We actually arrived yesterday in Goa, but the whole day   had been spent travelling so it was late by the time we arrived in Panjim. Time to meet the nuns (Les Filles du Coeur de Marie) who are hosting us, try and find some phone cards to communicate back to the UK, supper and then bed. As usual there is a festival of some sort going on in town and the noise is …. During the night the guard dogs seemed very busy chasing something. This morning after 3 hours spent unpacking between 2-5 am checking all our materials were intact, we overslept (only until 8am). We found out that there are over fifteen potential students who want to do the course but there are places only for eight. This morning we went to the Archbishop’s House to discuss plans for the project with Father Loiola, the Archbishop’s Secretary. We agreed to meet on Friday with all the candidates so that Caterina can explain the course to them, and she can then interview each one and decide on who will attend. After much excitement and anticipation we went upstairs to the throne room to see the 33 portraits of the Archbishops . They are in a worse state than Caterina remembered. Many have been retouched before, and it shows! Others you can see where the old canvas has been cut roughly around the figure and then stuck on to a new canvas, with infilling done around the edge in a rather original manner. We agree to start on one wall over the throne, starting with the oldest paintings of the predecessor of the first archbishop in the mid 16th Century. There are three statue in the Archbishop’s Chapel in desperate need of cleaning. Father Loiola shows us the room where the course will take place – the St Francis Xavier room which is a new annexe at the back of the Archbishop’s House. It is a good size room, not great light but it will make an excellent class room, with a lovely garden when natural light is needed. It will make a difference to be able to use natural light. A visit to Panjim in the afternoon was a reconnaissance trip to see where we can find the materials needed, and to start to get a feel for the town. Beautiful low colonial buildings from the Portuguese era and also the Rajah’s summer palace from before the Portuguese arrived, so over 500 years old. On our return a journalist came to interview Caterina, with lots of questions about the project and about restoration, so we look forward to seeing the results. We hope the article will attract possible future restorers. We have spotted a cake shop, a few local restaurant and a supermarket for essentials. No need to bring shampoo and soap … We have another festival happening in town tonight … we will have to join in sometime. I am sure there are plenty more to come.