Today Norma's back was a bit sore as well as Helen's. First stop was a look in Three Kings Enterprises and looked at a mattress topper. They only had a single in stock. The salesman offered to bring it on his motor bike later and we could try it.
Onwards to Calangute with a tuk tuk driver who only charged rs100 this time. We found a fare chart in Calangute stating this as the correct price. They charge more in Arpora, where we live, so now we know the fair fare!
The street hadn't started buzzing when we arrived by 9:45. First stop was the pharmacy. A small single width shop with U shaped counter opened directly onto the street. There were 7 assistants dealing with a large queue of customers. Actually it wasn't a queue. If you can grab someone's attention then it's your turn!
Anti-Malarial tablets available for half the cost at home and how many hundreds of paracetamol do you want ma'am?
Stopped by our favourite cafe in the street, the Big Pecker, for a seat under a fan and a cuppa. A Mancunian, covered in tattoos, sat down. He told us the large tattoo which covered his whole arm would have cost £1000 in uk.
Next stop was the Tibetan woman who restrung my broken necklace.
Last stop was the vegetable market. A kilo of tomatoes, a carrot, coriander and a green pepper was 100rs. ie £1. We also bought 2 avocados, some lemons, bananas and a strange new fruit which looks like a potato. What is it please?
That's it for today. Not too exciting as the back is still delicate.
Tuesday 21st January.
I wasn't able to upload yesterday's full blog so I've tagged today's onto the bottom. I think I might only be able to upload once in 24 hours with blogspot. Does anyone know?
Helen's back is a bit easier today as long as she doesn't bend down or twist. So we headed on the bus for Mapusa. The conductor ordered two young men to give up their Ladies Only seats at the front. We were very grateful.
First visit was the optician inside the market. It is very popular with Europeans purchasing cheaper specs. You can have your eyes tested by a woman in another shop round the corner the bring your subscription to Dangui to choose your frames. The filing system for prescriptions was simply a chaotic haphazard bundle. He couldn't find Helen's prescription so we will return on Saturday to collect it along with Norma's new prescription sunglasses.
Norma wanted to visit The Other India Bookstore. It was inside a mouldy looking building needing, like most of the buildings in Goa, a mould removing scrub and a good coat of paint. Most of the buildings are heavily streaked with black mould which is unavoidable in this climate.
Anyhow the bookshop keeps company with a Doctor, a Dentist, two tailors and an advocat so you can't judge by external grotty/grimy appearances. Inside the bookshop were floor to ceiling shelves holding all sorts of serious and academic literature and university textbooks. There were multiple copies of Silent Spring on the shelves. Apparently India is waking up to the devastating effect of chemicals on wildlife and this is a university textbook.
Back at the market we each purchased kurtas - a knee length shirt with long slits and worn over trousers. It's comfortable and hides any imperfections! Although it originates from the Punjab many of the locals wear the kurta pyjama. Ladies wear a sari on feast days and holidays.
By 12:00 Norma was ready to stop. We quickly purchased 1 kg of king prawns for 300 Rs and then took a tuk tuk back.
Hoping to update the blog we discovered that the area electricity was off again due to maintenance.
Accidentally locked ourselves onto the verandah and couldn't open the sliding mosquito door. It only has a lock on the inside! What a design fault. Luckily we had the phone with us. We called the security man but he couldn't do anything. " help is coming ma'am". It never came ..... but Norma jiggled the door and eventually it opened.
Delicious meal of Chinese noodles, abubergines, onions, tomatoes and prawns.
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