumbai before our final flight. These delays and upheavals seam to be due to the financial situation that Kingfisher Airlines appear to be in. In the evening we dined at the Mermaid again, with Richard and Marie, Ted treated us.

29^th

Stayed around apartment, a bit of a nothing day. When we went out to eat in the evening, it seemed that the whole population, Europeans and Indians alike, were out buying drink because the first of March is the first day of the dry days because of the election.

1^st March

We finished packing our bags and tidying up. Had a western style meal with Richard and Marie at After Dark, they always eat there on Thursdays, so we had nice company for our last meal. Back to the bar to say our good-byes and two or three coffees.

Off to bed,3.45am start in the morning.

23rd February

I walked into Calangute in the morning, it seems a bit cooler today, and bought some spices in the market, also I topped up our pills.

Indian market heat sealing

22nd February

Karen and Steve’s last day.

We went to Mapousa (pronounced mapsa) market this morning. Ted bought his spices, Sandy a pair of sandals and I tried to buy a new, expandable, watch strap but my wrists are thicker than the average Indian so I could not find one. A new battery was however only 50 rupees (60p).

We had breakfast in Xaviers where you get quite filling savoury snacks for 10 rupees each.

The election campaign is heating up. We passed two separate gatherings on the way to the market and there was a small rally near our apartment about 5.00pm and the neighbouring bar restaurant did not seem to agree with the sentiments being expressed and turned their sound system up full drowning out the loudspeakers of the politicians.

In the evening we had a western style meal at the Mermaid in preparation for Karen and Steve’s flight home. When we came to drive back to Calangute the car was misted right up, obviously the air con. In the car, although it had only been ticking over, was enough to lower the temperature in the car so that when it was parked the humidity was such that it condensed on the car and with no breeze, it did not dry off.

20/21st February

It has been quiet couple of days again. The temperature seems to be rising steadily, or it may just be an increase in humidity. The mornings are quite misty until about nine o’clock. I had a walk on the beach late Monday afternoon to, hopefully, try and cool off a bit but was even steamier there.

As there is not a lot to write about I have looked back at my 2010 photos and thought you may be interested in the gardens at Panjim as they were then. So you can compare with the pictures I posted at the end of January.

19th February

^{We all went into Panjim today, Karen, Steve and I crossed the River on the ferry. Sandy and Ted continued by car and we all met up in Top Gear, from where we went to the Tennis Club. It was again another treat with all sorts of dishes coming up}

^{Recording the scene for posterity.}

^{We left about 2 hours later. Driving out towards the river mouth and then south along the coast for a bit before returning home.}

18th February

Should have been carnival day in Panjim, it was cancelled at the last minute, whether this was political or because a coaches brakes failed and ended up in the river killing 5 children and 2 adults, we do not know.

Karen and Steve came to us and we walked into Calangute and had some breakfast and a look down at Calangute Steps Sandy and Karen came home in a Tuc- Tuc , Steve and I walked back.

17th February,Golden Wedding Day

Down to beach, Sand again did it without a stop, we came home sharp and prepared for the evening.

It was a brilliant evening, well we thought so if the others didn’t, tough. There were 12 of us, 2 did not make it due to a bout of the indisposition.

David and Edie who did not come to the meal but draged themselves out to wish us all the best.

We had plates of prawns in various guises, chicken in all forms, some veg dishes and fish fingers (fresh fish strips fried in a dusting of spices).

The booze flowed fairly freely, as it could, large bottles of Kingfisher 80p, local brandy (60ml) just over 50p and vodka about 30p for the same measure.

This was of course in a little restaurant away from the main strip not in the main tourist area.

The outside of the Riverside taken during the day

The kitchen is behind the green tarpaulin and all the food has to come across the small road

I would think however that a party of four taking a taxi there and back would still save money over eating in the central area.