the website says this is a homestay, but it’s not; it is a heritage hotel… but not the fancy kind like the neemrana property near jaipur… not the kind where i would be embarrassed to walk in with my chappals and sit cross-legged at the dining table! this is simple, elegant, welcoming and warm. the attention, space and homely food are just like a homestay. even if you are the homestay traveler, seeking that local experience, don’t make this revelation change your mind. it is a beautiful place; personal and inviting. and of course, mr. toby ensures you are sufficiently happy and your ego is brilliantly massaged. he sat at our feet during lunch and followed us about the entire time! yes, one could say he wanted some stuff off our plates, even though we didn’t give him any he never lost interest.

this is an old portuguese home that has been restored beautifully, just down a tiny lane off a junction near majorda beach. . there are no signs, there are no boards, if i didn’t have gps i wouldn’t have reached there without a couple of frantic calls. as i parked the car and looked at the place it was instant chemistry between me and this bungalow.

set in a small plot of land, with a lawn in front, tall plants swaying in the monsoon breeze, large flowers hanging low from branches, a front porch that had cement seats built-in, two dogs with tails wagging away to greet me and a sloping roof with mangalore tiles, and bamboo plants (my fav)… it was beautiful! quiet, and silent as i walked in, didn’t know if we should wait for someone to invite us in or just walk in. we just walked in… that’s exactly how the place wants you to be, at home. the dogs come to greet you, and you walk in. there is no bell to ring and no door to knock on, it is wide open… just walk on in!

orange and green in harmony

entering vivienda dos palhacos

the pool by the garden by the pool

open for a meal, by appointment

toby

bamboo bamboo bamboo

you enter into a small area with a circular table and candle holder. the candle holder seems to still be in use with the candles have burnt away and the wax gone cold in that continuous manner – it was slowly oozing down as it solidified! i was so tempted to reach out and break away all that wax (thats the ocd part of me)! this room led to a longish room with one dining table. i can so imagine longish meals here with all the visitors, sharing stories, laughs and lives. this leads to a small verandah and to the right of that is an open bar, that overlooks the kitchen. it’s a lovely place to park yourself and have a long chat with the chef or the server or mr. john. or just drink in all those brilliant smells wafting out from the frying pan… mmmm…

this is probably the only place you will find haywards 5000 (the beer brand) in goa. and if you wonder why, well its a family thing. this is the haywards family. the family that started the beer, however with generations separating the actual founders from simon and charlotte today.

… could eat forever here…

a lovely bar

haywards lining the bar

every corner and every niche is lovely, but it looks lived in and not artificial. all the furniture has been tastefully chosen and has the vintage air to it. the bathroom has matrimonial ads from old papers stuck on an entire wall and with a few frames of a family marriage in the centre… brilliant touch! as you walk around the house there are pictures of simon hayward and his sister charlotte from their days growing up in india and abroad. the rooms are large and pleasant and each is done up differently…so choose wisely where you wish to sleep. they have a small swimming pool set in a tiny garden in the backyard. the old well still lies deep in the corner of the garden, something charlotte is said to have insisted upon.

even the corridors are beautiful

antique furniture pieces at every corner

the bathroom wall – matrimonial wallpaper

simon and his fiat padmini

don’t miss the barber’s chair

ast page of the book on the restoration

there is this large book that mr. john, the manager, will show you. it shows the entire restoration process picture by picture. it makes for a marvelous read on what this house was, and what it is today!

i didn’t stay there this time i visited goa, just went over for lunch. but i definitely want to the next time i am in goa.

vivienda dos palhacos also opens its door for a lunch / dinner reservation, you just need to book in advance. for more details contact them at their website: http://www.vivendagoa.com/

p.s. the lunch was superb, so i asked them for the recipe of the vegetarian pumpkin curry, made goan style! that is coming up next.. and all you vegetarians out there, its to die for and sooooo easy to make!