Well thats it, im back!

I had a great time with some things good and some things not so good.

I am going to post a bit about the things we did over the coming week or so, please dont expect too much as im going to be very busy at work so will post when I have time.

I am going to start with the day we left, Saturday 22cd April.

It was a beautifull sunny day. After taking the dog for a nice long walk she was duly dropped off at the kennels, she goes so often she gets all excited. She doesnt even look back now, she wags her tail and off she goes. It still makes me sad even now to say seeyah soon to her.

Our friends arrived at 1pm. It must have been about 70 degrees. We stopped of at our local country pub for a couple of beers before arriving at Gatwick at 2.15pm.

The airport was deserted, First Choice check in was faultless. Staright to the star class premier check in, bags through and done. No queue for passport control and straight through security. A quick visit to duty free and then into The Aviance Lounge. Very good value. Fifiteen Pounds each and an open bar and basic snacks. Very comfortable armchairs, business centre and a large plasma tv. All in all very good.

We boarded on time to find the flight empty. There were 10 pax in star class premier and 29 in star class, wonderfull. A pre flight bellini and we are off on the westerly runway.

Excellent in flight service, great crew, lots of beer and laughs, nice dinner, fourty winks, snack, a hit of top gear then we are stowing luggage for our approproach into Dabolim.

I was very pleased with the flight. Having read the reviews on first choice re delays I wasnt expecting much and i was proved very wrong.

Dabolim was an experience, as most of you know. The wife and I had our passports inspected six times, three people signed it and one completed the visa, unbelievebale. I have never experienced anything like this before, but you just have to co-operate and laugh ya socks off which we did, to the annoyance of some other pax who got a bioot heated.

Next up was the samsonite tug of war. Having hot the cases from the carousel we ventured outside and were boweld over by a stampede of wailing goans, kashmiris and others who would take our cases and put then in the back of the taxi. We opted for this and it saved an hour and a quarter.

We stood and chuckled for a minute. It then became apparent that they had forgotten about the cases and just set about themselves.

I put the cases in the taxi myself and off we went, and they were still fighting with The Indian Police attempting to restore order.

I have read reviews here about shooing them away and loading the cases yourself but i wanted it just for the entertainment value, i know im evil.
And all for free saving myself 100 rupees.

The drive to Colva was interesting. Three very close shaves, one with a huge yellow tipper with the LOUDEST air horns ever and two tuk tuks on a death wish.

Half an hour of madness and we are at The Oceanique in Colva.

Right, thats ya lot for now.

Regards

Barchetta