It's susegado time!
When I reached Thivim, the second stop inside Goa (after Pernem), and the one closest to the North Goa beaches of Calangute and Baga where I was headed, it was pitch dark.
I got out of Mandvi, took a deep breath of the Goan air.
I love the smell of Goa. I have always wondered if it emanates from the cashew tree.
As for the journey, on that day, the Mandvi Express actually travelled at the pace of the Mandovi at Panjim, slow and seemingly pushed back by rains and the threat of landslides.
But then, I had stopped looking at my watch in Mumbai itself.
It's susegado time! (Ask a Goan if you need to know what it means.)
Share your travel experiences!
Useful information
~ To book online, you could visit www.irctc.co.in.
Quick tip: Book well in advance. This is a busy route even during monsoons.
~ Mandvi Express schedule:
Departure from Mumbai CST: 7 am
Arrival at Ratnagiri: 2.20 pm
Arrival at Thivim (North Goa): 7.10 pm
Arrival at Madgaon (South Goa): 8.10 pm
~ Fare: By Sleeper Class, it will cost you Rs 293, inclusive of reservation charges.
~ Alight at Thivim for North Goa or Madgaon for South Goa.
