DAY 81-GOA, INDIA

                     Docked in Mormugao to visit the Indian state of Goa.

BACKGROUND INFO:
        Goa is actually the smallest state of India, but one of its richest.  The capital is Panjim.  We are docking at Mormugao today while just across the bay is Goa's largest city, Vasco de Gama.  But our tour will be to Old Goa and Panjim, both older historical cities.  The Portuguese landed here in 1510 and conquered it.  It remained one of the Portuguese’s territories until 1961 when the Indian army chased them out and it was annexed by India.  Because of the 450 year Portuguese rule, in many parts of Goa, mansions constructed in the Indo-Portuguese style of architecture are still standing.
        Goa is visited by many tourists each year for its many beaches, places of worship, world heritage architecture.  Tourism is its primary industry.  The land away from the coast is rich in minerals and ores, such as, iron, bauxite (source for aluminum), manganese, clays, limestone, and silica.  This makes mining its number two industry.  Agriculture, while shrinking because the young people now do not want to work (sound familiar), still offers some employment.  The crops here are rice, palm nuts, cashew nuts, and coconuts.  Of interest to all you alcoholics, Goa is also noted for its low beer, wine, and spirits prices due to its very low excise duty on alcohol.  Rice with fish curry is the staple of the locals diet.  I’ll pass, thank you!

WHAT WE DID TODAY:
       Rebecca decided to say on board again today, but since we did not go on any tours when we were here in 2013, I had to go.  I did a 5.5 hour tour, "Highlights of Goa".  We have to get "landing cards" issued at every Indian port so that slows down the process of getting off the ship for tours.  The ship actually handled it as well as could be.
       My tour bus was a normal Indian tour bus so was well air conditioned with NO suspension so felt every bump, and believe me, there were plenty.  As we departed the port I saw enormous mounds of coal that was being imported from Australia to be used in the steel mills south of here.  It is shipped from here via trains.  There were also some iron ore and manganese mounds that were coming to the port from mines further inland and brought to the port by large barges down the Mandovi River.  It is exported.
       We headed across the bay and through the city of Vaso de Gama and out into the countryside.  The topography was very hilly with lots of trees which made farming impossible.  It was totally different here than it was in Cochin and Mangalore.  After a 90 minute rough ride in the bus we arrived in Old Goa.  The Portuguese built a modern city here along the river back in the 1600's but the Indians did not keep it clean so disease killed many.  The Portuguese tried to clean it up but it was too late.  They finally moved the capital to Panjim.  Our first stop was in Old Goa to visit two Cathedrals:  the Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral.  They were just across the road from each other.  We first visited the Basilica which was constructed in 1605 houses the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier, patron saint of Goa.  It was covered with marble and inlaid with precious stones and is an example of baroque architecture.  Next I crossed the street to take photos on the most imposing church in Old Goa, the Se Cathedral which was dedicated to St Catherine.  It took 80 years to construct and was consecrated in 1640.  It is larger than any church in Portugal.
       After hoping back on the bus we drive a short distance to the capital of Goa, Panjim.  We stopped in the middle of town to visit the market there.  We could smell the fish market part immediately after stepping off the bus.  Our guide, Jeronimo (yes that was his name), warned us we probably would not want to go into the fish market part.  There were hundreds of small stalls with mostly women selling fruit and vegetables of all types. The produce looked VERY good.  I took several photos there. Panjim is spread along the south bank of the Mandovi River, in a charming sprawl of red-roofed houses, sunny squares and gardens of bougainvillea and frangipani.  It has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with streets lined with taverns and bakeries offering Goan cuisine,"Feni" (cashew nut liquor that is very strong) and `Bebinca', the delicious local cake.  Unfortunately, I did not have any of their currency to buy anything.
       Ok, back on the bus again to head for our final stop.  This was a Goan-Portuguese mansion, the home of Otto de Oliveira Fernandes, to meet a 'Goanese' family.  First we toured their house which was full of beautiful old hand carved teak furniture and other antiques from the early 1800's.  The kitchen had been modernized but there was a case along one wall full of Blue Willow porcelain china and other really old pottery items.  It was a huge house and very nice except there was NO air conditioning.  How could anyone live in India without A/C????  As we passed through the kitchen they gave us a plate for a little snack buffet they had for us.  Outside in the patio area we could have a beer, soda, or cold bottle of water.  There were two very good musicians playing music and singing. It was a very nice visit.  I found a very nice and large rocking chair on the front porch to relax in until we departed.
       Back on the bus we headed back to our ship.  We arrived back home at 2:30 and I have been working on unloading photos taken today every since and writing this.  After 2 hours only 30 or my 74 photos have been uploaded.  Seems everyone is back on the ship now as we sail at 5:00 pm for our next port, Mumbai (used to be called Bombay).  We will be arriving there tomorrow morning at 10:00.
       It may be tomorrow before I can get today's photos posted on a separate posting.  Every one is on the ship's internet this evening.  We just turned in our tour tickets for tomorrow's tour.  It was to be 6.5 hour tour visiting 4 temples, a mosque, 2 synagogues, and a museum.  What the hell was I thinking when I booked this?????  So I can get today's photos posted for sure tomorrow.
       Tonight I am going "off the wagon".  Yeppers, my arm feels better so going off the meds and back on bourbon.  I have asked Chef Michael to prepare veal parmesan again for our dinner in Compass Rose.  No lunch today so I will be ready for it.  We want to see tonight's headliner entertainer, Danny Elliott, a singer and instrumentalist from Australia.  Should be a good show.