Menezes-Braganza Mansion

Before heading off to Palolem, I decided to have a look at the Menezes-Braganza mansion in Chandor. Fourth largest house in India, built by aristocrats from Portugal. Their decendents still live there. The old lady that showed me her part of the house was the daughter-in-law of the Braganza freedom fighter that fought for Goa's independence. Or something like that. Freedom fighters are quite revered. When I buy train tickets, I always go to the counter designated for tourists, senior citizens, disabled, and freedom fighters. How do you prove that you are a freedom fighter?

Anyway - the house, along the dusty and faded townsquare, was large. And full of antiques, vaulted ceilings, and beautiful tiled floors. The guide (he 'lost his head' several decades ago when he missed his ship to go to Greece) who showed me that section of the house, explained that the marble floors in the ballroom - where the two small children of the house were currently playing with their toys - was very old and impossible to replace; if you lie on them drunk and naked the whole night, you don't get cold. I see.

After that, I caught two buses and arrived in Palolem in the afternoon.