Harriet picked us up and took us to the coachpark as it was raining but we were freezing whilst waiting for our coach and it was 30 minutes late, good job we got the early one. On first encounters with our coach driver we thought him a bit of a “Hitler type”, being
determined to keep everybody behind an imaginary line while he finished his cigarette and before a single person being allowed on the coach. We soon realized that he probably wasn’t but was just making the most out of h
is job in his own delightful way. He came out with some classics during our journey leaving me with the feeling that this was the highlight of our first day. When we got to Heathrow airport, he asked everyone to listen carefully to his announcement but then he noticed a lady still talking to her friend and said that she obviously knew better than him what
he was going to say. After the announcement, he said, “So when you come to ask me your stupid questions, don’t ask me, ask that fat black woman with the big 
mouth”. I couldn’t help thinking that I wasn’t the only one racking my brains, trying to think of the most stupid question imaginable. I gave up in the end, leaving it for others, far more capable than me.
We arrived at Gatwick South terminal very early but couldn’t pick our tickets up from the agent’s office until two and a half hours before the flight. As they were already checking in, when we finally got there the flight was full’ we couldn’t even get two seats together without being opposite an istle. Claire got about 3
hours sleep or so but I didn’t sleep a wink and I am very tired now whilst I write this but we are determined to stay up until at least 7pm tonight so as to fit in with the new time zone.
We were one hour late leaving the airport, because when checking passports, going into the departure lounge they found four people without visas so they had to retrieve their luggage from the plane as they wouldn’t be allowed to enter the country without them. Why the
hell they didn’t check that they had visas during check in, before their luggage had been loaded I will never understand. Is it because nobody has thought of it?
Strangely though, we still arrived on time. You are not allowed to take photographs at 
obey. We definitely noticed the increased security since the Mumbai attacks. We were soon reminded that we were back in 
nt and unpacked quickly. It’s a bit basic; no, it’s a lot basic, but it has nice gardens and is in a great spot in Majorda,
Off we set for the beach getting a couple of liters of water on the way ready for our long walk on the beach, in the sun to Colva where we always hire our motor bike from Anthony. You can still see that there is plenty of water left over from the monsoon season; this beach shac
k has laid sand bags so you can get to it without getting wet feet. It’s a beautiful beach but it wasn’t long before my face felt sunburnt. Claire had put cream on herself but didn’t put any on me! It really feels like I am “home at last” when we walk along our South Goan beach. We couldn’t help noticing just how many people recognized us from previous visits. It couldn’t just be them trying to get more business could it? No, when we went to buy towels from our usual little store in Colva the shopkeeper came running out with a blue and white striped towel
and asked us how many we wanted. Seemed to work; Claire bought four when we only needed two.
We finally found Anthony and set off on our motor bike to get some
money out but the first three holes in the wall wouldn’t give me any. I tried my credit card and it worked so there must be a problem with
my Nationwide card. We didn’t need wine as we bought four bottles in
duty free that were already chilling in our fridge. Upon returning to Majorda on our motor bike we tried the “Mish Mar beach shack” for lunch and the food was fabulous and cheap. We settled for the Goan invention Chicken Vindaloo with rice and naan bread all washed do
wn with a pint of Kingfisher each and another bottle of water; thirsty work over here. Our favorite barman, “Beano” was not allowed to
present us the bill, either because he was too young or that he
was from Napal. Smartly, I had already decided to take a picture of the bike so we could find it when we came back from the bar.
We stopped for a quick sunbed and a lovely swim in the
view” and Claire going for a dip. Only a short relax and back for a shower, write the blog and back to watch the sunset tonight with a happy hour
cocktail, an early dinner and bed. Here are a few photos of our beds and the outside space. Let me leave
you with one final quote from our wonderful busman, “Leave me alone to get on with this miserable job”!
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