16. 2.26

We packed up and got ready to leave Agonda. Unfortunately the dress shop was closed. I’ll be looking out for a slim person to gift it to.

Our taxi came and we set off for our 25 minute drive to Palolem beach, our home for the next week.

FInding accommodation with 2 bedrooms had proved impossible, so when I found 2 cheap rooms at Casa Guest house that was a good option.

We dropped Kevin & Sharon at their hotel and drove a couple of minutes to our place, right on the main shopping street.

First impressions.. Awful. An overflowing bin just by the gate and a dingy dirty stairway.

Liz’s room was on the first floor, mine was upstairs, along a corridor at the end. I was horrified by my rickety old furniture and paint where there shouldn’t be. No socket near the bed, just an ancient old fire hazard box on the wall.

I’d been looking forward to having a balcony doing some people watching overlooking the shops. It overlooked an unkempt garden of sorts.

I went downstairs to Liz. She was negotiating nicer bedding with the guy. She does make me laugh, of all of the dreadful things that bothered her the most.

Her wardrobe reeked of cigarettes. Yes, said the guy, sometimes people buy tobacco and store it in there.

Liz was traumatised but too scared to tell me after the first place which I felt was fine.

When I said there was no way we could stay there she was so relieved.

Even on a Brett Class scale it was uninhabitable. This has obviously happened a lot as the guy scrolled down to cancel and to request no cancellation fees.

We went to nearby Chill cafe to reassess and book something new. I urgentlybneeded coffee. When it finally arrived it was vile.

We scrolled through, found some reasonably priced chalets and booked one each before they sold out. In fact they weren’t that reasonable as my booking. com is set to Turkish Lira. Oh well, too late and they sound gorgeous.

Sharon & Kevin met us in Chill cafe. An hour later they served our breakfast.

Our new digs were 12 minutes walk away, between us all, a busy road, cows and Tuktuks we made it to Sand Tents chalets.

Relieved to dump our bags we unpacked essentials and walked to the beach, it’s really close by, with plenty of choice of eateries and shops.

Got sunbeds at Luxury Restaurant, had a lovely chill day, a cheese dosa and a new drink discovery, orange and mango Maaza. Delicious.

Kevin & Sharon joined us for dinner and we had a fab meal on the beach.. Apart from Liz, we fancied a curry break. My mushroom lasagne was delicious.

We got back to Sand Tents and decided to address the facilities listed on Booking. com versus what we have.

Liz demanded that the manager is here tomorrow morning at 9am.

The desk guy gave her a kettle. I’ve got my trusty element.

It took forever to get to sleep, there was water gushing from somewhere. I tried watching Love Island – just buffered.

Dozed at some point, woke at 5am, Internet perfect.

Apart from all that Palolem looks fab and Kev & Sharon love where they’ve booked.

Will Liz ever trust me again?

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