Calendar coincidence and a treat postponed!

On  13th February Goa - with its Christian heritage - celebrated Shrove Tuesday, and therefore it was time for a carnival. We were told that the procession would depart from the chapel at 4 pm, so we had a pancake each and went there! Nothing! We asked at the nearest restaurant (known to be old Goan Catholics) and jokes were made about "Indian time" so we repaired to a bar at a strategic corner and had several drinks before a line of, say, four vehicles arrived going to the chapel. The process of turning round, the negotiating a tight bend and passing delivery lorries was a lengthy one, during which various Brits insisted this wasn't in honour of anything like Lent, but the Hindu festival of Shivratri. We didn't argue (they were drunk anyway), but Mr Google later confirmed the traditions for Goa Carnival. That explains the masks, King Momo lookalikes, greenery and so on.

We had previously walked down the beach to Dropadi - considered the best restaurant in Palolem for seafood (and confirmed as such years ago by seafood restaurateurs Harvey and Helen from Devon), as we wanted to celebrate Valentines Day with a lobster. But that arrangement had to be abandoned! Ruth had to make a very swift exit from the Tuesday evening dinner, spent much of the night in the bathroom and was in no fit condition the next morning. Blame is futile, but our favourites are the thronging and argumentative Brits!! Anyway Bob had to cancel the dinner date and get a takeaway bland breakfast for the groaning Ruth. He also returned with a single red rose purchased from Harry the DVD vendor, who managed to sell all of the fifty he was carrying. So romance isn't dead! Blandness was the order of the day and we were reminded of this classic sketch.

The "Delhi Belly" disappeared in 48 hours, and normality resumed, with just one "no beach" day. We wanted to support a local charity ADITO - (A Drop in the Ocean) that was having an afternoon/evening at Oceanic. This is a hotel on the way to Patnem that we have visited a few times to use the swimming pool and get some peace and quiet. All the local ex-pat musicians would attend. We needed to leave early for a Skype engagement (that didn't happen.. Grr!) so missed our favourite The Goa-Ts. but it was a lot of fun nonetheless - and for a good cause:- a women's refuge in Margao.
That left the un-celebrated Valentine, so we went a week or so late - going early for a key beach-facing table and a choice of seafood. We were not disappointed:- although its reputation brings in some  "rough diamonds" it was civilised enough, and with excellent service! We started with the famous semi-frozen fresh strawberry daiquiri -which we consumed as the sun set. Then a beautiful lobster in butter and garlic with lemon rice and grilled vegetables!
This with a bottle of chilled Sula Cabernet Sauvignon came to a figure a European would not believe.

A case of "Better late than never"


An update - last night (our penultimate) we went again and had a crab and six tiger prawns. Yum! Possibly even more delicious!