| Goa Excursions |
In Goa we spent most of our time in Colva and in the adjacent village of Benaulim. We went
on two excursions to other places in Goa, one to view the Carnival celebration in Margao
(a.k.a. Madgaon), the other a group tour of south Goa.
on two excursions to other places in Goa, one to view the Carnival celebration in Margao
(a.k.a. Madgaon), the other a group tour of south Goa.
From Colva we took the public bus (Rs. 8 per person) for a half hour ride to Margao (also
known as Marmaga),the largest town in south Goa. We went ther for lunch and to see the
Carnival Parade. We had a pleasant lunch at the restaurant in the Big G Department Store
and picked up a few items in the store's supermarket section (Nescafe Classic instant coffee,
Hero bitter orange marmalade, and a small packet of laundry detergent).
known as Marmaga),the largest town in south Goa. We went ther for lunch and to see the
Carnival Parade. We had a pleasant lunch at the restaurant in the Big G Department Store
and picked up a few items in the store's supermarket section (Nescafe Classic instant coffee,
Hero bitter orange marmalade, and a small packet of laundry detergent).
Restaurant on the 7th floor of the Big G Department Store,
Enlarged view of the Buddha
decoration seen in photo to the left.
decoration seen in photo to the left.
Margao Carnival Excursion:
After lunch we returned to Margao's Municipal Park and joined the large crowd gathered
along the street which circles the park, as well as perched on the rooftops, balconies, and
windows along the parade route. Because we got there after the parade had started we did
not have good views of the marchers but could see the many interesting floats. The parade
was short on professionalism but had an enthusiastic audience. A good time was had by all.
along the street which circles the park, as well as perched on the rooftops, balconies, and
windows along the parade route. Because we got there after the parade had started we did
not have good views of the marchers but could see the many interesting floats. The parade
was short on professionalism but had an enthusiastic audience. A good time was had by all.
A Margao Carnival float.
Crowd viewing Carnival Parade from rooftop.
Mother & daughter watching parade.
Father and son watching Margao Carnival Parade.
South Goa Excursion:
A day or two before taking this group excursion we had bought tickets for this bus excursion
from the Colva branch of the Goa Tourist Development Corporation. The tickets were Rs. 150
(US$4) per person but did not include admission charges to some of the places visited.
A day or two before taking this group excursion we had bought tickets for this bus excursion
from the Colva branch of the Goa Tourist Development Corporation. The tickets were Rs. 150
(US$4) per person but did not include admission charges to some of the places visited.
Our excursion started in Colva at 9:30am, all passengers were Indians except for us and a
French woman. Our first stop was in the village of Laoutolim, where we got a guided tour of
Casa Araujo Alvares, a large traditional Portuguese colonial house which had been the home of a
wealthy Portuguese family for several generations. The house contained many old home
furnishings.
French woman. Our first stop was in the village of Laoutolim, where we got a guided tour of
Casa Araujo Alvares, a large traditional Portuguese colonial house which had been the home of a
wealthy Portuguese family for several generations. The house contained many old home
furnishings.
Parlor of the Casa Araujo Alvares, Laoutolim, Goa.
Dining room
A bedroom, Casa Araujo Alvares.
Very near the Casa Araujo Alvares we went into the "Ancestral Goa" exhibit, an eclectic
unfocused display of historical odds and ends.
unfocused display of historical odds and ends.
Next came two contemporary Hindu temples, one dedicated to Ganesh, the other to Hanuman.
Then we arrived in Old Goa, the capital of Goa during Portuguese colonial days, which lasted
from the early 1500's to 1961, when Goa was invaded and occupied by India. We visited the
early colonial Se Cathedral. Then we walked to the nearby Basilica of Bom Jesus, where the
featured tourist attraction is the coffin containing the remains of St. Francis Xavier, who in
the mid-1500's spearheaded the development of Catholicism throughout Portugal's Asian
colonies. The Saint's body is in a casket with small glass windows along the sides, usually kept
high in a side altar, brought down for viewing every ten years. The body is said to be
miraculously preserved without embalming.
from the early 1500's to 1961, when Goa was invaded and occupied by India. We visited the
early colonial Se Cathedral. Then we walked to the nearby Basilica of Bom Jesus, where the
featured tourist attraction is the coffin containing the remains of St. Francis Xavier, who in
the mid-1500's spearheaded the development of Catholicism throughout Portugal's Asian
colonies. The Saint's body is in a casket with small glass windows along the sides, usually kept
high in a side altar, brought down for viewing every ten years. The body is said to be
miraculously preserved without embalming.
Se Cathedral, Old Goa
Gold altar in Se Cathedral, Old Goa.
St. Francis Xavier's windowed casket in
The bus then took us to Goa's current capital, Panajim, where we had lunch on the veranda of
the Panajim Residency Hotel, overlooking Panajim's waterfront.
the Panajim Residency Hotel, overlooking Panajim's waterfront.
During lunch at the Panajim Residency Hotel
we met the gentleman pictured on the right.
He is of Indian origin but lived in Toronto,
Canada, for many years, a retired financial
planner. Reminded us of Hemingway.
we met the gentleman pictured on the right.
He is of Indian origin but lived in Toronto,
Canada, for many years, a retired financial
planner. Reminded us of Hemingway.
Our last stop on this Goa excursion was at Dona Paula, a cliff at the entrance of Panajim Harbor.
This associated with the legend of star-crossed couple of lovers who committed joint suicide by
jumping off the cliff onto the rocky waters below.
This associated with the legend of star-crossed couple of lovers who committed joint suicide by
jumping off the cliff onto the rocky waters below.