APR. 2nd -- GOA, INDIA

FYI:  Temperature is:  89°F/32°
Day 88 of the cruise

We arrive in Goa at 8:00 AM and have an excursion called "Highlights of Goa" and it is 5 1/2 hours long.  No temples so we don't have to wear long pants & long sleeves.

Harbour

Coming in...

Red roses for all of us.

When we got off the boat we were met by a man & woman dressed in red (a King & Queen??) and welcomed.  There was a band playing and all the women were given a red rose.  Very nice.

Our first stop is the Basilica of Bom Jesus (of the Baby Jesus) and it is the resting place St. Francis Xavier.  His body never decomposed...it's 450 years old and it has only dehydrated...it is still intact.  The body is displayed in a glass coffin every 10 years and people show up to view it.  Right now, in the years between showings, it is situated high-up in a glass sided coffin and you can partially see the body.

Photo of the body.

The glass-sided coffin.  The oblong window is where his head is.

Then we crossed the street to St. Catherine's Cathedral...very big & very beautiful.

Sé Cathedral or St. Catherine's Cathedral

Interior

Barry, outside, in the gardens

Driving into Panjim, our tour guide, Jeronimo, told us that gambling was not allowed in India.  So, the locals got around that law by putting floating casinos in the river.   Apparently, Indians are bigger gamblers than the Chinese!

Floating Casino

You see Big Daddy signs all over.

 In Panjim, the Capital of Goa, we go to visit a local market....yes, of course, including a fish market.  Why, I ask you, do they insist on taking us to their smelly, smelly fish markets?  We also saw the displays of fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Vegetable displays

Another area

Flower vendor

When we leave the market, Barry & I are told to cross the street to wait for the rest of our group and also to wait for the bus.  We are bombarded with hawkers...men, women & children who are all very persistent and do not understand the meaning of the word "NO".  They just keep at you.
Suddenly, we heard 2 loud whistle blasts and the cops get out of their cars.  All of the hawkers scattered every which-way...apparently, you need a licence to hawk your goods.  No licence and you can be arrested.  The police arrested two people and confiscated all of their goods.
Kinda exciting.

We then drive to a mansion owned by Otto de Oliveria's family.

Sign outside the gate.

The beautiful house

We are invited there for a tour of the house and grounds and to have a refreshment break.  The de Oliveria family used to be rich and they lost their land due to the government's intervention.  So, they now supplement their income for the upkeep of the house and grounds by hosting tour groups.

Kitchen and our snacks all set out

Living room

Entrance way

We had a quick tour of the house.
For our snack they served beef, vegetable and also prawn samosas; beef roll; chicken salad roll and fresh fruits & desserts.  With this there is a choice of beer (Kingfisher is the Indian beer), wine, water or soda.
On the porch there were two guys playing guitars and signing.
We sat outside, in the shade, ate, drank and listened to music.  Very lovely.

Our entertainers.

Kingfisher (Indian beer)

This is the area set up for visitors

Couldn't resist the sign for the Wash Rooms.

After about 30 minutes, we head back to the bus.
We then drive back to the ship....about 1 hour.  We're back by 2:30 PM.

A nap was required due to heat exhaustion ... just kidding but it felt hotter than predicted today.

Our departure from Goa, India is at 5:00 PM.
Barry & I go out to the balcony and watch the sail away

There's my guy...enjoying the sun on his face.

... we have a BFR (big fat rye), our music and watch the sun set.

I'm very pleased with the sunset pictures today so I'm showing you more than one.😀

We are going to Compass Rose because one of the dishes served tonight is Fish (cod) and Chips, mushy peas, tartar sauce and malt vinegar.  Yum!  We're in.

After dinner we heads back to our cabin and watch the movie "First Man" with Ryan Gosling.  Only watched half.
Mumbai (Bombay) tomorrow.