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Published: October 4th 2007
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Goa #34
The lighthouse at Fort Aguada. Fort Aguada was built by the Portugese in 1612 as a defense against the Marathas and the Dutch. The lighthouse was added in 1864. On my third day in Goa, I hired a car for the day and did some sightseeing on my own.
My first stop was Fort Aguada with a nice view of Sinequerim Beach and the Arabian Sea. My next stop was the Terekol Fort at the northern end of the Goan beaches. The views from here were spectacular and it was not crowded so I could wander at my leisure. It was so nice to be left alone!
While I walking along the outer wall of the fort, I ws lucky enough to hear a peacock call. I stoped and was very still. I finally spotted him when he popped out his tail in an effort to impress a peahen that was wandering by. He did his best, but the peahen was clearly not interested and just kept walking without giving him a second glance. I wasn't able to get a clear photo of the peacock in full display, but I got a great shot just after he deflated and walked dejectedly away.
I went to Anjuna Beach which has now replaced Calungunte as a haven for backpackers. I didn't go into the town itself and stuck just
Goa #24
The Terekol Fort, an early 1th century fort, was captured by the Portugese in 1776 from the Bhonsles, a Maratha clan. The fort's high battlements face the sea and offer a beautiful view of the coastline and it's many beaches. to the beach area. The northern end of the beach is rocky and, I thought, the most beautiful of all of the beaches I visited. I walked for quite a ways along the shore.
From the beach, I headed into Panaji, Goa's capital. I started at Largo de Igreja (Church Square) at the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception wich overlooks Paniji's main square. I then did a walk suggested by my guidebook through Old Town Panaji. I think the guidebook vastly overstated the "charm and ambience" of the area, but I did enjoy the old churches and the small, winding streets. I had a nice lunch of piri-piri chicken, a fried half chicken with a very spicy piri-piri sauce of chiles and Goan spices. They served the sauce on the side for me and it was quite good in small amounts. I stopped for dessert a while later and tried the bebinca, a local delicacy. It was good, but very rich and I couldn't finish it.
The day was clear so after I got back to Calungunte, I headed down to the beach for sunset. I just wanted to relax and watch the show. I
Goa #21
Me just outside the fort's southern wall with a view of Querim Beach below found a good spot and sat down. Within seemingly seconds, I was surrounded by the hawkers! One man was desperately trying to sell me chute pineapple with masala spice as well as "funny Indian cigarettes". He wouldn't leave me alone so I had to start walking again. Near sunset, all of the beach shacks rent out their chairs for 100 rupees so I then had waiters coming after me and trying to get me to sit. The sun was sinking, but the clouds were rolling in as well. I wasn't sure what was going to hit first: sunset or the monsoon. A few drops of rain fell so I started back to the hotel along the beach. The rain was coming harder and the sunset was obscued. I got a few decent "near sunset" shots and didn't get too wet.
I spent the rest of the evening reading on my balcony and watching the rain.
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