We set the alarm for 6am on Sunday morning. Got up and went downstairs to Daisy’s room to help her get her bags downstairs. Her taxi came at 0630 and all too soon and after many hugs we were waving her out of the gates of Eve’s Resort.
We went back to bed for a while and then had breakfast downstairs and then to the beach. Didn’t see Pamela. Eddie. Linda or Mike but we know they got away and to Mumbai ok.
We had some lovely last swims and then came back about 3 and finished our packing. The houseboy came up and took the 2 large cases down to reception for us.
We came down about 6 and said our fond farewells to Marylyn and Clive. They are always so kind to us and to Daisy and we love staying with them. We went down the beach to Roundcube and had a last sunset dinner. Mark was very pleased to see us. The sunset was not great but the dinner was lovely. We shared a palak paneer, prawn masala and a vegetable rice. Bob had 2 margaritas and I had 2 gin and sodas. On the way back we stopped at the gelato shop and had a cone of cappuccino gelato.
This morning we were up at 5, tea, wash and dress and downstairs for 530. Sham, our taxi driver was already there and he loaded us up and with a fond last look, we were off.
It took about an hour to get to Margao railway station. We hadn’t been there for about 5 or 6 years. Wow! Such modernisations and improvements and so much cleaner….. Sham dropped us right outside and there was a porter who loaded all our luggage onto his wagon. For 600 rupees he would take it to the right position on the right platform for our tickets and train ,and then wait with us for an hour till the train came and then load it aboard and into our cabin for us. Brilliant.
Our train. A modern Rajhani super fast express category was about 10 minutes late at 0710. We had 1st Class AC tickets for 2 lower berths on cabin F. There was only 1 1st class carriage and it was divided into about 8 cabins. Most had 4 berths. Some had 2. They are sealed from the corridor and there is a sliding glass door. Super clean and nice.
Anyway when our porter opened the door to our cabin, quite as we expected there was a lady and a small girl in our berths. It always happens! I’m afraid we stuck to our guns and made them go in the upper berths. Too old for clambering up there. The attendant brought us lovely crisp fresh bedding and we were soon tucked up and luggage stowed and we were off!
I dozed for a couple of hours and then the steward brought around breakfast. We had ordered vegetarian catering. It always seems the safest option when travelling here. Bob scoffed his and went back to sleep. I sat up afterwards and the lady and the little girl came down and we chatted. The breakfast was pretty nice. Tea, brown bread with butter and jam. Vegetable creamy rissoles with veg. A banana. Cornflakes with hot milk. I was relieved that they supplied teabags and flasks of boiling water. Meant I could make my weak unsweetened black tea. On previous train journeys it’s all been premixed chai or white tea, both so sweet as to induce a hyperglycemia coma!!!!!
The lady was the girl’s grandmother taking her for the school holidays from the family home in Mumbai to granny’s ancestral home in Mangalore. Absolutely delightful people. They spoke perfect English to each other and us and by phone to the little girl’s parents back in Mumbai. She was called Reina, and was 5 years old and very pretty. Bob woke up and did drawing with her on his iPad. They got off on Mangalore at midday and we had the whole cabin to ourselves after that.
Shortly after Mangalore lunch was served. It started with a bowl of hot spicy tomato soup. Then we had a bowl of dhal. A bowl of paneer makha I. Rice. Curd, chapattis and a dish of aloo Gobi. Finally. a tub of vanilla ice cream. And a big bottle of water .
I did have to use the loos twice. The one at our end of the carriage was European style and whilst not the best loo ever, was not bad. The cleaners came on board twice on the journey and cleaned throughout, cabins and all.
Slept for a few hours after lunch and then at about 415 they came with tea!!!!!! Tea was a cheese and veg sandwich, a spicy veg idlee. A bag of crispy mix, a bar of fried fruit. A bag of almonds and flagons of hot water and tea bags etc…. No need for dinner tonight
An absolutely brilliant service. I should also explain that this 1st class car was set up as a sleeper with wide berths that converted to bench seats if required. We left them as beds. A nice way to ride. Reading and watching India go by the window. The air conditioning was super. Almost too cold! Good job we had blankets. The route south is very rural through green fields and forests. Lots of rivers and inlets. We went past lots of small stations but our train was an express so we didn’t stop much. it was a fast train.
The train ticket for a 12 hour trip in 1st class was £32 each plus £11 each for the catering. That’s 3 meals each remember. An outstanding bargain in comparison to the UK or Europe.
We hit some delays in the last bit of the journey and we were about 40 minutes late. The staff took the bags off for us and there were two porters right there waiting for us. This time, instead of a luggage cart, they wound cloths around their heads and balanced our massively heavy suitcases on their heads. Amazing. It was a bit of a madhouse so we were glad to have their help. We got a prepaid taxi 650 inr to take us to the Meridien hotel. We booked with our Marriott points.
It seems a lovely place and they were most welcoming. Have upgraded us to a duplex suite on the club level so we have access to the lounge for evening food and drinks. We’d missed it tonight. They also have given us free breakfast every morning and we found a nice gateaux and a note of welcome in our suite. It’s very nice but we were a bit too tired to really appreciate it tonight. Unpacked a bit, went downstairs and had 2 expensive g&ts in the bar and then turned in. Looking forward to exploring this week.