As we (the R's) awaited dinner Esther proceeded to draw out attention to some part of her life that had something to do with underpants. 'You know when I get sneakily dressed,' she began.
Nate interjected, 'I've never seen you get sneakily dressed ever, Esther."
'That's because I'm sneaking around,' she retorted.
That pretty much ended that conversation, because there is no way one can argue with such Truth.
As we silently wondered what to say next, we reflected on how this day had gone.
Morning: breakfast.
Post breakfast: hired a car driven by a softly spoken Anthony and headed back to Panjim to procure a shell lamp, Yvonne had spied yesterday. Anthony, in his soft spoken way offered us a deal for a few hours of driving and waiting which we decided to accept. The deal was to visit Old Goa and then head to Panjim for shopping and lunch. Then back to Royal Orchid (of the Hellhole, in Yvonne's terminology) for swimming and relaxing.
Mid-morning: we arrived in Old Goa which is dominated by the chunky imposing almost Hindu-temple-esque Basicila Bom Jesus. As soon as we alighted the vehicle however, Esther was struck with a bout of 'don't feel well' and clung tightly to mom's shoulder, refusing to proceed or allow us to proceed.
The only thing bigger and grander than the Basilica lay across the street. It looked like a mighty governor's building or perhaps the latest 7 star Oberoi resort. Its a complex of several pristine white buildings set amid sprawling well tended gardens. As we approached a bit closer (Esther now resting on Dad's shoulder) we saw the sign, "The Archepiscopal's Palace'. Ahh....Jesus gets a big church but the Archbishop gets a gynormous house for being Jesus' humble servant. Makes perfect sense to me.
After another coffee and toilet stop at Cafe Coffee Day the Rabes rambled through the cheap stalls of plastic jewellery, ill fitting baseball caps, cabbage peelers and plastic toys guaranteed to stop working by the time you get them home until they came, once more, upon the shop of shell art work.
Lunch: at the Taj Vivanta hotel where the kids had fish and chips, vegies, and salad, much to Yvonne's satisfaction. The parents did not indulge in lunch but rather sipped on Kingfisher and Indian champagne.
Afternoon: Anthony dropped us back in Royal Orchid where the hours before dinner were passed in leisurely poolside activities.
Dinner: At the Park Hyatt again. Good tasty food but horribly slow service left us with a bad taste in our mouths. As penance the grand hotel offered up a tiny pastry which the kids and Nate quickly devoured.
To bed by 810. Goodnight.
Nate interjected, 'I've never seen you get sneakily dressed ever, Esther."
'That's because I'm sneaking around,' she retorted.
That pretty much ended that conversation, because there is no way one can argue with such Truth.
As we silently wondered what to say next, we reflected on how this day had gone.
Morning: breakfast.
Post breakfast: hired a car driven by a softly spoken Anthony and headed back to Panjim to procure a shell lamp, Yvonne had spied yesterday. Anthony, in his soft spoken way offered us a deal for a few hours of driving and waiting which we decided to accept. The deal was to visit Old Goa and then head to Panjim for shopping and lunch. Then back to Royal Orchid (of the Hellhole, in Yvonne's terminology) for swimming and relaxing.
Mid-morning: we arrived in Old Goa which is dominated by the chunky imposing almost Hindu-temple-esque Basicila Bom Jesus. As soon as we alighted the vehicle however, Esther was struck with a bout of 'don't feel well' and clung tightly to mom's shoulder, refusing to proceed or allow us to proceed.
 |
| Suddenly, the tummy is not going so well. |
 |
| Burning candles outside the Basilica Bom Jesus |
After another coffee and toilet stop at Cafe Coffee Day the Rabes rambled through the cheap stalls of plastic jewellery, ill fitting baseball caps, cabbage peelers and plastic toys guaranteed to stop working by the time you get them home until they came, once more, upon the shop of shell art work.
 |
| The cheap good market |
Lunch: at the Taj Vivanta hotel where the kids had fish and chips, vegies, and salad, much to Yvonne's satisfaction. The parents did not indulge in lunch but rather sipped on Kingfisher and Indian champagne.
 |
| Ahh.. India's finest champagne |
 |
| Waiting for the next Kingfisher |
Dinner: At the Park Hyatt again. Good tasty food but horribly slow service left us with a bad taste in our mouths. As penance the grand hotel offered up a tiny pastry which the kids and Nate quickly devoured.
To bed by 810. Goodnight.
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