Old Goa and the Spice plantation

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We decided to have a day out and Nilesh our taxi driver arrived at 10.00 a.m. and off we set.
Our first port of call was Old Goa, the former capital and we visited 2 large christian churches. The Portugese influence was very obvious and we took the opportunity to visit the attached museum. We then took in a couple of Hindu Temples and I was commandeered by an Indian gentlemen wearing only an orange loincloth and he gave us a guided tour.. As is usual we were bombarded with people trying to sell us all manner of things, but we managed to escape with our purses intact.. We then drove to a cashew nut factory passingsmall shops on every cornere and some beautiful jungle type scenery. The factory employed about 70 girls earning oabout 60 pence per day. It was like going back 100 years. Women cracked individual nuts. yes one at a time, after wich they wer cooked graded and packed-all by hand.
We then moved on to a Spice Plantation which was a world away with its lush greenery and water everywhere. We were give a drink of hotlemon tea on arrival which was really refreshing after which we ate an indian meal off banana leaves. We the toured the plantation, finding out about all the many spices. It was then time to leave but not before we met an elephant that took a liking to Pauline. We then drove back to Candolim through the Paddy Fields and mangrove swamps and fell asleep toatally worn out. Later this week we have arranged to to go crocodile watching

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