Patron Saint - St Francis Xavier

We've been to Old Goa today to show Tom and Mu the World Heritage Site. Old Goa or Velha Goa was also known as the 'Rome of the East' from 16th - 18th centuries, its 200,000 population of clerics made it bigger than London or Lisbon. It was the administrative centre of the Christian world from the east coast of Africa to Indo-China and Japan. There were so many churches here at one point that letters of complaint about the cacophony of competing choirs were sent to the Vatican. It was finally abandoned in 1835 when devastating outbreaks of cholera and malaria made it uninhabitable and a new capital was built at Panaji nearer the coast and with less marshy ground.

The blip is of the tomb of St Francis Xavier, patron saint of Goa. Born in Spain in 1506 he was an indefatigable Jesuit missionary throughout Asia. He arrived in Goa in 1542 and died in China in 1552 his body was returned to Goa. He didn't become a saint until some years later when it was realised that his body had not perished, medical examination could find no evidence of preservatives and his blood was declared untainted, fresh and unclotted.There were toe biting incidents and bits of him were hacked off by relic hunters and dispersed around the Jesuit world. This resting place in the Basilica of Bom Jesus has been his since the mid 19th century, but he is paraded around Old Goa every ten years on his feast day in December. It is hoped that the new Pope Francis may visit later this year for the next exposition of the relics because of his Jesuit connections.

It was really hot today, the hottest so far I think, and two hours sightseeing was all we could manage. After a light lunch of delicious uttapam we set off on the hours drive back. The opticians for sunshade clips for the old chaps glasses was closed so we will have to visit again.

The pool was so good, just managed to get my clothes off before jumping in!