Friday, November 21, 2025

Day 17: Fri 21 Nov - Panjim to Candolim, Goa

Fine and sunny 22 to 32 (real feel 36) deg C

Tour ends. Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Mumbai, or onward travel as per your plans. 

As breakfast this morning was quite late, 0800h, Bob and I decided to go for another one of our walking/photography tours about 0630h. The light wasn’t as good as we’d hoped for as there was lots of smoke and/or pollution in the air. Nevertheless, we had a decent wander and killed a bit of time. We weren’t in any hurry it didn’t matter too much about the light. Breakfast was one of the best so far; lovely cut up fruit, great porridge with banana in it, fried bread, toast (brown or white) with jam, scrambled eggs, a tasty veg curry and tea/coffee. After taking our time, chatting with the tour crew as they wandered in, I went back to my room to finish packing up.   

To settle breakfast, Bob and I went for a walk. Not much we hadn’t seen around the area, so went back to the State Library to check out their art collection. They were having an art sale of donated works the proceeds of which would go to disadvantaged children. Nothing there particularly Indian nor was there anything that we fancied. Bob was hanging out for a caffeine fix, so we found a cafe and he had one. By this time, we were due back at the hotel to say goodbye to the tour leader and staff. I gave a little speech and presented the two drivers, Thampi & Anthony, the mechanic Pankja and rear guide Deepak with their substantial tip. The 11 of us put in 500 rupees each, so worked out a fair amount. They all left about 30 minutes later, along with Fi, Phil and Jim.  The rest of us, eight, had two taxis ordered for 1200h to take us to The Amrit Goa, Condolim where Bob and I have three nights booked before flying back home, via Mumbai. The others are going home at different times.

The two taxis arrived pretty much on time and proceeded to the new hotel in heavy, and noisy, traffic. The 12km ended up taking about 40 minutes. I decided that I needed a little rest so after room allocation had just that. Bob texted me about 40 minutes later and asked if I wanted lunch. Before we reached the gate of the hotel, we had two recommendations from different people about the best place to eat. We ended up with the local one, which looked really awful, but the food was great, we both had chicken biryani and shared a large bottle of water. That came to the huge sum of AS$6, not each but total, including the water.  

We then went supermarket hunting but didn’t find much, although we didn’t need much so that’s ok. After another rest in the room, mainly to blog and/or escape the heat, we ended up on the beach with the other lads. Very cool atmosphere with the sound of crashing waves. Ken and Bob needed a feed, so we went to the flasher of the two restaurants recommended. I had a pineapple and coconut shake while Bob had a fish curry and Ken had the chicken biryani. Bob was disappointed with his choice, but Ken was very happy with his. That about saw me done for the day, so it was back to my room for the normal nighttime routine.  Tomorrow we might relax a little, maybe, maybe not?

Some more old items on display at our hotel 

We suspect these pillars were carved out of teak timber

Our hotel in the morning light 

A church up the street 

There’s plenty of competition so you have to look good 

I haven’t worked out if anyone actually owns all these dogs 

Mural

A colourful entrance to a house 

Street art

An amazing staircase 

Nice old colonial building & dogs 

Lovely old Portuguese style church 

The harbour - early morning 

Streetscape early morning 

Amrit Hotel Foyer

Amrit Hotel 

The pool 

My pad

Lunch venue 

My rocking chair - I’m not that old!

Down on the beach 

Roadside chapel 

The local restaurant by night; looks a bit flasher by night 

The more flasher restaurant 

Entrance to the hotel 

Hotel by night 













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