A Day in Panaji, Goa

Covered pavement oposite Azad Maidan

As I said before, I always enjoy a day out in Panjim.  Some things are very familiar, and never seem to change. Crossing the road from the ferry is always difficult, cobblers and fruit venders are always sitting on the covered pavement. opposite Azad Maidan. On the other hand, if I wander around onto less familiar streets I can usually find something I've never seen before.

As I was on a quest to find sticky envelopes to fit the Greeting Cards I make I headed along MG Road, crossed Caculo Circle and continued into St Inez, where my friend Sarah had told me there was a Wedding Stationary shop which might be able to produce my envelopes. She told me it was called David Co, and was near St Inez Church. That seemed quite a good description, but I must have asked at 20 different shops along the street and no-one had heard of it. However, during my ramble I did find a different printer, who claimed to have ready made envelopes  of  my required size, and seemed confident that he could add adhesive tape - he would show me one if I returned after 2:30. Surprised and pleased I walked back towards the town with renewed enthusiasm for my project.

 Hot, thirsty an hungry I needed a break, so squeezed into a busy lunchtime restaurant called Sarovar, which I had never seen before. I got a wonderful "rice plate" lunch for 35 rupees.As I was leaving I decided to ask one last time for David Co, and I was told that it was just a few metres away, along a side street. Unfortunately it had already close, and according to a passer by, not just for the afternoon, but for the rest of the day. The main office was in Margao and this little branch only opened in the morning. Never mind, at least now I knew where it was now.I would come again in the morning.



Ganesh idol covered entirely with beads

 With still an hour to pass before returning for my sample envelope I wandered into Dr D V Road and stumbled upon the Mahalaxmi Temple. Although it's claimed to be the most famous Hindu Temple in Panaji I had never found it before. A large pavillion was attracting a lot of people, so leaving my sandals in the pile around the entrance I went inside. There on a beach, with a rat, sat a huge Ganesh. It was covered entirely with strings of beads (and so was the rat)  It had been constructed by a local Boys Club for Ganesh Chaturthi,and thankfully had been excused from immersion - the fate of most Ganesh idols at this time of the year. In the main temple building a feast was taking place - people stood in line and metal plates and cups were being rinsed under an outdoor tap. I was invited to eat, but was able to say in all honesty that I had already taken lunch and couldnt possibly eat another thing.

Outside on the street again I was soon enthralled by another new scene - the Mayfair Hotel with its neat row of traditional shell windows and colourful wrought iron lamps, then a few metres further on I found one of Panajis most modern Stores - "Big G". Glossy, glitzy, strongly air-conditioned - and empty of people, a strange contrast from the bustling street and temple. Dr D V Road opened into Church Square, and I was on familiar ground, and as always I was taken aback by the dazzling white facade of the Panjim's Big Church - properly known as the Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception standing above the square and gardens.

Big G Store

Panjim Church

Mango ice cream and a lime soda at my old favourite restaurant, Kamat, then at 3 o'clock I took a two wheeler taxi back to St Inez to collect my envelope sample.It was there and it looked fine, but the boss was no longer there to discuss prices - never mind, I could come back another day. The motorcycle pilot dropped me by the ferry and I was on my way home, happy that I had made some unexpected progress in the sticky envelope hunt, seen some new sites, and found a new favourite restaurant in Panjim.