Well, we 've been back nearly 3 weeks now, so this report is well overdue. I enjoy reading other peoples', so I should do one myself and I hope it won't be too boring. There were 4 of us, 2 hadn't been to Goa before, and myself and my friend had only been once, to Colva in the south, so North Goa was new to us all.

So, here goes....

We arrived in Goa on Tuesday 4th March, the flight with Thomson was ok, one moan was that there were no seat back tvs, but as it was a night flight, it didn't really matter on the way out (we had them on the way back). There was an hour and half dealy leaving Gatwick, but we arrived at Diabloim only 55 minutes late. Through immigration and got our luggage in what must be a record 25 minutes and managed to get past all the 'porters', who were trying to take the trolley from me. The coach journey to the Marinha Dourada took about an hour, by this time it was dark, so not much to see. Arrived at the hotel and we were given rooms next to each other in the annexe ( I'd emailed the hotel to request this). We were at the far end of the annexe, which was very quiet, but a bit of a trek, but we all enjoyed the walk along the lakeside. The rooms were fine, but basic, you had all you need, and the main thing, a clean bathroom. I heard someone complaining to their rep that the tv was too small ....I for one didn't go to Goa to stay in the room and watch tv! What did he want, a 42in plasma???

We ate at the hotel the first night, as it was getting late and we were tired. Not bad, but not wonderful to make us what to eat there again. Price not bad, about 200 rs each. Breakfast is ok, eggs cooked to order, the usual baked beans and something looking like wallpaper paste that they called porridge!! There was lovely local bread, we left the sliced bread well alone when we saw a staff member moving it around with his bare hands. Half decent filter coffee and a different fruit juice each day.

The next morning we decided to explore. Ignoring cried of 'taxi' from the hut across the road, we started to walk. And walk we did! We thought we were going towards Arpora, but we had gone the other way towards
Baga. At least it was flat and quite shaded. We stopped for a drink at Mayonna Creek bar, very near Baga bridge. Lovely setting with terrace by the river. Carried on into Baga, had no idea where we were going, so took a side turning and ended up by Colonial Santa Maria and Bobby's beach shack. Of course, they all came running from the shacks, with cries of 'you want sunbed, drink, massage, we have proper toilet...' Had a walk and went back to Bobby's for a drink and some lunch. Friends amazed at the price (again about 200 rs each but more drinks than in the hotel). Later walked back up the road and heard the familiar shout that I remembered from last year rang out: 'you come see my shop', I told the others to say no thanks, but of course they said 'maybe tomorrow', which had them running the next time we went down there!
Bought some bags at a stall on the main road with minimal hassle.

We spent the first few days mainly by the pool, as my friend had a chest infection and saw the doctor after a couple of days, who told him to keep away from dusty areas (where isn't there dust in Goa?). Anyway he got antibiotics and medicine and was fine after a few days. Paid about £5 to see the doctor and next to nothing for the medication.

We had all these plans of going on trips - Irishcolleen told me about the Taj Mahal trip when I met her in Spain in Feb, then we thought that would be too much, so thought about a few days in Mumbai. Of course, we did nothing like that, just had a few days out as it was so hot, and very humid during the second week.
We went to a spice plantation, we'd been to one last year, but the others wanted to go, and we went to a different one, although the tour was basically the same, the setting was lovely and quiet. The taxi driver. Samir,(from outside the MD), took us to Old Goa, interesting and well kept gardens. Worth a visit. Samir also took our friends to a bird sanctuary, picking them up at 0615, as they needed to be there early as it was the best time to see the birds before it got too hot. They really enjoyed it and said it was well worth getting up early. We also went to Panjim and Mapusa.

Will do more soon, if I can remember it all and give some views on the various eating places we tried