EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Spend an enlightening day with a baker in her hometown of Panjim, where she will introduce you to her friends and other business owners to give you a genuine feel for daily life. Your hostess Gletta has spent her entire life in the Latin Quarter of Panjim and knows it well. As she takes you through the maze of cobbled streets, you will pass brightly colored Portuguese villas and an array of restaurants and stores. After a cup of tea with a seamstress friend of Gletta's, you will drop by the bakery, where Gletta will demonstrate how she bakes traditional items such as Goan leavened bread in a wood-fired oven. You will then head for her favorite markets to buy spices and other essential ingredients. A quick stop at a nearby pub for an aperitif distilled from cashew fruit follows, after which you will sit down for an authentic Goan meal at Cafe Venite, Gletta's favorite lunch spot.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Join bakery owner Gletta for an immersive look into how she spends a typical day in Panjim.
• Visit a seamstress friend of Gletta’s for a cup of tea and lively conversation.
• Observe how Gletta bakes traditional leavened bread in her wood-fired oven.
• Join Gletta for an aperitif in a pub and an authentic Goan meal afterwards.

Delight in the culinary wonders of the region and discover Goa's unique blend of Indian and Portuguese cultures, where Christianity and Hinduism exist side by side.

Begin with a drive through the lush green countryside to Old Goa. Here you'll visit the grand Se Cathedral, consecrated in 1640 and built in the Portuguese-Gothic style. Tour the basilica of Bom Jesus, built of black laterite stone with marble and inlaid precious stones. This is most honored and famous of all the churches in Old Goa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It contains the tomb of St. Francis Xavier who spread Christianity in the Portuguese colonies.

Proceed to the Shanta Durga Temple, one of the largest and most famous temples of Goa dedicated to the wife of Shiva as the Goddess of Peace. A large idol of the Goddess Shree Durga stands in the sanctuary here, flanked by Vishnu and Shiva on each side.

Continue to the Spice Farm, set amidst acres of forest and home to almost every spice imaginable. Take a guided tour of the grounds and inhale the scents of beetle nuts, peppers, turmeric root, cinnamon and cashew trees. Learn about the natural healing properties of spices. Enjoy a traditional Goan lunch, prepared with local spices grown on the farm.

Studded with vibrant temples and majestic churches, Goa is a window into the religious history and blend of Portuguese and Indian cultures found in western India. On this enlightening tour, you’ll discover two of India's most captivating cities, Old Goa and Panjim.

You will first come to Old Goa, where you'll visit two historically important churches, the most prominent legacy of the Portuguese. Tour the Se Cathedral, dedicated to St. Catherine and consecrated in 1640. The most imposing church in Old Goa, the cathedral took over 80 years to build and is larger than any church in Portugal.

Proceed to the Basilica of Bom Jesus, the first church in India to be elevated to the status of a minor basilica and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Constructed in 1605, the church houses the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier, patron saint of Goa. Covered with marble and inlaid with precious stones, it is considered the best example of baroque architecture in India.

Goa's capital, Panjim is spread along the south bank of the Mandovi River, in a charming sprawl of red-roofed houses, sunny squares and gardens of bougainvillea and frangipani. It has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with streets lined with taverns and bakeries. Explore the city's highlights, including Church Square, a photo stop will be made at the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Later, visit the market before departing to a heritage Goan-Portuguese mansion, the home of Otto de Oliveira Fernandes, to meet a local family over light refreshments.

Goa Chitra Museum is a tribute by its founder to his ancestors and their way of life based on age old wisdom passed down through generations. Set in a typical Goan village the innate beauty of the site is kept intact. Its natural grazing grounds and low lying areas are full of tree ferns, mosses, flowering plants, beautiful butterflies and birds.

The museum displays more than 4,000 antique objects such as wood, stone, doors, pillars and railings salvaged by the curator from more than 300 heritage homes that were being demolished. Age old traditions through the museum display and outreach programs allow younger generations to share in the wisdom of the past.

Victor Hugo Gomes its founder conducts a tour of the museum and organic farm before hosting a folkloric performance.

Reboard the bus for a short drive to the Taj Exotica Beach Resort for an opportunity to use the resort's beach, pool and other facilities. Soft drinks and light snacks are served at the resort. Later, drive back to the ship via Goa's scenic coastline.