Goa Vacations Part 1 - Just Arrived

I cannot tell you (and you must be knowing yourself) that it is such a special feeling when your dreams come true. After living in North India for 4 years, I finally reached another part of it - West India, state Goa with a capital Panjim or Panaji, washed by the waters of the Arabian Sea. Remember, in one of my posts I displayed a mug with "Goa" written on it as a projection of my dream? :) Now here it is materialized, and I am so happy to share my latest trip impressions with all  of you. 

There is something I haven't yet told you about, my friends, yet, and this something also played role in taking up that decision. A little more than 3 months ago we got to know that we would become parents! Unexpected, unplanned, somehow shocking, surprising were first feelings we had. Then we took it as a nature's gift, its blessing, and since then all our thoughts and deeds are towards this big for our lives event. 

So, we made this trip because we thought we deserved it and it would be good to have some break from routine and give rest to your bodies and minds before we get too busy :) ( And I am too big to fly far, lol).

Meanwhile... we arrived at Dabolim Airport, Goa, last to last Sunday. It was afternoon, around 4 pm and the first thing we had to do is to remove our jackets and change shoes to slippers! Vacations began! We went to Goa with our friends - a couple who are also expecting their first child almost same time as we.

We headed to the South Goa first, planning to spend half of our vacations, living on the Palolem beach there. On the way from the airport we witnessed various views, nature scenes altering with the urban. The first feature of Goa you notice is loads of palm trees everywhere!

Second - no busy roads and very simple surroundings.

Third - many churches, chapels, built during Portuguese influence times. Also many houses, big and small, fazenda type, built by same Portuguese, you don't feel you are in India at all as architecture overall is not Indian.

The crosses were towering above all the churches and stands just right on the side of the road - very strong Christian spirit.

And beautiful government buildings. This one is the South Goa District Headquarters.

My D captured some scenery  of local life - a woman selling utensils beside the road. Her daily deal and means of living. 

Loved our way - I will remember these views forever!

By the time the sun was setting and when we arrived to our beach huts, it was already twilight. 

However we dropped the baggage in the room and hurried to see the Arabian Sea for the first time in our life! Pictures are blurred but it is exactly how we saw Palolem beach in the twilight - people walking, some swimming, first evening lights and promise of a great time ahead! We could breath in the air of relaxation, love and joy.

The hut we stayed in (exterior pictures in next post) had a mosquito net. I always wanted to sleep under such.

Later, when we changed our clothes to more appropriate and beach-like, we made our way along the seashore, which had endless row of various cafes and restaurants to suit any taste.

The night market at Palolem which we visited few times afterwards.

We finally chose one restaurant called "Cafe Del Mar" and had delicious seafood dinner with a sea view in front of our table. 

That's all for now and soon I hope to find time to proceed and show what else we found in Goa last week :) Today I am still under impression of this beautiful state which has so much to offer. Today we went to office first time after we came back and I must say it was a tough day! We both were loaded with work straight away, but now we have that corner in our hearts where we will be coming back to again and again and recollecting those precious days we spent together, almost 24*7 :)
Hope you liked these selection of pictures and I will prepare more next time. Thanks for staying with me, dear friends! Have a wonderful day ahead wherever you are!