We arrived on Feb 14th for 3 weeks ,flying Monarch from Manchester ...met at Dabolim by regular taxi driver and YES we are here, me for the 7th time. Pleased to say nothing changed at the airport total chaos as normal but I dont care Im now on goan time and will not be wound up by anything for the next 21 days all will be peace and tranquility.Got a bit lost finding our privatley rented appartment, but once located we are well pleased and have a great base in Candolim. We normally stay in Baga but Baga road did my head in last year so I made the executive decision and opted for Candolim, and I must say for the whole 3 weeks we were very very pleased with that and will be heading back there next Feb.
On the 1st night we headed from our appartment to the main road to see what we could find and chose somewhere for an early meal as we were shattered...managed to walk 100 yrds to the right and came to Republic of noodles ...needless to say we got no further and ate there...Lovely meal but this turned out to be the most expensive one of the holiday ...Early night and on we go......spent next day by the pool as I refuse to go to the beach looking like a white whale ..couple of days in the sun will sort that . The 2nd night we headed to the main road determined to get more than 100 yrds, we turned to the left and came to Cato Loco needless to say yes we stopped there,both hysterical as we decided at this rate at the end of 3 weeks we will have only covered 500 yrds in either direction if we carry on like this.Great meal visited here a total of 3 times in the 3 weeks one of which was for the Sunday lunch which was ok but nothing extra special .....We anticipated that we would eat breakfast in the appartment most days and even some evenings, in the whole 3 weeks we managed to make tea in a morning and that was the sum total of our self catering .After I spent about 45 mins trying to locate the bread boy on his bike , chasing up and down side alleys I eventually pounced on him, to find Id been chasing the fish man dont know who was more shocked .. We found a great place called Big Daddys about 100 yrds from our gate and that was our main place for breakfast nearly every day ,lunches if we could be bothered and even a couple of evening meals.
After 2 days we went down to Bistro shack on Baga beach which we have used from many previous years, it was great to catch up with everyone and all the gossip, who has got married, whos relatives had died, Steveta the fruit sellers sister has had a baby,Manisha who does nails is having a baby in August ,Sylvia who sells wraps her sister has died leaving 2 kiddies ...so much news Charlie was also there who used to work with Pammi at Starbucks...another hectic day ..and not managed to open the book .
We went to Molly Malones on Thursdays to meet up with others on holiday who we havent seen since last year ....we actually managed to get 9,000 rupees off Leslie the last Thursday playing deal or no deal..(Their cocktail sex on the beach is lovely )..Thanks Leslie new Radley bag thanks to you.
Managed to get to Candolim beach about 7 times only during the 3 weeks,and didnt use any particular shack stopped at whichever took our fancy and were not charged for any sunbeds, had no bad meals and found the whole beach very quiet.Sellers here not so bothering as Baga and Kenny the cd boy is a dream ...I got 10 off him and they are all ok.Price 100 rps each cant be bothered haggling any more and we are both happy with that ......now up to page 25 of the book .
We went to 1 ht meet on the 1st week...thanks for being so sociable and for all the advice.
Went to Ashvem twice, stayed 2 nights and 3 nights at Sea View , 600 rps per night , which turned out to be the cheapest rate and as always excellent food and staff and Patrick as helpfull as normal, bit of a monstrosity has been built next door [ had a rather expensive evening meal there and wouldnt go again ).Rockbites has been moved to the other side and is now called Bedrock ....as always great staff and great food.
Didnt do the expensive eateries this year as we have done in the past, and cant say that we missed them.We actually got to the plaintain leaf for breakfast prior to going to the Saturday market for the fantastic masala dhosa which was GREAT.
After 3 weeks I manged to read 3 books, ate some lovely food, got very brown and had a really lovely holiday ...and now Im back at work looking forward to Feb 2010.....

to be contd ........Liz