Goa was a colony shaped primarily by the metropolitan West(Portugese). Portugal was the other great though much more constricted European presence on the Indian subcontinent. Portugal ruled Goa for close to 500 years Goa lies south of Bombay (or Mumbai) a Victorian Gothic city on India’s West Coast. Goa was annexed by India in 1961. Ancestrally Hindus but practicing Catholics Goans are an odd mixture of westernized food ,dress, dance and music.caste distinction even after 500 years of Catholicism.”uprooted people” ?White baroque façade. Brahmin catholics to wear their sacred thread.and caste markd.1963. Temple of Mangesh north of Ponda. Zuari river.city of Old Goa.. St Cajetan church in Old goa.. Seven storied lamp tower. Similar to baroque church towers.Christianity in Goa is flourishing Churches are full at evening mass even on a week day.(30% of the population.)The Goanese community is very laid back and live in shuttered decaying buildings.Vasco da Gama’s discovered the sea route to Goa in 1498. and Goa was conquered by Alfonso de Albuquerque in 1510.Alleys. Animated with warm smells and laughter large happy Goan family served by smiling waiters. A very private Goa experience.
Cuisine:Largely dominated by sea food. Chorizo sausage, prawn curry.Martin’s Corner one of South Goa’s best restaurants. Early January air is still warm and the service slow.No real hurry.
Capital city of Panaji and the sun is hot. Old hippies still hang out at Anjuna and Chapora beaches.European tourists have discovered Goa and take extended good value holidays. North Sarong hawkers market, evening strings of electric lights come on in the sea food shacks and the rave parties begin to throb.
The potholed road passes narrow fields , beer bars , surfing shops, pizzerias and tattoo parlors.A lone white church in a darkening field and reminds you that you are in Goa and not in Thailand. The Goan hinterland of coconut, mango and jackfruit groves, rice fields, meandering streams and clean ponds-makes you learn to surrender to a pleasurable torpor.
In the south the beaches stretch emptily for miles on end and the tropical countyside with its seclusion and silence comes right up to the edge of the water.
Five star break at Taj Exotica with a Latin American hacienda style or Leela Palace modeled on palaces of 14th century Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar Family celebration women wore a sarong.The Goan dance is mando which has c omplicated steps danced in pairs without touchingWoman holds a fan in her hand and the men a hankerchief .Portugese is still spoken. Goan songs odd mixture of Konkani words but the rhythm is Indian. Young no longer want to leave Goa.Goan identity is from the Konkani language, the music and dance as from the faith and customs are Portugese. AGoan priest told Somerset Maugham in 1938" We are Christians but first of all we are Hindus."
Venita D’Souza Tel: Residence 2276375 Mobile 9822989825
Guest comments:
“Relaxing ,cheap and very nice”
“Hospitable hosts my third visit and my wife’s sixth. We stay on average a month at a time and imbibe the beach culture”
In house hairdresser. House built in 1901 in the Goa Portugese style with a central courtyard and surrounding verandah facing the sea with dotted pampas grass providing privacy from theabsolute beach front.