DREAMING OF OLD MAPUSA

DREAMING OF THE GOOD OLD RUSTIC CHARM OF MAPUSA TOWN

Yes, we are still in Mapusa, but today we are just still dreaming of the good old days. Peaceful, with its unique charm, and rustic ways of yesteryear. This picture was taken from the first floor of the historic Camara Municipal de Bardez building, but today in our dreams we are facing south-west. In the foreground is the old praça - stand for taxis plying on north-east routes of Goa, namely Tivim, Colvale and Bicholim. Just a little behind the taxi-stand is the beginning of the winding road that proceeds to Nossa Senhora de Milagres Church, Suisse Chapel, Reis de Costa Photographers, Bairao Hall, Bairao Hardware and the line of Coffin-Makers. The buidling that housed the once famous Institute Saldanha, Cosme Mathias Menezes and Bhobe's Shop and other merchants are visible below the praça. In the fifties Dentist Germano, who lived in Guirim, had his clinic there. The street very next to the left of the building leads to the once beautiful market place designed and built in the late fifties. Now totally in shambles, it is barely recognizable from its former pristine glory.

Visible in the distance are the verdant hills of Verla on the right, and Saligao in the centre. The attached picture is scanned from an original photographic print taken in 1976.

Year : 1976 (the date can be clearly seen on the left side of white-bordered prints of that era. Printed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Camera: Asahi Pentax Model S1a, fully manual camera with screw-type interchangeable lenses.

Lens: Pentax f2 55mm standard lens

Film : Kodak 35mm 100 ASA

Print: Kodak

This picture is scanned from an original print. Tony Fernandes

‘Sonhos de Mapuça Antiga’ – Dreams of Old Mapuça