Christmas in Goa!

K: All I can say is that it is a Christmas explosion here in Goa. The hotel has decorations that could rival any hotel in the US. There are Santas and reindeer, manger scenes, snowmen, Christmas trees and lights everywhere. The towns are equally as well-decorated and many homes are adorned with xmas lights. Children are dressed in Santa hats with blinking lights, wishing us 'Merry Christmas' everywhere we go. On Christmas eve we dined at Mike's Place which was throwing quite the Christmas bash, with live music by 2 Indian DJs, singing everything from Christmas carols to Elvis, Neil Diamond, the Beatles and Elton John.

Tonight we are looking forward to the Gala Christmas dinner and dance at our hotel. Given the set-up, it looks like it'll be quite the event. My goal is to get the Brits up and dancing, and not just the women. The men seem to just sit and drink their pints. Should be a fun night for us!

V: We are staying in the town of Cavelossim in South Goa. It is an absolutely stunning stretch of uninterrupted beach. This part of India was settled by the Portuguese in 1510 and that occupation lasted until 1961. Today fishing is the dominant industry, and tourism and all the merchants and peddlers associated with such tourists are proliferating, as well. Much of the population is Christian, and there are churches in most of the communities.

Russian, russian, russian on signs everywhere, was a very surprising find, as the two photos on top attest. Apparently the Russians are competing with the Brits for who can 'control' south Goa. The beachfront snack shacks all have the Union Jack flying on one side of their huts, and the Russian red, white and blue on the other.

The lovely trinket-selling women, Karen's new friends, as seen in photo, were pleased to meet an American woman who would buy their wares (ankle bracelet, wrist bangles, bejewelled box), as the Brits were too 'cheap' and the Russians are too 'mean', the ladies said.

The bicycle-pedaling ice cream man was doing pretty good business on the beautiful beaches.

"I'm dreaming of a white-sand Christmas ... ."

Tomorrow, alas, bye to Goa and inland we journey, to Mysore.

Sips: Tasty Kingfisher beer has become a staple thirst-quencher for us.

Oh, wait, that's not really the focus of the last photo.

Note, please, the red wristband on Karen's beer-mug-wielding hand. Yes, we are at a resort that has ... a buffet breakfast, organized pool and resort activities, other folks--yes, the Brits and Russians--with green wristbands, for the all-you-can-drink house brands liquor and beer deal. We prefer to head into town at night to experience some local cuisine and culture, and, thus, have red wristbands. I know, it's sad, we are wearing wristbands, ala a cruise ship. Even the peddlers on the beach can tell where we are staying with one look at our wrists.