Aloha Everyone,
Welcomed by Tahitian musicians and women carrying baskets with fragrant pikake flowers passing them to disembarking passengers. It’s easy to imagine how writers and artists have fallen in love with this paradise.
There were a lot of fun activities just outside of our cruise terminal. We meandered the farmers market noting varieties, prices and quality. The government of Tahiti has very strict agricultural laws. No fresh fruits or fauna and flora maybe taken out.
J.J. and I founds a clothes shop to purchase high quality t-shirts.
After walking around 4 streets deep mostly of businesses focused for visiting cruisers J.J. and I came across a replica of a Commemorative Canoe exhibited on June 29, 2022.
In the evening we watched Polynesian Expression presented by guest performers in the Princess Theater. I overheard a couple of passengers talking to each other, “So that’s what we have to do to get rid of our belly fat. Wear big smiles, shake vigorously as you rotate your buttocks side to side." It’s easier said than done. Using muscles one doesn’t usually use can cause discomfort or even injuries.Aloha -- Cathi
Aloha Everyone,
I attended a presentation this morning about Papeete Tahiti.
Aloha -- Cathi
Aloha Everyone,
1st Officer, Sebastian Mendosa was very Italian and entertaining. The most interesting aspect of the program was a chart showing “Climbing the Career Ladder.
He explained how long it takes to climb the career ladder. A greater portion of their learning is by attending classes given by the owner of Princess Lines, Carnival. After working for Princess for over 20 years, Sebastian Mendosa has been promoted to the rank of Safety Officer.
He commented that there is only one Captain running a ship. Unless the Captain retires, it will be a long long time before he can become the captain of his ship.
Aloha -- Cathi
Aloha Everyone,
Notable activity of the day is Crossing the International Date Line which meant Day 18 and Day 19 are both November 18th.
Yes, it was rather confusing.
We watched 3 excellent movies on board.
Golda
Biography of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Excellent depiction by Helen Mirren of tough, chain smoking Golda Meir who fought the war concealing her deteriorating health.
Lamborghini
Biography of Ferrucio Lamborghini. His ambitions, using any opportunities to his personal gain showed his ruthless nature. Manufacturing tractors to building his dream of Lamborghini luxury sports car was his life’s ambition and superseded any relationships with his family including his young son and his best friend.
Are you there God, it’s me Margaret
Coming of age story about a preteen age girl whose life was uprooted from New York City to a small community in Farbrook, New Jersey. Judy Bloom sensibly captured Margaret’s anxiety, struggle and forming friendships. Her books written in the 1970’s were very popular with preteen girls touching such topics as interfaith marriage, sexual curiosity and role of religion in their conduct.
Aloha Everyone,
Dravuni is promoted as one of the Pacific’s most unspoiled destinations. Fiji’s University of the South Pacific has a field station at Dravuni to enable researchers and students to study the nearby coral reefs and the abundant marine life that live around the island and reef.
The entire Kadaru Group of islands has a population of only 12,000. Only 120 live on Dravuni. (Source: Fiji government data).
We rode a ship’s tender to go to the Dravuni Island. Once our shoes touched the white Sandy shore, we were greeted by “bula” a Fijian greeting that has multi-purpose. It means “hey”, “hello”, “welcome” and “bye”. Another word we hear is “vinaka”, thank you. When I was taking photos on the island, I heard men & women as well as small children shouting “bula bula and vinaka” in one long breath.
