We arrived ex First Choice Manchester at 14. 45, through immigration and reclaim , into taxi and off to Victor Exotica, Candolim checked in , unpacked and showered changed and out of the room at 18 .10.
PHEW!!
The Victor Ex was all we expected ( report on Hotels already posted).
Checked out the beach on the first evening and grabbed a bite to eat at Mico's in Candolim Beach Rd before a few Kingfishers and crashing out early.
Next morning set out the form for the next two weeks, down on the beach at monica's shack through the day, followed by a different restaurant each night.
Managed to get to the wednesday meet at Lazy days and had a good natter and a few drinks(although it was actually at CSM)and met a few HT'ers, including Lin B who fluttered her eyelashes at the waiter to put her drinks on my tab!!
(only joking Lin)Also met Shermina and Rob and some other couples whose names I have forgot,( does anyone else have this memory problem or is it just me?) and arranged to go to mango house and meet some of the children.
So the following morning we were picked up by taxi and taken to the wholesale market where we bought bananas, oranges and apples for the kids (masses for about £6) and then to the mango house which was a compete surprise as it is a really fantastic job!
from there to one of the slums where some other volunteers helped to give out the fruit and some chocs and balloons we had taken.
I was surprised how well behaved the kids were, even more so when the eldset boy(about12/13) who had been showing off a bit as 12 year old boys do, came to Shermina as we were leaving to ask if there was school tomorrow and the pleasure on his face when the answer was yes.
We got some CWT tee shirts and they attracted attention and questions wherever we wore them. Hopefully that may do CWT some good.
Sadly we lost track of time and missed the next weeks meet, aplogies to all there
As previous holidays, we set off intending to do some trips and see some sights but as usual got no further than the beaches. Aswem and Morjim beaches in particular are really beautifull, with no sellers etc pestering you.
Evenings are my favourite time when we try the various restaurants.
Recommendations this year are
Flambee, good food, good service and low prices in pleasant surroundings.
roses for the ladies on leaving. Plus you can see the kitchen here.
Santa Lucias for good italian food with first class service in a small smart restaurant.
Mermaid restaurant also good, serving a very nice Zinfandel Blush rose wine.
Ice and Spice, cheap and cheerful, don't bother getting dressed up for this one! very good for fish
Cecilias very good food, probably need to book here it's that popular. But we found service a bit rushed, maybe trying to get a second sitting at the table as it is very busy.
Stonehouse... well recommended by other HT'ers but we thought service was very poor although food was good. Good singer/ guitarist on Mon, Wed and Friday here.
Micos as mentioned further above was also good
Delhi durbar in Panjim, first time we have been here although have seen many recommendations for it.
Extremely good , but a bit like a British Curry restaurant for my taste, it only needed the flock wall paper!
One to give a miss this year ... Little Italy on Calangute/ Candolim Border.
Service brilliant, food brilliant, the bill....astronomic!! £32 for two of us and only one bottle of wine (last year it was £34 but with 2 bottles wine)
A very romantic setting for that special occasion, but bear in mind that they don't serve any meat!
Lasgne etc is made using soya etc. which is almost indistinguishable from minced beef the way they prepare it.
Moving on to the wifes REAL reason for going to Goa---jewelery.
After looking at at various rings at different shops we were told by Monica (of Monicas shack) to go to Panjim and jewellery is cheaper there.
So , off we went and found a shop called Javeris, where Evelyn got a 5 diamond ring for about £120 less than a similar one in candolim that she liked.
The jeweller wanted no deposit etc and then phoned us at the hotel to say the ring was ready and he had sent it to his father in laws shop in Candolim for us to collect and pay for, A Glimpse of India, on picking it up there we wanted some earings for our granddaughter and were pleasantly surprised when he said " I have nothing suitable for a six year old"!
he then went on to tell us what NOT to buy for a small child, no hard sell there
We will have the ring valued in due course and I will report on it later.
So after two glorius weeks it's time to go home.....via diabolical Dabolim.
Getting a taxi so as to arrive before the buses (600rps) the check in desks stubbornley remained closed untill exactly 14.30, then check in was very slow with many people, not us, getting charged for excess, ..lots of unhappy people.
Then immigration wouldn't let us through because there were 3-4 VIP's in the departure lounge and we all had to wait 45 mins untill they left.
Finally , through immigration came to security. really keen with regard to cigarette lighters, mountains of lighters/matches on the desk.
Finally through to departure and had about 30 mins for duty free, toilets drinks etc before flight called.
Flew with first choice, standard cattle class, and we are very pleased with the flight and legroom etc.
Looking for deals for next year now
, a different hotel however as the Victor Exotica is AI next season, but have heard a report that the Whispering Palms is going bacvk to B and B next season as AI has been a failure.PS , just edited this as I have remebered coffee and chocolate cake at
Chocolati which is a small house with a lovely cool green garden where you can get coffee, iced tea, chocolate milk shakes along with triple choc brownies, carrot cake ginger cake etc all gorgeus.
more or less opposite Victor exotica...lovely!!
