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| Worth the wait! |
For those waiting with baited breath to find out if Ruth got to Goa the answer is: thankfully, yes! The news from the hospital was that her Mum would be going to a community hospital where there is an established rehab. regime, so having done what advance catering could be done she left about as late as would be worth travelling for:- namely for 17 full days. Getting a flight wasn't easy, but by judicious ignoring of what is said about Jet Airways she got one from Heathrow via Mumbai (oh dear, we wanted to avoid that!). In fact it was an adequate (pretty full) flight which passed quickly as Ruth was seated with two other women travelling alone. The films available were not much to write home about, nor the meals and bar service; but what was easier than in previous years was the transfer to domestic, which was effected relatively easily once the baggage was reclaimed. The hours at Terminal I were then not enhanced by a total lack of rupees and ATM, so that it was a relief to discover that Jet did serve a breakfast on their delayed onward flight. At Goa there was a chance to see the new terminal building, get ripped off on cash rupees and find a taxi with no seat belts, a maniac driver and a smell of urine. Bob was waiting at the guest house having reserved sunbeds for sleep catch-up. To say Ruth was pleased to have arrived is to completely understate!
Accommodation-wise we were spoilt, having learnt last year of the delights of the Guest House and got a good price. We had a good-sized room with a lovely balcony, excellent shower and a passable WiFi signal. It didn't have the expected fridge, but we worked round that. The two blocks are set in mature gardens (with cockerels and hens) and in the middle is a sub-let restaurant unfortunately named U.T.I. (United Tastes of India), serving excellent food (including Masala Dosai for breakfast - a favourite!). Towards the end of our stay we discovered, however, that this would be our only year there, as the price would double for next season. This policy was the subject of much Office discussion, with its seeming reversal of market forces:- fewer tourists - up the price!! Hmm!
The stay as a whole was one of complete chilling-out, with just the one trip out of the area. As previously stated there was a perceptible decrease in the number of tourists, which meant much less pressure on sunbeds and catering, and after a few days of roughness the sea became very inviting. A few bars had changed hands and there was, unfortunately, much less of a live music scene. Instead we made three visits to the Steak House open air cinema and saw a good set films: Gone Girl, The Judge and The Journey of A Thousand Feet. Gastronomic highlights were a mixture of differently cooked huge prawns at U.T.I. for Valentines and a crab dish with friends at the excellent Dropadi just before we left.
We had to make a couple of tuk-tuk journeys to Chawdi:- not least to buy Ruth two pairs of vari-focal specs for GBP60; and we made the annual pilgrimage to Cavelossim for the Betty's Cruise. This year there were seven of us in one large taxi, and with the new Sal bridge open journeys were particularly easy. We noticed a new attention to sea safety and later followed up and discovered there had been a tragedy in October. The sea part of our voyage was wonderful this time with many dolphins up close and reasonable sea conditions; but up the river we saw very few birds or bats. Still, the meal was- as ever - delicious and the booze flowed freely. Such good value and such fun!
Greyrocks said goodbye to Palolem on 23rd February. We were going our separate ways but travelled together to the airport. Bob was on the Doha - Barcelona flights leaving in the very early morning and Ruth would have a very long wait for her Mumbai-Heathrow flights. She had a long dull few hours as the Domestic Security was not open and it was plastic chairs in a cavernous wailing area for her! Bob had an equally rough passage over the Arabian Sea as on the outward leg, but a smooth connection and was back in Barca for late afternoon. Ruth's international Jet flight was dominated by a screaming and badly-managed child, about which cabin crew did nothing, but she sat next to a Goan mother and son from Tooting, which was interesting! Mumbai had been a long wait, too, with all sorts of chaos around the coach connection, but it worked, and she was ready to return to daughterly duties the next day.
Her Mum had made the move to the rehab ward, so she visited her there for the next nine days or so, and helped to prepare for her return home with a sophisticated care package. The weather was a lot milder than when Ruth left, but still chilly after Goa. When a date was established for the move she booked a flight back to Fuerte, and that is where she is now!
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| Our balcony with Third Eye! |
Accommodation-wise we were spoilt, having learnt last year of the delights of the Guest House and got a good price. We had a good-sized room with a lovely balcony, excellent shower and a passable WiFi signal. It didn't have the expected fridge, but we worked round that. The two blocks are set in mature gardens (with cockerels and hens) and in the middle is a sub-let restaurant unfortunately named U.T.I. (United Tastes of India), serving excellent food (including Masala Dosai for breakfast - a favourite!). Towards the end of our stay we discovered, however, that this would be our only year there, as the price would double for next season. This policy was the subject of much Office discussion, with its seeming reversal of market forces:- fewer tourists - up the price!! Hmm!The stay as a whole was one of complete chilling-out, with just the one trip out of the area. As previously stated there was a perceptible decrease in the number of tourists, which meant much less pressure on sunbeds and catering, and after a few days of roughness the sea became very inviting. A few bars had changed hands and there was, unfortunately, much less of a live music scene. Instead we made three visits to the Steak House open air cinema and saw a good set films: Gone Girl, The Judge and The Journey of A Thousand Feet. Gastronomic highlights were a mixture of differently cooked huge prawns at U.T.I. for Valentines and a crab dish with friends at the excellent Dropadi just before we left.
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| New residents of The Nest |
Greyrocks said goodbye to Palolem on 23rd February. We were going our separate ways but travelled together to the airport. Bob was on the Doha - Barcelona flights leaving in the very early morning and Ruth would have a very long wait for her Mumbai-Heathrow flights. She had a long dull few hours as the Domestic Security was not open and it was plastic chairs in a cavernous wailing area for her! Bob had an equally rough passage over the Arabian Sea as on the outward leg, but a smooth connection and was back in Barca for late afternoon. Ruth's international Jet flight was dominated by a screaming and badly-managed child, about which cabin crew did nothing, but she sat next to a Goan mother and son from Tooting, which was interesting! Mumbai had been a long wait, too, with all sorts of chaos around the coach connection, but it worked, and she was ready to return to daughterly duties the next day.
Her Mum had made the move to the rehab ward, so she visited her there for the next nine days or so, and helped to prepare for her return home with a sophisticated care package. The weather was a lot milder than when Ruth left, but still chilly after Goa. When a date was established for the move she booked a flight back to Fuerte, and that is where she is now!