DAY 58 - AT SEA - MARCH 26, 2010

IT WAS ANOTHER LAZY SEA DAY WITH BREAKFAST COMING LATE. WE VIEWED MORE OF THE PICTURES AFTER BREAKFAST AND SOON BECAME FASCINATED WITH DISPLAY FOR THE FRENCH LUNCHEON. ALTHOUGH NOT HUNGRY, THANK GOD, WE WERE ATTRACTED TO THE CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES. I WOULD LOVE TO TELL YOU WE DIDN’T INDULGE BUT THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE CHOCOLATE FIB.

READING AND PHOTO CLASSES CONSUMED THE AFTERNOON AND THE EVENING SHOW WAS ANOTHER MAGICIAN.

DAY 57 - GUAM, MARIANA ISLANDS, U.S. TERRITORY - MARCH 25, 2010

BEFORE BEING ABLE TO EXIT THE SHIP WE HAD TO CLEAR IMMIGRATION. OUR REPORTING TIME, BECAUSE WE HAD AN EARLY TOUR, WAS BETWEEN 7:00 AND 7:30 IN THE LOUNGE. UNFORTUNATELY THE SHIP WAS NOT SECURE AT THE PIER UNTIL 7:15. THE LINE LEADING TO THE LOUNGE STRETCHED ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE MAIN DINING ROOM.

WE HAD TO PRESENT OUR PASSPORTS, DECLARATION FORMS AND OUR TOUR TICKETS AS WE ENTERED THE LOUNGE. FORTUNATELY HESE GUYS WERE SO EFFICIENT WE MADE IT THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS IN 20 MINUTES.

WE WERE OFF THE SHIP BY 8:20 AND ON THE BUS AND OUR ‘DISCOVER GUAM TOUR.’ ABOUT 90 PEOPLE POURED INTO 3 BUSES AND WE HEADED SOUTH ON THE ISLAND FOR THE GEF PA’GO CULTURAL VILLAGE. WE DROVE ALONG THE OCEAN FOR SEVERAL MILES BEFORE HEADING OVER THE LUSH ISLAND HILLS TO THE CULTURAL VILLAGE. NARROW ROADS, SINGLE LANE BRIDGES AND A FUNERAL MADE THE TRIP SLOW AS WE PASSED THROUGH TINY TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

OUR GUIDE, TONY, TALKED NON-STOP AND VERY LOUDLY OVER THE SPEAKER SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH WE DIDN’T KNOW IT AT THE TIME SEVERAL PEOPLE ASKED HIM TO LOWER THE VOLUME, WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE CULTURAL VILLAGE WAS NOT MUCH TO WRITE HOME ABOUT BUT THE SCENIC BEAUTY WAS GREAT.


WE BOARDED THE BUS FOR OUR SECOND STOP, JEFF’S RESTAURANT & GIFT SHOP. IT WAS JUST LIKE MOST GIFT SHOPS BUT THE SEA SIDE VIEWS FROM THE BEACH PROVIDED ANOTHER PHOTO OPT.

AS WE TRAVELLED TO JEFF’S, GEORGIA YELLED FORWARD TO THE GUIDE ASKING TO LOWER THE VOLUME. THE RESULTS WERE NOT VERY NOTICEABLE. AS WE BOARDED THE BUS FOR OUR THIRD STOP GEORGIA AGAIN ASK IF HE COULD LOWER THE VOLUME. HE GAVE SOME COCKEYED STORY ABOUT THE BUS BEING NEW...WHATEVER.

AS WE PULLED AWAY THE GUIDE STOPPED USING THE MIKE. THE FIRST THREE ROWS PROBABLY HEARD HIM, BUT I DON’T THINK ANYONE CARED WHAT HE SAID.

THE THIRD STOP WAS FORT SANTA AGUEDA. THE SITE OF FIRST SPANISH MISSION IN THE MID 1600’S. THE ONLY REMNANTS ARE A FEW CANNONS. THERE IS A NEW MODERN CHURCH ON THE CURRENT SITE. WE DIDN’T ENTER IT. THE CANNONS ARE HIGH ABOVE THE CORAL BAY AND THE HOTEL DISTRICT IS FAR OFF TO THE RIGHT IN ANOTHER BAY.

OUR LAST STOP WAS TWO LOVERS POINT, WHICH HAPPEN TO BE IN THAT FAR OFF BAY TO THE RIGHT I MENTIONED. THE POINT OVERLOOKS THE BAY AND THE CORAL REEF LINING THE COAST IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. THE DROP IS APPROXIMATELY 450 FEET AND THE WATER BELOW CHANGES FROM TRANSPARENT TO LIGHT GREEN, TO LIGHT BULE AND EVENTUALLY TO DARK BLUE. THE CORAL PATTERNS TWIST AND TURN THROUGH THE WATER. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE FROM OUR VANTAGE POINT OF FISH I’M SURE THIS HAD TO BE A HAVEN FOR THEM.

FOR THOSE ON THE EXCURSION WANTING TO SHOP, THE BUS DROPPED THEM OFF AT THE HYATT HOTEL. THE REST OF US TRAVELLED BACK TO THE SHIP. THE 30 MINUTE DRIVE FOLLOWED THE SHORE AND INTO THE PORT OF GUAM.

WE ARE FAR FROM BEING UNDERNOURISHED BUT TODAY WAS AN EARLY START AND LUNCH AT THE BUFFET WAS ON TAP. I MIGHT ADD SO WAS A NAP.

THE DINING ROOM IS VERY RARELY ON OUR AGENDA ON EXCURSION DAYS AS WE ENJOY THE RELAXED ATMOSPHERE AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING DINNER AT THE BUFFET. ON DAYS WE ARE IN PORT THE BUFFET STAYS OPEN UNTIL 8:30 AND GIVES WAY TO THE BISTRO. ON SEA DAYS THE BISTRO STARTS AT 5:30.

TONIGHTS SHOW WAS THE SECOND PERFORMANCE OF JON BELL. HE IS AN ENGLISH GENT, IN HIS EARLY 70’S. A VERY TALENTED MAN WHO SINGS, PLAYS BOTH THE SAX AND CLARINET, AND CAN TELL JOKES NON-STOP FOR HOURS. ALTHOUGH WE DIDN’T ATTEND THE SECOND SHOW THAT EVENING I’M WILLING TO BET VERY FEW OF THE JOKES WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME. THE ACCENT AND HIS PRESENTATION ADD TO THE STORIES AND PUNCHLINES.

BEFORE HEADING TO THE DECK 9 PRIVATE VERANDA AND THE EDIT/VIEWING OF OUR PICTURES, WE WENT UP TO THE SUN DECK TO OBSERVE THE BEAUTIFUL STAR FILLED NIGHT SKY. THE CAPTAIN HAD ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE OPEN DECKS TURNED OFF MAKING THE SITE EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR. WE HIT THE SACK AFTER MIDNIGHT FOR THE SECOND NIGHT IN A ROW.

DAY 56 - AT SEA - MARCH 24, 2010

THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING CHOICES LISTED IN THE PRINCESS PATTER FOR TODAYS ACTIVITIES. THE FUTURE CRUISE PROGRAM HAS A PRESENTATION ON THE BALTIC SEA; I HAVE MY PHOTO CLASS AND THEN THERE IS THE LECTURE ON CHEATING PRESIDENTS. LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, FRANKIE HAS A TALK ABOUT WORKING ON A CRUISE SHIP...I SAY NOW, DOESN’T THAT SOUND INTERESTING. (I’LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE START TO WORK)

IT IS AMAZING HOW SOMEDAYS THINGS JUST SEEM TO GO EXACTLY THE WAY THEY ARE PLANNED. THE PRESENTATION ON THE BALTIC WAS VERY WELL DONE AND CERTAINLY ADDS MORE ITEMS TO THE BUCKET LIST. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPIER IF MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE CRUISES WAS INCLUDED BUT THE FILM IS MADE FOR THE MASSES AND THEREFORE MOST HAVE OVERALL APEAL. WE JUST HAVE TO INVESTAGATE ON OUR OWN WHEN THE TIME COMES.

THE PHOTO CLASS HAS OPENED UP A FEW NEW INSIGHTS TO TAKING PICTURES. THE GOOD THING ABOUT DIGITAL IS YOU DON’T HAVE TO PRINT YOUR MISTAKES, YOU CAN TRASH THEM BEFORE GOING TO THE PRINTER. CARLOS SAYS THE CAMERA IS THE MEANS TO CAPTURE AND MAKE MEMORIES. THE PHOTOGRAPHER TAKES THE GOOD PICTURES, THE CAMERA TAKES THE BAD ONES...TRASH THE BAD ONES. THIS IS THE LAST CLASS IN THE SERIES ALTHOUGH CARLOS WILL MEET WITH US ON THE NEXT SEA DAY TO PUT INTO PRACTICE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED.

GEORGIA AND I SQUEEZED IN A QUICK BITE TO EAT BEFORE GOING TO THE TALK ON CHEATING PRESIDENTS. I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF CLINTON, KENNEDY AND ROOSEVELT BUT THE LIST GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON. OUR GUESS SPEAKER DID HIS RESEARCH AND HAD SOME INTERESTING DETAILS AND ANTIDOTES ABOUT MANY OF OUR PRESIDENTS.

THE MOST INTERESTING TALK OF THE DAY WAS LEAD BY FRANKIE AND INVOLVED WORKING FOR THE CRUISE LINE. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE STAFF PRESENTED DETAILS OF HOW, WHY AND WHEN THEY THOUGHT ABOUT WORKING FOR THE CRUISE INDUSTRY. THEY COME FROM A WIDE RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS. THOSE COMING FROM THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING MONEY AND HELPING THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY.

THOSE COMING FROM DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, LIKE THE U.S AND BRITAIN HAVE CERTAIN SKILL SETS THAT DRAW THEM TO THE CRUISE BUSINESS. FRANKIE, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS AN ACTOR FOR A TIME, LIVED IN ASIA AND HAD SKILL SETS ATTRACTIVE TO PRINCESS. HE HAS BEEN ON A SHIP FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS.

THE PIANO MAN, DAVE, HAS BEEN AT IT FOR 19 YEARS, AND ANGUS FOR OVER 10 YEARS. IT HAS BECOME SO MUCH A PART OF LIVING THEY ARE MORE THAN ANXIOUS TO RETURN TO NEW ASIGNMENTS FOLLOWING THEIR 2 MONTH LEAVES.

THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER WAS A POLICEMAN IN ENGLAND. AFTER TALKING TO A FRIEND, WHO WAS JUST ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A NEW CAREER WITH A CRUISE LINE, APLLIED FOR A JOB, WAS HIRED, AND NOW HE AND HIS WIFE LIVE ON SHIP IN FIVE MONTH INTERVALS.

SIDE STORY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER: WHILE WALKING THE STREETS IN CHUUK, HE FOUND HIMSELF SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF A GANG FIGHT BETWEEN THE CRIPS AND THE BLOODS. THAT’S RIGHT IN CHUUK, THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM NEW YORK OR LOS ANGELES WHERE YOU WOULD EXPECT SUCH THINGS.
HE WAS COAXED TO SAFETY BY THE PERSISTENT VOICE OF A SCHOOL TEACHER WHO CALLED TO HIM MANY TIMES TRYING TO GAIN HIS ATTENTION. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES HE LEFT THE SCHOOL GROUNDS AND RETURNED TO THE SHIP SAFELY.

HE WAS RELATING HIS EXPERIENCE TO THE DOCTOR ON SHIP UPON RETURNING. THE SHIP’S DOCTOR MENTIONED HE HAD RECENTLY ATTENDED A CONFERENCE IN EUROPE AND SOMEONE REFERRED TO AN ARTICLE ABOUT THESE GANG FIGHTS IN THE ISLANDS. THE ARTICLE MADE SPECIFIC MENTION OF THE TYPE WEAPONS USED BY THE GANGS. MOST COMMON ARE SLING SHOTS AND PROJECTILES.

BEFORE OUR DAY IN CHUUK HAD ENDED THE SHIP’S DOCTOR HAD TO TAKE ONE OF THE PASSENGERS TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. THE EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR AND THE SHIP DOCTOR STRUCK UP A CONVERSATION AND SOON THE GANG INCIDENT BECAME THE TOPIC. THE EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR WAS THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE REFERENCED AT THE CONFERENCE.

THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE GAVE THE SHIP’S DOCTOR ONE OF THE PROJECTILES, RECENTLY REMOVED FROM A DECEASED VICTIM SEVERAL WEEKS EARLIER. WE WERE ABLE TO VIEW THE PROJECTILE. IT IS A LONG 4 TO 5 INCH NAIL WHICH IS BARBED AT THE END THAT ENTERS THE BODY. IT’S SIMPLE AND VERY DEADLY.

HOW ABOUT THAT FOR SOME REAL LIFE STUFF, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL?

LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, IS DINNER AT BISTRO. WE HAVE BEEN SO HUNGRY FOR JUST PLAIN OLD SPAGHETTI. EVERYTHING HERE HAS SOME SORT OF FISH IN THE CONCOCTION. IN ORDER TO GET WHAT WE DESIRED WE HAD TO PLACE OUR ORDER WITH THE HEAD WAITER FOR OUR TABLE IN THE MAIN DINING ROOM, THE DAY BEFORE...LIKE YESTERDAY. HE HAD IT PREPARED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE BISTRO ON THE 9TH DECK. (THE MAIN DINNG HALL IS ON THE 5TH DECK)

55 - CHUUK, FEDERATED MICRONESIAN STATES - MARCH 23, 2010

OUR ARRIVAL TIME WAS MOVED UP FROM 1:00 PM TO 11:00 AM AND IN A LIKE MANNER OUR DEPARTURE MOVED FROM 7:00 PM TO 5:00 PM. EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT GET OFF THE SHIP I DON’T THINK ANYONE FEELS CHEATED BY LEAVING 2 HOURS EARLIER THAN SCHEDULED.

THOSE PASSENGERS ADVENTUROUS ENOUGH TO WONDER INTO THE SMALL TOWN SOON FOUND THEMSELVES BACK ON THE SHIP AND IN THE POOL OR AT THE BAR. MOST OF THE PEOPLE MENTIONED THE TOWN WAS DIRTY, MUDDY STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, AND GARBAGE ALL OVER THE PLACE. WE TOOK A PICTURE OF AN AREA NEAR THE PORT THAT WAS LITTERED WITH GARBAGE. GEORGIA OBSERVED THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE WE SAW DIBRIS FLOATING IN THE BAY.

SO MUCH FOR EDITORIALIZING.

WE WERE UP EARLY AND DECIDED TO WALK AROUND THE TRACK BEFORE BREAKFAST AND BEFORE THE HEAT BECAME OVERWHELMING. WE NO SOONER STARTED THE FIRST LAP AND THE SCENIC ENTRANCE TO CHUUK LAID BEFORE US. I SHOT DOWN TO THE CABIN FOR THE CAMERA, WE DIDN’T WANT TO MISS ANY OF THIS BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE, LAGOON, ISLANDS OR ISLET. OUR APPROACH TOOK CLOSE TO AN HOUR BEFORE REACHING THE PIER. UNFORTUNATELY THE TOWN WAS NOT AS ATTRACTIVE, EVEN FROM THE TOP DECK OF THE SHIP.

GEORGIA AND I MANAGED TO JUST GET TO THE MORNING BREAKFAST BUFFET BEFORE THEY SWITCHED TO THE LUNCHEON SETUP. ALTHOUGH WE TOSSED A FEW IDEAS AROUND THE POOL WON HANDS DOWN. IN AS MUCH AS A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE VENTURED INTO TOWN, IF ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE, WE HAD THE POOL TO OURSELVES FOR CLOSE TO AN HOUR.

WE CHATTED WITH SEVERAL OF THE FOLKS TO GET THE LOWDOWN FIRST HAND ON THEIR EXPERIENCES. EACH RESPONSE REINFORCED OUR DECISION TO STAY ABOARD SHIP. INTO THE SECOND HOUR THE SUN BROKE THROUGH THE CLOUDS, THE HEAT BEGAN TO RISE AND WE WERE TURNING INTO BRIGHT RED SHRIVELED LITTLE PRUNES. WE RETREATED TO THE SHADED LOUNGE CHAIRS AND IN SHORT ORDER WE WERE BONE DRY.

THE SIGNS OF A GREAT SUNSET WERE VERY PROMISING, THE DINNER BUFFET WAS SCHEDULED TO OPEN AT 6:00, WE HAD SETTLED IN ON OUR PRIVATE VERANDA AND WE WERE SET FOR WHATEVER CAME OUR WAY.

THE VERANDA WAS SOON FLOODED WITH FELLOW PHOTOGRAPHERS LOOKING TO CAPTURE THE PERFECT SUNSET ON THEIR DIGITAL CHIPS. AS THE SHIP HEADED THROUGH THE LAGOON TO SEA, WE ALL GOT SOME GOOD SHOTS EVEN THOUGH THE SUNSET WAS NOT AS GREAT AS EXPECTED. THE SUN HAD SET, THE SKY TURNED DARK AND WE CONCENTRATED ON THE OFFERINGS FOR DINNER.

GEORGIA WORKED ON HER BOOK AFTER DINNER, AND I HEADED FOR THE LIBRARY SO SHE COULD WORK IN QUIET PEACE.

DAY 54 - AT SEA - MARCH 22, 2010

WE CROSS THE EQUATOR AND REENTERED THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE AT APPROXIMATE 9:00 A.M. UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS CROSSING, GOING SOUTH, THERE WAS NO MOCK CEREMONY BY THE STAFF, AND NO CERTIFICATES GIVEN TO THE PASSENGERS.

TODAY ALSO MARKS THE HALFWAY POINT IN THIS MARVELOUS GREAT ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME. MY HOW TIME FLIES WENT YOU ARE HAVING FUN..

IT WAS ANOTHER LAID-BACK DAY. WE DID LESS THAN MOST SEA DAYS.

I ATTENTED THE SECOND IN THE SERIES OF DIGITAL PHOTO CLASSES WHILE GEORGIA WORKED ON HER BOOK.

GEORGIA AND I WERE WALKING THE TRACK WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN, SO WE GOT READY FOR DINNER. ALTHOUGH TONIGHT WAS FORMAL NIGHT, WE HEADED FOR THE BISTRO AGAIN FOR THE THIRD NIGHT IN A ROW.

THE STAFF PREFORMED THE PIANO MAN ROUTINE BUT IN AS MUCH AS WE HAVE SEEN IT ONCE ALREADY, WE READ AND WATCHED SOME OF OUR PICTURES.

BORING TO SOME BUT VERY RELAXING TO US.

DAY 53 - RABUAL, NEW GUINEA, MARCH 21, 2010

TODAY WAS AN EYE OPENER TO REAL DEVASTATION AND POVERTY. RABUAL HAS THREE VOLCANOES ON THE ISLAND OF PAPAU, WHICH IS WHERE WE DOCKED. ONE OF THE THREE, TAVURVUR, ERUPTED IN 1994 VIRTUALLY DESTROYING THE MAIN TOWN. SURPRISINGLY THERE WAS NO LOSS OF LIFE AS MOST RESIDENCE LEFT THE ISLAND PRIOR TO THE ERUPTION. THE THREE EARTHQUAKES PRECEEDING THE VIOLENT EXPLOSIONS WAS WARNING ENOUGH FOR THE PEOPLE TO EVACUATE.

ALTHOUGH MANY OF THE RESIDENCE RETURNED TO THE ISLAND MONTHS LATER, THE VOLCANO HAS SPEWED VOLCANIC ASH UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2009. ASH AS DEEP AS SIX FEET LINED THE ROADS THAT COULD BE TRAVELED. THOSE AREAS NOT CLEARED WERE BUMPIER THAN A POTHOLED STREET ON THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES.

OUR EXCURSION TOOK US TO SEVERAL OF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES NEAR THE SITE OF THE VOLCANO. MOST FIELDS WERE BARREN, HOMES ALMOST NONEXISTENT AND VERY LITTLE SHADE FROM THE COCONUT TREES. THICK VOLCANIC ASH COVERED EVERYTHING. THE LOCALS DISPLAYED THEIR WARES AND THE CHILDREN SANG SEVERAL SONGS LEARNED IN SUNDAY SCHOOL.

THE LOCALS ALL SEEM TO HAVE TREMENDOUSLY HAPPY SPIRITS WITH SMILES FROM EAR TO EAR. THE CHILDREN ARE THE SAME WAY. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SEVERAL OLDER YOUTH AROUND THE AREA WAS NOTICEABLY VOID OF OLDER MEN.

I MENTIONED TO GEORGIA IT WAS VERY HARD TO DISTINGUISH THE BOYS FROM THE GIRLS. THEIR HAIR IS ALL THE SAME LENGTH AND BUSHY. THE STRANGEST OBSERVATION IS THE BLOND, CURLY HAIR ON THESE DARK SKINNED PEOPLE.
EVEN THOUGH THE VOLCANO HAS STOPPED SPEWING ASH, BELLOWS OF WHITE SMOKE CONTINUES TO RISE HIGH INTO THE AIR. THE VOLCANO WAS ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE ACROSS THE INLET AND THE PHOTO OPT WAS IDEAL.

THE SHIP STOPPED IN RABUAL LAST YEAR WHEN THE ASH WAS STILL BEING EMITTED FROM THE VOLCANO. THE CONDITIONS WERE SO BAD SEVERAL OF THE PASSENGERS BECAME ILL. WHEN THE SHIP LEFT PORT IT WAS COVERED IN BLACK SOOTE AND NEEDED TO BE WASHED DOWN AS THEY HEADED OUT TO SEA.

OUR SECOND STOP LED US OVER MORE ROADS COVERED IN DEEP COMPACTED BLACK ASH TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY NEAR BOMBED OUT JAPANESE AIRCRAFT FROM WWII. RABUAL WAS A MAJOR AIR STATION FOR THE JAPANESE FOR THEIR RADES AND ATTACKS. IN AN EFFORT TO HIDE THE AIRCRAFT FROM U.S. BOMBERS THEY WOULD MOVE THE PLANES INTO THE THICK COVER OF THE COCONUT PALMS. THE U.S. EVENTUALLY FOUND AND DESTROYED THEM.

THE THIRD STOP WAS THE LOCATION OF NATURAL HOT SPRINGS CREATED FROM THE HEAT OF THE UNDERGROUND TUBES LEADING TO THE VOLCANO. THE SPRINGS WERE ONE LONG WALK FROM THE PARKING AREA. THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE HIGH 90’S, THERE WAS NO SHADE AND THE BLACK ASH UNDER FOOT ABSORBED THE HEAT OF THE SUN, WHICH IN TURN DRAINED EVERY BIT OF ENERGY FROM YOUR BODY. THE GLARING HEAT MADE THE RETURN WALK TO THE VANS SEEMED 5 TIMES LONGER.

THE VANS TRAVELED BACK THOUGH THE SMALL TOWN OF PAPUA AS WE SLOWLY CLIMBED THE HILL TO THE CENTER FOR VOLCANIC ACTIVITY. THE MEASURE EARTH MOVEMENT, EARTHQUAKES AND THE LIKE, FROM 16 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS NEAR AND AROUND THE VOLCANOES. THEY RECORD OVER 80 TO 90 QUAKES EACH DAY. SOME ARE HARDLY NOTICEABLE OTHERS ARE OF GREATER MAGNITUDE. AS I STATED ABOVE, THE AREA WAS EVACUATED PRIOR TO THE 1994 ERUPTION BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE MONITORING THAT TAKES PLACE AT THE CENTER.

THE MONITORING CENTER SITS HIGH ABOVE THE TOWN AND IS A PERFECT SPOT TO CAPTURE THE LUSH VEGETATION OF THE AREAS NOT DESTROYED, THE BAY AND THE VOLCANO. THE AIR WAS CLEAN AND CRISP.

AS WE RETURN TO THE SHIP EACH OF THE MEMBERS TRAVELING IN THE VAN EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT COLD MOIST CLOTHS WOULD BE WAITING OUR ARRIVAL. THE EXPERIENCE OF PLACING THESE TILES ON THE BACK OF THE NECK ON A HOT, STICKY, MUGGY DAY IS BEYOND DESCRIPTION...REFRESHING IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

GEORGIA AND I WASTED VERY LITTLE TIME IN GETTING TO THE CABIN AND CHANGING INTO OUR BATHING SUITS. WE WERE IN THE POOL IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES. I REALLY CAN’T REMEMBER SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE POOL AT THE SAME TIME. THERE WERE ONLY TWO TOURS OFFERRED TODAY BUT WE ALL EXPERIENCED AND MANAGED TO SURVIVE THE HEAT. I THINK THE POOL WAS FIRST ON EVERYONES MIND UPON RETURNING TO THE SHIP. WE STAYED IN FOR OVER AN HOUR.

WE GAVE THE BRISTO ANOTHER TRY TONIGHT. THE RESULTS WERE FAR BETTER THAN THE TWO PREVIOUS VISITS. AFTER DINNER WE WENT TO THE LOUNGE AND SAW AN UNBELIEVABLE DEMONSTRATION OF MIND WIZARDRY. I’LL TELL YOU ABOUT JUST ONE OF THINGS THIS GUY DID.

HE GAVE THREE DIFFERENT BOOKS TO THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. HE FLASHED THE BOOK IN FRONT OF ONE PASSENGER AND STOPPED FLIPPING PAGES AT THE PASSENGER’S INSTRUCTIONS. HE TOLD THE PASSENGER TO PICK THE FIRST WORD ON THE PAGE AND CONCENTRATE ON THE WORD. AFTER A LITTLE SHOWMANSHIP, HE WROTE THE WORD ON A BIG TABLET CONCEALLED FROM THE AUDIENCE. HE THEN ASK THE PASSENGER TO SAY THE WORD...AND GUESS WHAT WORD WAS ON HIS TABLET...THE SAME WORD.

WITH THE OTHER TWO PASSENGERS HE HAD THEM TURN TO THE PAGE NUMBER THAT THE FIRST PASSENGER HAD CHOSEN HIS WORD. PASSENGERS 2 AND 3 COULD PICK ANY WORD ON THE PAGE FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE BOOKS. HE DID THE SAME THING WITH EACH OF THEM AND GOT THE WORDS CORRECT. TRULY AMAZING.

DAY 51 - AT SEA - MARCH 19, 2010

TODAY IS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGIA’S 39TH BIRTHDAY. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE, MAY THERE BE MANY MORE THAT WE SHARE TOGETHER.

THE CAPTAIN SAID THE SWELLS WERE 7 TO 8 FEET. THEY LOOKED MORE LIKE 10 TO 12 TO ME, BUT WHAT DO I KNOW. I DO KNOW IT WAS ROUGH, I GUESS THE CYCLONE IS GETTING CLOSE.

WE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, THE PHOTO CLASS WAS CANCELED TODAY BECAUSE OF THE ROUGH CONDITIONS.

WE CELEBRATED GEORGIA’S BIRTHDAY BY GOING TO LUNCH IN THE DINING ROOM. JUST THE TWO OF US, SO NICE, SO PEACEFUL.

WE SKIPPED THE DINING ROOM AGAIN TONIGHT. WE BOTH WENT TO THE LIBRARY WHERE GEORGIA CAUGHT UP ON HER READING AND DOING SUDOKU AND ME ON THE BLOG MATERIAL.

DAY 52 - AT SEA - MARCH 20, 2010

WE SLEPT LATE TODAY AND DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING STRENUOUS. GEORGIA SPENT THE GREAT PORTION WORKING ON HER BOOK. I ATTENTED AN EARLY MORNING DIGITAL PHOTO CLASS.

THE DINING HALL WAS NOT GRACED WITH OUR PRESENCE AGAIN AS WE HAD AN EARLY DINNER, LATE LUNCH IN THE BUFFET AFTER WHICH WE EDITED MORE OF THE PICTURES DOWNLOADED TO THE LAPTOP.

DAY 50 - CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 18, 2010

NO TOURS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 DAYS OF TRAVEL, 16 PORTS OF CALL. OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS TO FIND A PHONE TO GET UP TO DATE INFO ON LARRY AND CHRIS.

AS WE EXITED THE SHIP, THE SKY WAS AS BLUE AS COULD BE AND THE WARM BREEZE TEMPERED THE HOT SUN. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 29 C OR ABOUT 90 F. WE HEADED THROUGH THE PARKING LOT TO THE MAIN STREET ADJACENT TO THE WHARF. CROSSING THE STREET AT THE LIGHT WE WALKED ALONG ABBOTT STREET AND PASSED THE SEBEL HOTEL.

LET’S TRY THE HOTEL FOR A PAY PHONE AND STAY OUT OF THE HEAT I TOLD GEORGIA AND WE FOLLOWED AN ASIAN TOUR GROUP INTO THE LOBBY. WE WERE INFORMED THE PAY PHONE WAS ON LEVEL ONE, ABOVE. (I THOUGHT WE WERE ON LEVEL ONE BUT SUBSEQUENTLY WAS INFORMED WE WERE ON THE GROUND FLOOR)

WE TRIED THE ACCESS NUMBERS FOR AUSTRALIA WITHOUT SUCCESS. I THINK THE PROBLEM WAS THE PHONE, IT WASN’T TOUCHTONE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS PUSHBUTTON. WE GAVE UP AFTER 10 MINUTES AND LEFT THE HOTEL. AS WE EXITED I SAW A SIGN ON THE OUTSIDE WALL, NEAR THE FRONT DOOR, INFORMING GUEST TO USE THEIR ROOM KEYCARDS TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE LOBBY. WE CRASHED THE HOTEL BY WALKING IN WITH THE ASIAN GROUP.

WALKING FURTHER ALONG ABBOTT STREET WE SAW PHONES ON THE CORNER, ONLY THESE PHONE WERE FROM A DIFFERENT PROVIDER. WE TRIED AGAIN AND REACHED LARRY.

GEORGIA AND LARRY TALKED FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES AND WE RECEIVED ALL THE UP DATES CONCERNING THE OUTLOOK FOR HIS LUNG TRANSPLANT. HE BEGINS TESTING ON THE 15TH OF APRIL WITH HEART CATH TESTS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY APPEARS TO HAVE SAID IF HE PASSES THE TEST THE TRANSPLANT WILL BE COVERED. THAT IS GREAT NEWS.

HOLLY STARTED BACK TEACHING, ALSO GOOD NEWS.

FINISHING UP OUR LARRY CALL WE CALLED COLETE TO GET THE LOWDOWN ON CHRIS’ SITUATION. HE RECEIVED THE BAD NEWS THAT VERY DAY. ALL THE BUMPS WERE COMPLETED AND HE WOULD BE CUT ON THE 27TH AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED. EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW THE NEWS IS COMING IT STILL ISN’T EASY TO TAKE.

THE PHONES WERE JUST OUTSIDE THE OPAL SHOP, AND THAT BECAME OUR SECOND STOP. GEORGIA WAS ABLE TO FIND A VERY NICE AUSTRALIAN OPAL NECKLACE, IT IS MY GIFT FOR HER BIRTHDAY.

WHILE GEORGIA HAD BEEN TALKING ON THE PHONE I STOPPED ONE OF THE COUPLES FROM THE SHIP TO INQUIRER WHERE THEY GOT ALL THE GOODIES. I STORED THAT INFO FOR THE CONTINUATION OF OUR STROLL THROUGH THE STREET OF CAIRNS. (THE AUSSIES PRONOUNCE THE NAME OF THIS PLACE LIKE “CANS”) WE POPPED IN AND OUT OF A FEW SHOPS AS WE HEADED TO WOOLWORTH’S. THIS IS NOT LIKE THE WOOLWORTH’S WE KNOW FROM THE STATES. THESE GUYS ARE MORE LIKE A SMALL SUPERMARKET.

OUR MISSION WAS TO STOCK UP ON GOODIES FOR THE REMAINING 56 DAYS. CANDY, PRINGLES, COOKIES AND ALL THOSE GOOD THINGS. THE MISSION WAS SUCCESSFUL. TOILETS AND COFFEE WERE NEXT ON THE AGENDA.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, THE AUSSIES AND NEW ZEALANDERS DON’T KNOW WHAT BREWED COFFEE IS ALL ABOUT. COFFEE HERE IS EITHER EXPRESSO, CAPPUCCINOS OR LATTES. WE EXITED ONE COFFEE SHOP AFTER A LONG DISCUSSION WITH THE “BREWMASTER” WHO WAS GOING TO WATER DOWN HIS CONCOCTION. HE STILL DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WE MEANT BY COFFEE CREAM. CREAM WITH YOUR COFFEE MEANS, WHIPPED OR STEAMED MILK.

WHEN WE HIT THE SIDEWALK SOME FELLOW SAYS TO ME, “LOST YOUR BEARING MATE.” I EXPLAINED OUR SITUATION AND ASK IF HE KNEW WHERE THE MCDONALD’S WAS LOCATED. “MCDONALD’S,” HE EXCLAIMED, “YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.” UNDERSTANDING OUR PREDICAMENT HE POINTED US IN THE PROPER DIRECTION AND AWAY WE WENT.

SEVERAL BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET TOWARD THE ESPLANADE WAS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED. ALTHOUGH IT TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES TO EXPLAIN OUR REQUEST TO THE YOUNG GIRL BEHIND THE COUNTER, WE WERE ABLE TO GET TWO FRESHLY BREWED CUPS OF COFFEE, WITH COFFEE CREAM.

WHILE DRINKING OUR COFFEE GEORGIA STRUCK UP A CONVERSATION WITH A COUPLE AT THE NEXT TABLE WHO WERE ON HOLIDAY. THEY WERE AUSSIES. THE MENTIONED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER WAS WARM, ACTUALLY HOT, THEY HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY TOUR COMPANIES TO TAKE THEM TO THE REEF FOR OVER FIVE DAYS BECAUSE OF THE CHOPPY WATER OF THE COAST. WEALSO FOUND OUT A CYCLONE WAS HEADED TOWARD QUEENSLAND.

WE ENJOYED OUR COFFEE AND EVEN CRACKED OPEN A PACK OF COOKIES BEFORE STROLLING ACROSS THE STREET TO THE PUBLIC PARK AND POOL. THE PLACE WAS SCENIC, CLEAN AND THE SUNBATHERS WERE NOT ROUTY OR DISORDERLY.

WE RETURNED TO THE SHIP HOT, SWEATY AND THINKING THE POOL WOULD BE THE IDEAL PLACE TO COOL OFF. JUST AS WE METERED THE POOL THE CLOUDS MOVED IN OVER THE MOUNTAIN RANGE. ALTHOUGH MANY OF THE PASSENGERS WERE STILL OUT AND ABOUT GOT CAUGHT IN THE STROM, IT HARDLY SPRINKLED ON THE SHIP. WE WERE WET ALREADY, SO THERE WASN’T ANY PROBLEM IF IT HAD RAINED.

THE PLAN WAS TO STAY AT THE POOL FOR AN HOUR, GO BACK AND CHANGE CLOTHES AND HEAD TO THE GRILL FOR HAMBURGERS AND FRIES. AFTER DINNER WE REVIEWED MORE PICTURES ONE MORE STORY BEFORE TURNING OUT THE LIGHTS TONIGHT. AS YOU KNOW FROM PREVIOUS ENTRIES WE HAVE HAD OUR SHARE OF ROUGH SEA. FROM TIME TO TIME, AND ONLY A NIGHT, WE HEAR A RATTLE, SOMETIMES A HARD BANGING, IN THE CEILING ABOVE OUR BEDS. ALTHOUGH WE TOLD OUR CABIN STEWARD, SAMMY, AND THE FRONT DESK PERSONNEL, IT WAS FELT THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED WAS TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE WHEN THE NOISE OCCURRED. THE TIME OF NIGHT WAS NOT A CONCERN FOR THE SHIP STAFF, JUST CALL.

SO, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, THE SEA BEGAN TO GET ROUGH ABOUT 10:00 PM, AND WE HAD JUST A LITTLE NOISE TO START. BY 11:00 THE NOISE WAS MUCH LOUDER AND WE CALLED THE FRONT DESK. SURE ENOUGH THE NIGHTWATCH CAME TO THE DOOR, EXAMINED THE SITUATION AND SAID SHE WOULD RETURN WITH HELP. AT 11:30 THE PHONE RINGS AND THE NIGHTWATCH LETS ME KNOW SHE HASN’T FORGOTTEN US. OUR PROBLEM WAS THE NOISE WAS BEGINNING TO SUBSIDE. WOULD THE NOISE EVEN BE THERE WHEN THEY RETURNED. WOULD IT BE LIKE BEING SICK AS A DOG AND WHEN GETTING TO THE DOCTOR....WELL YOU GET THE IDEA.

OUR CABIN IS NOT THE SMALLEST WE HAVE EVER HAD NOR IS IT THE BIGGEST. IT DOES HOWEVER ACCOMMODATE FOUR PEOPLE, BUT ONLY BECAUSE IT HAS TWO BUNK BEDS THAT DROP FROM THE CEILING. THE SEA IS BEGINNING TO CHURN MORE BUT THE NOISE IS BEGINNING TO FADE. IF THE NIGHT WATCH DOESN’T COME BACK WITH THE MAINTENANCE MAN, HE’S GOING TO THINK WE ARE CRAZY.

FINALLY A RAP ON THE DOOR, AND THANKFULLY THE MAINTENANCE MAN WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE NIGHT WATCH. HE LISTENED VERY CAREFULLY, AND NOTHING. I MENTIONED THE NOISE GOT EVEN LOUDER AND TRAVELLED THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE CEILING, BUT STILL NO NOISE. THE NOISE WAS IN THE CORNER SAID THE NIGHT WATCH, HOPEFULLY ELIMINATING ALL DOUBTS IN THE MIND OF THE MAINTENANCE MAN WE WERE CRAZY.

JUST A TINY RATTLE WOULD DO, I THOUGHT, EVEN THE SOUND OF A FLUSHING COMMODE, ANYTHING. AND THEN, JUST THE SLIGHTEST OF SOUND OF THE NOISE. HE WAS NOT IMPRESSED. GEORGIA TOLD HIM, I KNOW THERE IS A BUNK BED UP IN THE CEILING, OPEN THE THING UP AND LETS SEE WHAT IS LOOSE.

RELUCTANTLY HE OPENED THE LATCH AND LOWERED THE BED. LIFTING THE MATTRESS HE REMOVED THE METAL LADDER AND A CURVED METAL BAR. MAYBE THIS COULD BE THE PROBLEM. IT IS WORTH A TRY. HE PUSHED THE BED BACK INTO THE CEILING, AND THE TOOK THE LADDER WITH THEM. WAS IT THE PROBLEM, WOULD WE SLEEP IN NOISELESS COMFORT?

WELL, THE SEA BECAME VERY ROUGH AS THE NIGHT PROGRESSED. SO MUCH SO IT WOKE ME SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE CEILING PRODUCED NO MORE RATTLES.

THE ONE QUESTION I STILL HAVE IS WHY DOESN’T THE BUNK BED ABOVE GEORGIA’S SIDE OF OUR BED MAKE ANY NOISE?
MY INPUT ---- BECAUSE I HAVE ANGELS HOLDING THE LADDERS STILL.

DAY 47 - AT SEA - OFF COAST OF BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15, 2010

YESTERDAY WHILE TALKING TO THE KIDS JOSH LET US KNOW HE HAS BEEN PLAYING WITH THE VARSITY TEAM WHEN NEEDED. YOU COULD HEAR THE EXCITEMENT IN HIS VOICE. WE SURE WERE HAPPY FOR HIM. DECLAN WAS PLEASED TO SHARE WITH GEORGIA THAT KOALAS ARE NOT BEARS, AS SHE HAD STATED IN HER CONVERSATION WITH HIM. “THEY ARE NOT BEARS, GRANDMA, THEY ARE MARSUPIALS.”

SCOTT’S JOB WILL PROBABLY END IN MID APRIL, AND WE UNDERSTAND FROM GRANNY HE PLANS COMING TO PITTSBURGH FOR A WHILE. SCOTT MENTIONED TO US THAT HE INTENDS TO GO TO BEE’S WEDDING IN LOUISVILLE. BEE IS GETTING MARRIED ON THE 10TH OF APRIL.

MEANWHILE BACK TO THE SHIP.

AS MOST SEA DAYS GO TODAY WAS NOT ACTIVE. GEORGIA WENT TO A FEW CLASSES AND I SPENT MOST OF THE DAY PRINTING MY BANK STATEMENTS SO I COULD RECONCILE THEM TO MY COMPUTER PROGRAM. GEORGIA’S ACCOUNTS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE BUT MINE ARE OFF A FEW DOLLARS. I THINK IT’S THAT WAY BECAUSE I JUST SWITCHED TO A NEW SOFTWARE PACKAGE WENT WE GOT THE APPLE LAPTOP. SOONER OR LATER, IT WILL GET RECONCILED.

THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY WAS SPENT BRINGING THE BLOG UP TO DATE. I WAS BEHIND THE TWO DAYS IN SYDNEY AND THE THREE DAYS AT SEA PRIOR TO ARRIVING IN SYDNEY.

WE ATTENDED THE LATE SHOW THIS EVENING. THE GROUP WAS CALLED THE ENCORES AND VERY TALENTED. THEY ALL HAD OPERATIC TYPE VOICES AND BY SHOWS END THEY SANG SEVERAL SONGS THAT GEORGIA AND I RECOGNIZED FROM OUR BOCELLI CD’S.

DAY 48 - AT SEA - WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 16, 2010

WE BEGAN THE DAY WITH BREAKFAST ON THE PRIVATE VERANDA, WITH LOTS OF UNINVITED GUESTS. IT WAS SO WARM, WITH JUST A SLIGHT BREEZE GEORGIA AND I DECIDED TO DO SOME iPHOTO WORK AT OUR TABLE. WE WATCHED AND EDITED PICTURES TAKEN FROM ABRUBA THROUGH GUATEMALA. WE WERE HERE FROM 9:30 UNTIL 3:30.

WE HAD NO INTENTIONS OF EATING LUNCH AT THE BUFFET BUT THE FOOD SMELLED SO GOOD, AS THE UNINVITED GUEST WALKED BY, THE TEMPTATIONS OVERTOOK US. TODAY ALL THE FOOD ITEMS WERE FROM ASIA, IT WAS JUST TO GOOD TO PASS UP. THEREFORE, SO YOU DON’T THINK WE ARE PIGS, WE SKIPPED DINNER IN THE DINING ROOM, AGAIN. WE CAN BE GOOD AT TIMES.

ADDITIONALLY, WE CAVED IN AND WENT TO THE STAFF PRODUCTION, “SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL.” I HATE TO SAY IT BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD.


DAY 49 - AT SEA - OFF COAST OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 17, 2010

WE HAD NOT REALIZED IT UNTIL TODAY BUT WE TOOK ON A NEW CAPTAIN IN SYDNEY. THE CAPTAIN ALTERED THE COURSE TO CAIRNS BY TRAVELING THROUGH THE WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS OFF THE COAST OF BRISBANE.

THE GROUP OF ISLANDS WAS DISCOVERED BY NONE OTHER THAN CAPT. COOK, WHAT DIDN’T HE DISCOVER, AROUND THE 1750’S. THERE ARE 84 ISLANDS IN THE GROUP, ONLY 8 ARE INHABITED. THE LARGEST OF THOSE IS HAMILTON WHICH WE SAILED BY IN MID MORNING.

AFTER WATCHING THE SCENERY SAIL BY I BEGAN TRANSFERRING THE BLOG MATERIAL TO THE WEB. THE TEXT TAKES VERY LITTLE TIME BUT THE PICTURES TAKE A LONG TIME. IF I TRY ATTACHING MORE THAN ONE, IT BECOMES A HIT AND MISS ADVENTURE, SOMETIMES TAKING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE GETTING ANY ACCEPTABLE RESULTS.

GEORGIA AND I WENT TO THE FREE LECTURE ON DIGITAL PHOTOS AND WE FOLLOWED UP WITH A PRESENTATION BY MAJOR GENERAL MARK ROSENKER TALKING ABOUT WHITE HOUSE SECURITY AND WHAT GOES INTO KEEPING THE PRESIDENT SAFE. HE HEADED THE STAFF THAT DID EXACTLY THOSE THINGS UNDER BUSH 43.

FRANKIE HAD A GATHERING IN THE CASINO LOUNGE CONCERNING INVESTING. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 50 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. LOTS OF GOOD DISCUSSION BUT NOBODY WAS WILLING TO TALK DIRECTLY ABOUT WHAT THEY SPECIFICALLY MADE THEIR INVESTMENTS IN.

WE RETURNED TO THE CABIN TO GET READY FOR DINNER IN THE DINING ROOM, FOR A CHANGE. AS I OPEN THE CABIN DOOR I SAW A WHITE PAPER ON THE BED AND I KNEW IT WAS NOT GOOD NEWS. IT DIDN’T LOOK LIKE THE USUAL IMMIGRATION STUFF.

I WAS RIGHT, IT WAS FROM THE TOUR OFFICE. THE TOUR OFFICE HAD BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE SHORE AGENT THAT THE BARRIER REEF TRIP WOULD BE VERY ROUGH AND ANYONE WISHING TO CANCEL COULD DO SO BY 5:00. GEORGIA AND I FELT THE 90 MINUTE TRIP GETTING THEIR WOULD PROBABLY BE THE TOUGH PART AND WE WOULD CHANCE IT.

WE TALKED TO CINDY AND RICK AT OUR DINNER TABLE AND HE WAS STILL GOING BUT CINDY FELT BETTER STAYING BACK ON THE SHIP, WASHING, RELAXING AND SLEEPING. HOWEVER BY THE TIME WE RETURNED TO THE ROOM AFTER DINNER THE TRIP HAD BEEN CANCELLED ENTIRELY.

THERE WERE ONLY TWO OTHER TOURS AND GEORGIA AND I JUST FELT LIKE STAYING AROUND THE TOWN. IT WOULD BE A BREAK FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF TOURING. WE ENJOY WALKING THROUGH THE TOWNS AND CITIES, BUT, HAVEN’T HAD THE CHANCE WITH THE SCHEDULE OF TOURS WE BOOKED BEFORE EVEN GETTING ON THE SHIP.

DAY 46 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 14, 2010

THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ON OUR PART AS TO THE CORRECT TIME OF OUR TOUR FOR TODAY. THE “PATTER” DIDN’T LIST THE TIME SO AFTER BREAKFAST WE INQUIRED, BUT NOBODY KNEW AND THE TOUR OFFICE WAS CLOSED. THE TICKET NEVER GIVES AN INDICATION. WE THOUGHT IT WAS 4:45, AND WE FELT OTHER PEOPLE WERE GOING ON A SIMILAR TOUR AT 1:45.

AS WE WERE LEAVING THE SHIP WE RAN INTO MARCOS, THE TOUR OFFICE GUY, AND WE ALL WENT BACK TO HIS OFFICE. THE TOUR SHEET LISTED THE TOUR AT 1:45 AND A RETURN TIME OF 4:45. QUESTION WAS, DID WE WANT TO DO THE HARBOR CRUISE THAT EARLY. THERE WAS NO TOUR AT 4:45.
WE WENT WITH THE FLOW AND STAYED WITH THE 1:45 DEPARTURE. IN THE MEANTIME WE MADE SEVERAL CALLS BACK HOME UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO MEET OUTSIDE THE SHIP TERMINAL.

A GROUP OF ABOUT 60 PEOPLE MADE THE WALK DOWN TO THE FERRY TERMINAL AND AS OUR GUIDE GOT THE TICKETS WE FORMED A LINE. GEORGIA AND I WERE FIRST IN LINE AND WHEN WE WERE ALLOWED ON THE BOAT WE MADE OUR WAY UP THE STAIRS TO THE UPPER DECK FOR AN OUTDOOR SEAT. IT WAS A GREAT SEAT AT THAT WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS, A CLEAR VIEW FOR ALL OUR PICTURE TAKING.

THE HARBOR CRUISE CONTINUES FOR 2 HOURS AND EVERY MINUTE IS PACKED WITH SCENIC VIEWS. CLOSEUPS OF THE OPERA HOUSE, THE BRIDGE AND MANY MORE SITES ALONG THE WAY. WE EVEN SAW THE NUDE BEACH, FOR MEN ONLY, AND WHAT A SITE IT WAS. ALL GUYS PARADING AROUND IN THEIR BIRTHDAY SUITS.

AS WE CONTINUED PASSED THE HIGH PRICED HARBOR VIEW HOMES, EACH NICER THAN THE ONE NEXT TO IT, WE EVENTUALLY FOUND OURSELVES AT THE VERY ENTRANCE TO THE HARBOR WHERE IT MEETS THE PACIFIC OCEAN. IT HAS BEEN SAID SYDNEY HARBOR IS THE LARGEST NATURAL HARBOR IN THE WORLD. IT TOOK CLOSE TO AN HOUR TO REACH THE ENTRANCE POINT AND THE CLIFFS AND CHANNEL OFFSHOOTS WERE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

EACH OFFSHOOT CHANNEL HAD IT’S OWN UNIQUE FEATURES, SOME WITH BEACHES AND OTHERS WITH WATERSIDE RESTAURANTS. BUILDING CODE PREVENTS UGLY HIGH RISE APARTMENTS FORM MESSING UP THE SHORELINE. THE AREA IS FILLED WITH HISTORY AT EVERY BEND AND THE SHORELINE IS DOTTED WITH DOZENS OF LIGHTHOUSES, MOST OF WHICH WERE ERECTED BECAUSE OF SOME TRAGIC MISHAP OF YEARS AGO. THE HARBOR IS ALSO ONE OF THE DEEPEST AND THERE ARE SEVERAL SHIPS AT THE BOTTOM.

AS WE RETURNED TO THE CITY OUR BOAT TRAVELED UNDER THE HARBOR BRIDGE AND THEN CIRCLED BACK TO THE FERRY TERMINAL. GEORGIA AND I DECIDED NOT TO RETURN TO THE SHIP BUT INSTEAD HEAD FOR THE KIOSK STANDS ON ARGYLE STREET. WE FOLLOWED UP WITH A WALK TO THE KIOSK STANDS ON ST GEORGE STREET BEFORE RETURN TO THE PLAZA ADJACENT TO THE SHIP TERMINAL.

WE SAT ON A PARK BENCH FOR 45 MINUTES AND OBSERVED PEOPLE AS THE WALKED BY. PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD, TOURIST, LOCALS AND ENTERTAINERS. JUST BEFORE HEADING BACK TO THE SHIP WE SAW A YOUNG COUPLE WALKING ALONG THE PROMENADE. HE WAS WEARING A PITTSBURGH PENGUIN SHIRT. AS HE GOT CLOSER I BEGAN YELLING “PENGUINS, PENGUINS, PITTSBURGH, PITTSBURGH. THE GIRL LOOKED OVER OUR WAY AND SMILED, HE NEVER MADE ANY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

DAY 45 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13, 2010

ALTHOUGH WE VERY MUCH EXPECTED TO AWAKE IN TIME TO SEE THE SHIP ENTER THE SYDNEY HARBOR, SLEEP WON OUT. WE OPEN OUR EYES TO A DARK ROOM, REACHED FOR THE FLASH LIGHT TO SHINE ON MY WATCH, JUST IN CASE IT WAS 3:00 IN THE MORNING, WE DETERMINED THE SUN WAS UP. QUICKLY TURNING ON THE TV, WE TURNED TO CHANNEL 46, FOR THE BRIDGE CAM VIEW. WE WERE FIRMLY DOCKED, NO SWAYING OR DIPPING, JUST CALM. THE CAMERA DOESN’T GIVE THE BEST PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IS AROUND THE SHIP, BUT WE KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT WE WERE IN DOWNTOWN SYDNEY.

WITHOUT HASTE, WE GOT READY FOR BREAKFAST BEFORE OUR TOUR GROUP MEETING AT 9:30 IN THE LOUNGE. REACHING OUR FAVORITE 9TH FLOOR OUTDOOR DECK THE VIEW WAS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. AS WE LOOKED TO THE RIGHT, ACROSS THE PIER, WAS THE VISUAL ICON OF THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE WITH THE SUN GLISTENING OFF THE SHELL LIKE PANELS THAT FORM THE ROOF. TO OUR LEFT WAS THE MASSIVE SYDNEY HARBOR BRIDGE WHICH STRETCHES ACROSS THE BAY CONNECTING CENTRAL SYDNEY TO THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN SUBURBS.

LOOKING CLOSER AT THE BRIDGES YOU COULD OBSERVE GROUPS OF 12 TO 15 PEOPLE WALKING ALONG THE TOP EDGE OF THE BRIDGE. FURTHER EXAMINATION SHOWED SEVERAL GROUPS ALREADY COMING DOWN THE STRUCTURE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. BRIDGE CLIMBING TOURS OPERATE ABOUT EVERY 15 MINUTES AT A COST OF $250 $AU. THE LOCAL AUSSIE’S AFFECTIONATELY REFER TO THE BRIDGE AS THE “COAT HANGER.”

WE WASTED NO TIME IN FEEDING OUR BODIES, THEY ARE SO UNDERNOURISHED ON THIS TRIP, AND PREPARED FOR THE ALL DAY EXCURSION TO AN AREA 60 MILES FROM SYDNEY CALL ED BLUE MOUNTAIN. THE NAME IS DERIVED DUE TO THE BLUE CAST CREATED BY THE EUCALYPTUS TREES WHICH GROW SO PROFUSELY IN THE FORREST.
SOON AFTER GETTING OUR STICKER SIGNIFYING WHICH GROUP TO FOLLOW, LIKE GOOD LITTLE SHEEP, WE EXITED THE BOAT, MARCHED THROUGH THE TERMINAL AND TO OUR BUS. THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE ON THIS TOUR IT REQUIRED 3 BUSES, THAT WAS ALMOST 1/4 THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THE CRUISE. THE THREE BUS CARAVAN PULLED AWAY FROM THE TERMINAL AND BEGAN WINDING THROUGH THE NARROW STREETS OF THE ROCK DISTRICT. THE ROCK, AS IT IS KNOWN, IS AN OLDER SECTION OF THE CITY FILLED WITH SHOPS, BARS, RESTAURANTS AND 100’S OF KIOSK ON AUTO FREE STREETS.

THE PLACE IS ALIVE WITH LOCALS AND TOURIST ALIKE ALL DAY LONG. IN THE EVENING WHEN THE KIOSK CLOSE DOWN THE RESTAURANTS DRAW THE CROWDS. SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS HAVE AWESOME VIEWS OF THE BAY, THE BRIDGE, OPERA HOUSE AND CITY, OTHERS ARE JUST GREAT PLACES TO EAT WITH PLENTY OF ATMOSPHERE. BUT, I DIGRESS, ON WITH THE TOUR.

THE CARAVAN HEADED THROUGH THE CITY SOUTH MAKING BEND AFTER BEND UNTIL REACHING ANOTHER EYE CATCHING BRIDGE. IT WAS A MODERN STRUCTURE WITH LARGE SUPER STRUCTURES AT EACH END. LONG IRON COIL CABLE STRANDS REACHED FROM IT’S TOP DOWN TO THE ROADWAY. THE BRIDGE IS AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO AS MADONNA’S BRA. THE REAL NAME IS THE DARLING BRIDGE. BUT, I DIGRESS, AGAIN.

BEFORE LONG WE WERE HEADING WEST THROUGH SMALL AND LARGE TOWNS ON OUR WAY TO THE WILDLIFE ANIMAL REFUSE. MANY OF US WERE QUITE SURPRISED AT THE EXTRA STOP BECAUSE IT WAS NOT LISTED IN THE ITINERARY. IT TURNED A TREAT NOT TO BE MISSED.

THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS ARE KOALAS AND KANGAROOS. ADDITIONALLY THERE ARE DOZENS OF VARIETIES OF BIRDS, WALLABIES, AND CROC’S. THE PLACE IS DESIGNED TO LEAD YOU THROUGH EACH SECTION EVENTUALLY ENDING UP WITH THE KOALAS AND KANGAROOS. YOU NEVER SAW SO MANY ADULTS RUN SO FAST STRAIGHT TO THE KOALAS. (THEY ARE NOT BEARS) IT WAS PICTURES WITH THE KOALAS. IT WAS BETTER THAN SITTING ON SANTA’S LAP.

KOALAS SLEEP 20 HOURS EACH DAY, UNLESS YOU CONSTANTLY FEED THEM. MANY OF THE SMALLER KOALAS WERE SOUND ASLEEP, IN TREES, IN THEIR DISPLAYS. THEY ARE JUST AS CUTE SLEEPING AS WHEN AWAKE AND EATING. OUR STOP LASTED A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR BEFORE BOARDING THE BUS FOR THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

WE TRAVELED FOR ANOTHER 60 MINUTES, SOME ON HIGHWAYS BUT MOSTLY THROUGH SMALL MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES, UNTIL WE REACHED THE SUMIT. FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS...EATING. THE FACILITIES INCLUDE A GIFT SHOP, RESTAURANT, CABLE CARS AND WHAT THEY REFER TO AS THE TRAIN. (MORE LATER ON THE TRAIN)

THE CENTER SECTION OF THE RESTAURANT REVOLVES TWICE EVERY HOUR PROVIDING A PANORAMIC VIEW FOR THE MOUNTAINS, FORREST AND VALLEY AS YOU ENJOY YOUR MEAL.

THE LUNCH WAS BUFFET, AND ALTHOUGH INCLUDING THE USUAL ITEMS, CHICKEN, VEGGIES AND ALL DAT STUFF (PGH TALK) WE TRIED ONE OF THE SPECIALTIES, STIR-FRIED KANGAROO. NO, IT DIDN’T TASTE LIKE CHICKEN, BUT, IT WAS VERY GOOD. GEORGIA EVEN TRIED IT. WHILE WE ATE OUR GUIDE GAVE US THE TICKETS FOR THE TRAIN RIDE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND THE RETURN TRIP ON THE CABLE CAR. WE WERE FREE TO GO AS WE PLEASED AS LONG AS WE WERE BACK ON THE BUS AT 3:00.

IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO TAKE THE TRAIN DOWN AND THE CABLE BACK TO THE TOP AND THAT IS WHAT WE DID. AS WE WAITED FOR THE TRAIN TO ARRIVE YOU BEGAN TO IMAGINE WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN DURING THIS ADVENTURE. THERE WAS NO TRACK FOR THE TRAIN...JUST CABLE. THE CABLE WAS NOT STRUNG ABOVE YOUR HEAD BUT INSTEAD RAN ALONG THE GROUND

THERE WERE ABOUT 100 OF US WAITING AND THEN WE SAW THE CABLE BEGIN TO MOVE. THE “TRAIN” WOULD SOON ARRIVE BUT WHAT WERE WE TO EXPECT. WE HEARD THE NOISE AS IT GOT CLOSER, LOUDER AND LOUDER IT BECAME AND THEN EXITING THROUGH THE SMALL DARK HOLE OF VEGETATION CAME THE “TRAIN.”

THERE WERE THREE CARS CONNECTED, EACH WITH 6 OR 7 ROWS OF PLASTIC BENCH TYPE SEAT. VERY LITTLE LEG ROOM FOR TALL GUYS AND EVEN LESS HEAD ROOM FOR SHORT PEOPLE LET ALONE A TALL GUY. WHY YOU ASK? THE CARS ARE COVERED WITH STURDY WIRE MESH, TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING OUT. I THINK WE HAD MORE PROTECTIONS THAN MOST ROLLA-COASTERS. WE MADE OUR COMMITMENT AND IF WE EXPECTED TO WALK ALONG THE BOARDWALK IN THE FORREST BELOW, WE HAD NO CHOICE.

ALTHOUGH THERE WAS ROOM FOR SEVERAL MORE PEOPLE IN OUR ROW NOBODY BOTHERED US SO WE STRETCHED OUT ON AN ANGLE TO SPARE THE LEGS. THE MAN IN CONTROL GAVE THE SIGN WE WERE ABOUT TO EMBARK DOWN THE MOUNTAINSIDE. THE BREAK WAS RELEASED AND WE WERE OFF LIKE A BULLET OUT OF A GUN. IN LESS THAN A SECOND WE WERE IN TOTAL DARKNESS AND THE ANGLE OF OUR DROP BECAME NOTICEABLE STEEPER, EVEN IN THE DARK. OCCASIONALLY A RAY OF LIGHT, AND BACK TO DARKNESS. YOU FELT DROPS OF LIQUID, HOPEFULLY WATER, HIT YOUR HEAD, HAND OR ANY OTHER PART OF YOUR BODY NOT COVERED WITH CLOTHING. IT WAS BACK TO RAYS OF LIGHT BUT THE FORREST GROWTH WAS SO THICK IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHEN OR WHERE THE TRIP WOULD END. I’M NOT SURE OF THE TOTAL TIME ELAPSED, COULDN’T HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 45 SECONDS, BUT, AND EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN’T HAVE CURVES AND LOOPS, IT WAS AS THRILLING AS ANY COASTER RIDE.

HAVING REACH THE BOTTOM, WE GAZED AT THE BEAUTIFUL VALLEY BEFORE US. THE DRAK GREEN FOLIAGE OF THE TREES MIXED WITH THE LIGHT GREEN FOLIAGE OF THE VARIOUS SPECIES OF PLANTS WHILE WILDLIFE SOUNDS CAME FROM ALL SIDES. WE BEGAN TO FOLLOW THE BOARDWALK THROUGH THE THICK UNDERBRUSH, STOPPING FREQUENTLY TO READ THE SIGNS OR STARE INTO A CAVE OR MINE. FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT NOT OFTEN, THE SUN WOULD SHINE THROUGH THE TREE TOPS REACHING THE FORREST FLOOR FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE WIND WOULD PICKUP AGAIN. LARGE PIECES OF FALLEN ROCK FROM THE CLIFFS ABOVE WOULD BE PERCHED AT PRECARIOUS ANGLES ONLY FEET AWAY. WHATS HOLDS THEM IN PLACE AND WHAT IF IT SHOULD BEGIN TO MOVE WERE THE THOUGHTS RUNNING THROUGH MY HEAD. ON OTHER OCCASIONS YOU COULD PEAK THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE TREES TO SEE THE JAGGED CLIFFS ABOVE. THE COLORS, ALTHOUGH NOT LIKE THE GRAND CANYON, RANGED FROM REDS, TO BROWNS AND EVEN BLACK.

THE BOARDWALK MEANDERS FOR ABOUT 3/4 MILE, FREQUENTLY WITH OFFSHOOTS FOR THE FOOLHARDY, LEADING YOU TO YOUR ESCAPE TO THE TOP, THIS TIME BY A LESS TAXING, MORE SERENE AND PICTURESQUE CABLE CAR.

NOT EVERYONE MADE IT BACK TO THE BUS BY 3:00, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IT SEEMED ALRIGHT...THE SHIP WASN’T LEAVING TONIGHT. WE HAD ONE MORE GLORIOUS DAY IN SYDNEY TO ENJOY. OUR TRIP BACK TO THE SHIP INCLUDED A FEW SMALL MOUNTAIN TOP TOWNS WITH NUMEROUS ARTSY ENVIRONMENTS AND BEAUTIFULLY MANICURED LAWNS, MANY OF WHICH BEGAN SHOWING SIGNS OF THE FALL SEASON SETTING IN.

WE ARRIVE AT THE SHIP TERMINAL AT 6:15. STILL NEEDING TO BUY STAMPS FOR OUR POSTCARDS, WE EXITED THE BUS WILLING TO ROAM THE AREA BUT THE RAIN BEGAN TO FALL. WE MADE A QUICK CALCULATION AS TO THE TIME OF DAY IN THE STATES AND REALIZED IT WOULD BE RUDE TO CALL AT 2:00 A.M., HOWEVER IT WAS STILL FRIDAY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ONLY 11:00 P.M.

BEFORE LEAVING THE SHIP THIS MORNING, WE CHECKED THE SYDNEY ACCESS NUMBERS FOR IDT. WOULD THE NUMBERS BE BLOCKED HERE AS THEY WERE IN NEW ZEALAND OR WOULD WE HAVE SUCCESS. FOR THE FIRST TIME THE NUMBERS WORKED. WE TALKED TO SCOTT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND BY THE TIME WE FINISHED THE RAIN HAD STOPPED AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO EXPLORE THE SHOPS AROUND THE PIER AREA.

THE FIRST STOP WAS THE ATM AND THEN IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG TO FIND A PLACE SELLING STAMPS. WE PAID $9.00 FOR 6 STAMPS, AN EXTRA .60 CENTS FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE QUICK STOP STORE. WE CONTINUED TO STROLL ALONG THE MAIN STREET IN FRONT OF THE FERRY DOCKS. AT THE TOP OF THE HILL WE TURNED ONTO GEORGE STREET AND BEGAN OUR TREK PASSED SEVERAL PUBS WITH LOUD MUSIC. MOST OF THE SHOPS WERE CLOSED AND ALL THE KIOSK STANDS ON ARGYLE STREET WERE EMPTY. WALKING FURTHER ALONG GEORGE STREET WE ENCOUNTERED A SET OF STAIRS LEADING TO THE OBSERVATION AREA AT THE END OF THE SHIP TERMINAL. THE OPERA HOUSE WAS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM US, UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW, AND THE BRIDGE WAS NEARLY ABOVE OUR HEADS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WERE THE SERIES OF OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS TO OUR LEFT.

WE HAD ASK OUR TOUR GUIDE IF SHE KNOW IF THE AREA CONTAINED A RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE. THIS DREW A BLANK NOT ONLY FROM HER BUT THE BUS DRIVER ALSO. SHE DID, HOWEVER, RECOMMEND WOLFE’S. WELL, WHAT TO OUR WONDROUS EYES DID APPEAR...YOU GOT IT...WOLFE’S. WE CHECKED OUT THE MENU, MADE AN INQUIRY, AND WAS INFORMED THEY WERE FILLED FOR THE NIGHT. “WE OPEN AT NOON TOMORROW, DON’T NEED A RESERVATION FOR THEN.”

BUSINESS CARD IN HAND WE STARTED FOR THE NEXT PLACE WHEN WE HEARD, “HEY, WE JUST HAD A CANCELLATION, WE CAN TAKE YOU NOW.” ALL THE TABLES ARE UNDERCOVER, BIG TENT LIKE MATERIAL, AND LUCKY FOR US IT WAS, AS WE GOT COMFORTABLE IT BEGAN TO RAIN, MAKE THAT POUR. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, STOMACHS FULL, SATISFIED AND NOT A DROP OF RAIN TO BE FOUND, WE TOOK A FEW NIGHT SHOTS AND HEADED FOR THE SHIP FOR A GOOD NIGHT OF SLEEP.

DAY 42 - AT SEA - MARCH 10, 2010

TODAY WAS ANOTHER LIGHT DAY OF ACTIVITY. TONIGHT WAS FORMAL NIGHT AND EVERYONE AT OUR TABLE MADE IT. OUR WAITER AND THE HEAD WAITER FOR OUR SECTION GAVES US ALL GREETINGS AND INTRODUCED THEMSELVES AGAIN. WE ALL HAD A GOOD TIME LAUGH AND ATE WELL, AGAIN.

GEORGIA AND I SKIPPED THE SHOW THIS EVENING GOING BACK TO THE ROOM TO CHANGE INTO MORE COMFORTABLE CLOTHES. WE THEM HEADED FOR THE QUIET SIDE OF THE BUFFET, NOT FOR FOOD, AND LOOKED AT SOME OF OUR PICTURES, MAKING ADJUSTMENTS AND ELIMINATIONS AS NEEDED. WE HAVE TAKEN ABOUT 2000 PIX SO FAR. IT’S ROUGH TRYING TO CHOSE WHICH ONES TO TRASH.

WE HIT THE SACK EARLY BUT FIRST HAD TO SET THE CLOCKS BACK AN HOUR AS WE HEAD TO SYDNEY. I THINK WE GAIN ANOTHER HOUR TONIGHT. DURING THE NIGHT THE SEA TURNED BUMMPY AGAIN. I SUPPOSE TOMORROW WE WILL BE PINBALLS BOUNCING OFF THE SIDE RAILS.


DAY 43 - AT SEA - MARCH 11, 2010

EARLY TO RISE TODAY. WE GOT TO BREAKFAST BEFORE HEADING TO AN AT SEA IMMIGRATION INSPECTION FOR AUSTRALIA BEFORE 10:00. BREAKFAST STARTED ON THE BACK DECK BUT QUICKLY MOVED INDOORS WHEN A SUDDEN WINDY 10 MINUTE RAIN STORM POPPED UP OUT OF NOWHERE. THE SEA CONTINUES TO BE ROUGH AND WE DO FEEL LIKE PINBALLS BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS.

WE MANAGED TO GET THROUGH THE IMMIGRATION LINE QUICKLY AND MADE IT TO THE PORT SYDNEY PRESENTATION. WE HAVE TOURS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY AND EARLY SUNDAY EVENING, LEAVING THE DAY FREE. WE JUST LEARNED SYDNEY HAS A BOUBLE-DECKER BUS THAT TAKES US THROUGHOUT THE CITY, 27 DIFFERENT STOPS, WITH ON-OFF PRIVILEGES AS OFTEN AS YOU LIKE FOR ONLY ONE FEE. THE ENTIRE TRIP TAKES 2 HOURS AND WE THINK WE MIGHT TRY THAT ON SUNDAY BEFORE THE HARBOR CRUISE.

WE TRIED AGAIN TO WATCH ONE OF THE SERMONS FROM CHURCH ON THE NET BUT THE FEED IS VERY INTERMITTENT AND NOT WORTH THE EFFORT. WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST THE S.H.A.G. TAPE BUT CHARLES STANLEY DID THE SAME.


DAY 44 - AT SEA - MARCH 12, 2010

LAZY DAY, DID NOTHING BUT EAT AND GO TO THE MOVIE AT NIGHT. TOMORROW ABOUT 250 PEOPLE GET OFF THE SHIP. WE EXPECT 250 NEW PASSENGERS TO BOARD FOR SEGMENT 3 OF THE CRUISE, SYDNEY TO SINGAPORE.

WE TRIED ONE MORE TIME TO TAP INTO THE S.H.A.G. WEB SITE AND THIS TIME IT WORKED, ALMOST PERFECTLY. WE SAW THE BURNING OF THE MORTGAGE.

DAY 41 - PICTON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 9, 2010

WE WERE ALREADY DOCKED WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE MORNING BUFFET. I HATE CARRYING THE CAMERA TO BREAKFAST, SO MANY CHANCES OF SOMETHING BEING SPILLED AND ALL THAT STUFF. BUT, I SURE WISH I HAD IT WITH ME THIS MORNING. YOU JUST CAN’T IMAGINE HOW PRETTY THIS LITTLE SLEEPY TOWN CAN BE. ONLY 6000 PEOPLE AND IS IT EVER PICTURESQUE. I THOUGHT WE WERE IN A SMALL NEW ENGLAND SEASIDE TOWN.

THERE WERE BEAUTIFUL GREEN HILLSIDES WITH A LONG WATER CHANNEL WITH DOZENS OF COVES ON EITHER SIDE. SAIL BOATS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE BAY AND A LARGE FERRY BOAT DOCKED NEXT TO US. THE FERRIES RUN EVERY SEVERAL HOURS CARRYING CARS, TRUCKS, BIKERS AND FOOT PASSENGERS WANTING TO GO THE 40 MILES ACROSS THE STRAITS TO WELLINGTON, NZ. THE VEHICLES LINE UP ON A LONG BRIDGE TO WAIT THERE TURN BOARDING THE SHIP. NATURALLY, THE WAIT IS PROLONGED AS THE SOUTHBOUND VEHICLES EXIT THE FERRY. IT GOES ON THIS WAY ALL DAY LONG AND WE WERE FORTUNE ENOUGH TO SEE A DIFFERENT SHIP ARRIVE JUST BEFORE WE SET OUT TO SEA IN THE EVENING.

MEANWHILE, BACK TO THE DAYS ACTIVITIES.

OUR SCHEDULED MEETING TIME WAS 9:50 ON THE PIER. WE DECIDED TO GET OUT THERE EARLY TO GET BETTER SEATS ON THE BUS. AT 9:30 WE PUNCHED OUT AND WERE ON OUR WAY DOWN THE LONG PIER TO THE BUS BOARDING AREA. WE WERE MET BY TWO GUIDES, ONE FOR THE SHUTTLE THAT TRANSPORTS PASSENGERS TO THE LITTLE TOWN, AND OURS.

SHE HAD US BOARD THE BIG BUS WHERE WE WERE GREETED BY CHRIS WITH A BIG “GA DAY, WELCOME ABOARD.” 20 MINUTES LATER BOTH BUSES WERE FILLED AND WE WERE OFF THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE OF MARLBOROUGH.

MARLBOROUGH HAS BECOME NOTED FOR ITS FINE WINERIES AND IDEAL SOIL FOR GRAPE GROWING. OUR FIRST STOP HOWEVER WAS A BEAUTIFUL COUNTY HOME CALLED UPTON OAKS GARDENS. A YOUNG COUPLE BOUGHT THE RUNDOWN HOME AND GROUNDS IN THE LATE 80’S. THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABORS HAS PAID OFF IN THE CREATIONS OF A SPECTACULAR, ARAY OF GARDENS, PONDS AND ORCHIDS. WORDS OF COURSE CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE THE COLORS AND VARIETIES OF FLOWERS, FRUITS AND VEGGIES. SHE DOES ALL THE PLANTING AND ARRANGING AND HER HUSBANDS MAINTAINS ALL THE GROUNDS.

EACH GARDEN IS SEPARATED BY TALL HEDGES AND EACH GARDEN HAS A DIFFERENT THEME, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. EACH IS VERY SYMMETRICAL WITH SRUBBS CRISSCROSSING TO FORM TRIANGLES, SQUARES AND RECTANGLES. EACH FORM IS FILLED WITH VARIED PLANTS OF COLOR AND SPECIES. WHAT A MARVELOUS FIRST STOP.

WE WERE ALLOWED TO MEANDER FOR CLOSE TO AND HOUR BEFORE HEADING TO THE CLOUDY BAY WINERY FOR TASTE TESTING. GEORGIA ASK THE DRIVER TO STOP ALONG THE ROADSIDE, IF POSSIBLE, TO SEE FIELDS OF SHEEP THAT SOUTHERN NEW ZEALAND IS NOTED FOR. ABOUT HALF THE DISTANCE TO THE WINERY THE SHEEP WERE ALONG SIDE AND THE PHOTO OPT BEGAN. IT WAS AN EXTRA ADDED TREAT.

WE ARRIVED AT THE CLOUDY BAY WINERY ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING UPTON OAKS. THE WINERY GROUNDS ARE LINED WITH RIPENING FRUIT FOR AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE. HARVEST TIME IS EXPECTED IN APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS. THE GRAPES HAVE NOT REACHED THE STAGE OF SWEETNESS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE WINE OF ANY KIND JUST YET.

WE WERE LED INTO A ROOM FILLED WITH VARIOUS SIZE FRENCH OAK BARRELS, SOME WITH RED MARKINGS, ALL WITH IMPRINTS OF THE DATE PRODUCED. LONG TABLES WERE PLACED BETWEEN TWO OF THE ROWS AND 6 VARIETIES OF WINE WERE ALREADY POURED INTO GLASSES. THE SAMPLE SIZE IN EACH IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO GET HIGH, BUT IN TOTAL THERE WAS ABOUT 4 OZ. AFTER THE TASTING THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME TO PURCHASE WINE FOR SHIPMENT BACK HOME OR TO STROLL THE VINEYARD.

WE STROLLED THE GROUNDS, SNAPPING PICTURES OF THE FIELDS AND MOUNTAINS IN THE DISTANCE. THE CONTRAST OF THE GREEN VINES AND THE DRY, BROWN, BARRON HILLS MADE FOR GREAT SHOTS. OTHER THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE HILLSIDES WERE FILLED WITH LUSH DARK GREEN TREES TO OFFSET THE LIGHT GREEN OF THE GRAPE VINES.

BEFORE WE KNEW IT ANOTHER HOUR HAD DISAPPEARED AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO THE THIRD AND FINAL STOP, THE HERZOG WINERY AND RESTAURANT. WE KNEW IT WAS TIME TO EAT BECAUSE OUR STOMACHS TOLD US SO. HOWEVER OUR HERZOG HOST GUIDED US THROUGH THE VINEYARD, GARDENS AND BOTTLING OPERATION. MORE TASTE TESTING, ONLY THREE VARIETIES. I’M NOT BY ANY MEANS AN EXPERT BUT THIS WINE WAS OF BETTER QUALITY AND SMOOTHER GOING DOW THAN THAT OF THE CLOUDY BAY.

TWO BROTHERS FROM GERMANY, RESTAURANT GUYS, CAME TO NEW ZEALAND TO FIND A PLACE TO PRODUCE WINES FOR THEIR RESTAURANTS. THE PLAN WAS TO GROW THE GRAPES, PRDUCE THE WINE AND SHIP IT BACK TO THE RESTAURANTS IN GERMANY. AS YOU MIGHT GUESS, THINGS WENT SO WELL, THEY SOLD ALL THEIR HOLDING IN GERMANY AND MOVED TO THE PICTON AREA.

THEY DO NOT PRODUCE LARGE QUANTITIES OF ANY OF THE VARIETIES AND THEIR BRANDS ARE FOUND MOSTLY IN HIGH END RESTAURANTS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND ELSEWHERE.

OUR LUNCH WAS SERVED OUTDOORS IN A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN SEPARATE FROM THE BISTRO. GEORGIA AND I SAT WITH SIX OTHER FOLKS, ALL OF WHOM ARE ON THE CRUISE ALL THE WAY TO ROME, AND WHOM WE HAD YET TO MEET IN OVER SIX WEEKS OF TRAVEL. CONVERSATION WAS EASY AND VARIED FROM TRAVEL TO MEDICINE, TO HEALTHCARE COVERAGE. THE BEST PART OF THE 2 HOURS OF COURSE WAS THE LUNCH.

TWO DELICIOUS PIECES OF WEINER SCHNITZEL, WARM GERMANY POTATO SALAD, YUMMY BREADS AND SPREADS. (OH YA, THERE WAS WINE AGAIN), WITH FRUIT TART AND RASPBERRY SORBET FOR DESSERT. IF YOU HAD ROOM COFFEE WAS ALSO AVAILABLE.

WE WERE SCHEDULED TO BE ON THE BUS AT 3:00 FOR THE RETURN TRIP TO THE SHIP BUT AT 3:30 WE FINALLY GOT ON THE ROAD. WOULD WE MAKE IT BACK TO THE SHIP BY 4:30 AS REQUIRED. SHIP SAILS AT 5:00. WELL, CHRIS HAD HIS FOOT TO THE THROTTLE AS WE TRAVELLED THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE UP STEEP HILLS AND BACK DOWN TO THE VALLEY WHERE PICTON IS LOCATED. WE HAD 10 MINUTES TO SPARE.

GEORGIA AND I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE SUN DECK TO CAPTURE PICTURES OF THE CHANNEL, COVES AND BAY AS WE HEADED OUT TO SEA AND OUR 3 DAY SAIL TO SYDNEY AND THE END OF SEGMENT 2.

NOT WANTING TO BE OR LOOK LIKE PIGS WE RETURNED TO THE ROOM AND NAPPED THROUGH DINNER. (BILL HYDE WAS ALONE FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT DAY AS NONE OF THE OTHERS MADE IT TO DINNER EITHER) WE AWOKE IN TIME TO CATCH THE LATE SHOW A SINGER NAMED DIVIDIA. ALTHOUGH YOU COULD DETECT AN OPERA STYLE VOICE SHE SANG SEVERAL TUNES FROM BROADWAY AND SCREEN BEFORE ENDING WITH A SONG OF OPERATIC NATURE.

HAVING NAPPED WE WERE NOT TIRED AND WENT TO THE LIBRARY AND READ UNTIL 1:00 AM BEFORE HEADING OFF TO SLEEP. WE HAVE THREE DAYS AT SEA BEFORE HITTING SYDNEY FOR A TWO DAY STAY.

DAY 40 - AT SEA MARCH 8, 2010

TODAY WAS A DO NOTHING DAY. GEORGIA WENT TO A TALK ON OPALS AND I WORKED ON THE BLOG. WE HAD A BIG LATE LUNCH AND SKIPPED DINNER IN THE DINING HALL. BILL HYDE WAS THE ONLY ONE AT THE DINNER TABLE.

OUR COURSE TO PICTON WAS ALTERED BY THE CAPTAIN WHEN WE LEFT AUCKLAND YESTERDAY. TO AVOID ANOTHER ROUGH DAY AT SEA HE HEADED NORTH AND AROUND THE BAY OF ISLANDS AND THEN PROCEEDED DOWN THE WEST COAST OF NEW ZEALAND. THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO CONTINUE SOUTH, ONLY 250 MILE, AT A MODERATE PACE TO PICTON FOR ARRIVAL AT 7:00 TOMORROW MORNING. WE TRAVELED MUCH FASTER ON THE NEW COURSE BUT STILL DOCKED AT THE SCHEDULED TIME. WE REALLY NEEDED SOME SMOOTH WATER FOR A CHANGE.

WE DID MANAGE TO MAKE THE EVENING SHOW. THE SINGER. BOBBY BROOKES HAMILTON, SANG SONGS FROM THE 50’S AND 60’S. HIS CLOSING NUMBERS WERE A TRIBUTE TO JACKIE WILSON, A 50’S GUY. TURNS OUT JACKIE WILSON WAS HIS FATHER. HE DID REAL GOOD WITH AFEW PLATTER, TEMPTATION, STEVE WONDER AND SAMMY DAVIS TUNES.

AS HAS BEEN THE CUSTOM OF MANY OF THE ENTERTAINERS, THEY FIND A WAY TO SHAKE HANDS WITH PEOPLE IN THE FRONT ROW DURING ONE OF THE NUMBERS. SO IT WAS TODAY, AND GUESS WHO IS SITTING IN THE FRONT ROW, IT WAS GOOD OLD IRRITATING BOB, THE GUY WHO COULDN’T KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT THE OTHER NIGHT WITH THE COMEDIAN. WELL, BOB, WITHOUT TO MUCH EFFORT WAS ABLE TO MAKE AN ASS OF HIMSELF AGAIN TONIGHT WHEN HE REFUSED TO SHAKE HANDS WITH BOBBY BROOKES HAMILTON. TWO SONGS LATER BOB GOT UP AND EXITED THE LOUNGE. I THINK HE HAS A THING AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE...BUT THEN AGAIN HE HAS THE PERSONALITY OF A LEMON SCENTED FART.

TOMORROW PROMISES TO BE A BUSY DAY EVEN THOUGH WE ARE IN PORT UNTIL 5:00. WE HIT THE SACK A LITTLE LATE FOR AS EARLY AS WE NEEDED TO GET UP.

DAY 39 - AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 7, 2010

THE SHIP HAD ALREADY DOCKED BY THE TIME WE ARRIVED AT THE BUFFET FOR BREAKFAST. OUR MEETING TIME WAS 8:15 IN THE LOUNGE FOR OUR TOUR. TODAYS TOUR WAS THE AUCKLAND CITY TOUR AND THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE SIGNED UP IT REQUIRED 3 BUSES. THEY WERE NICE BUSES WITH PLENTY OF LEG ROOM, WIDE SEATS AND BIG WINDOWS.

OUR DRIVER DOUBLED AS THE GUIDE AND HIS FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS TO TAKE US ACROSS THE HARBOR BRIDGE. ON THE OTHER SIDE HE CIRCLED AROUND THE CLOVERLEAF AND SHOT BACK INTO THE CITY AS THE SUN BEGAN TO GLISTEN OF THE BAY. AUCKLAND IS REFERRED TO AS THE “CITY OF SAILS” AND JUST SEEING ALL THE SMALL, AND SOME LARGE, BOATS TUCKED AWAY IN THEIR SLIPS YOU CAN TELL WHY IT HAS BEEN NAMED SO APPROPRIATELY. WE EXITED THE BRIDGE AND DROVE ALONG THE MARINA, PASSED THE WHARF AND INTO A BEAUTIFUL BEACH FRONT COMMUNITY.

RESTAURANTS WITH OUTDOOR CAFES STRETCHED FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS AND WERE ALREADY CROWDED BY THE LOCALS HAVING SUNDAY MORING BREAKFAST BY THE SEA. ABOVE THE BEACH LINE SHOPS WERE FABULOUS HOMES COSTING AS MUCH AS $1 MILLION NZD, ALL WITH MARVELOUS VIEWS OF THE BAY AND CITY SKYLINE WITH TALL BUILDINGS AND THE LANDMARK TOWER REACHING HIGH INTO THE SKY. OUR DRIVE CONTINUED THROUGH SEVERAL OTHER COMMUNITIES, ALSO WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. WE ENTERED A PARK LIKE SETTING WITH A VERY NARROW WINDY ROAD TO THE TOP OF MT EDEN.

MT EDEN PROVIDES A VIEW FROM THE WEST AND THE BAY FORMED BY WATERS OF THE TASMANIAN SEA, AND FROM THE EASTERN BAY CREATED BY THE WATERS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE TWO BODIES OF WATER ARE KEPT APART BY A TWO MILE PEICE OF LAND TOTALLY INHABITED, AND BUSTLING WITH ACTIVITY. THE CITY IS ALWAYS VISIBLE FROM ALMOST EVERY HILLTOP VANTAGE POINT WITH THE TOWER CATCHING YOUR EYES IMMEDIATELY. FAR TO THE SOUTHWEST YOU CAN WITNESS PLANES LANDING AT THE NEW AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA WAS THE AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM. WE WERE SEPARATED INTO SMALL GROUPS OF ABOUT 12 AND MUSEUM GUIDE LED US THROUGH SEVERAL EXHIBITS, MOSTLY OF MAORI HISTORY. MOST OF THE WAR MEMORIAL WAS ON THE 3RD FLOOR AND THAT WAS BEING USED FOR A PRIVATE REUNION. THE GUIDE TALKED CONSTANTLY, MOSTLY AS HE WALKED AND WITH HIS BACK TO THE GROUP. GEORGIA AND I WOULD WONDER OUT TO VIEW OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST AND CATCHUP AS WE FELT NECESSARY. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE THE 90 MINUTES WAS A WASTE OF TIME. THE VIEW FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING HOWEVER SUPERB.

AS WE RETURNED TO THE SHIP WE WERE GIVEN THE OPTION TO BE DROPPED OFF ON QUEEN STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SHOPPING DISTRICT. WE HAD OVER 3 HOURS TO KILL AND IT PROVIDED THE CHANCE TO MAKE CALLS BACK HOME, AND FIND A DUNKIN DONUT AND A GREAT CUP OF COFFEE. (THE SHIP COFFEE IS NOT REAL GOOD).

WE TRIED USING THE IDT ACCESS NUMBER FOR NEW ZEALAND BUT THE TELECOM COMPANY PHONES BLOCK THE NUMBER. WE THOUGHT IT WAS A PAY PHONE PROBLEM BUT WE FOUND A TELECOM STORE, BY THE WAY THIS IS SUNDAY, OPEN AND THE FELLOW IN THE STORE TRIED THE NUMBER ON HIS CELL AND GOT THE SAME RESULTS. HE THOUGHT WE MIGHT HAVE LUCK WITH A CHEAP PHONE CARD. IT WAS WORTH A TRY FOR $5 NZD. IT DIDN’T GAIN ACCESS TO THE NUMBER EITHER AND SO WE USED IT TO DIAL DIRECT TO GRANNY. THE CARD LASTED ABOUT 3 MINUTES. SIDNEY WILL BE OUR NEXT TRY.

WE CONTINUED TO MEANDER THE BUSY SHOPS AND CROWDED STREETS. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A CRUISE SHIP IN TOWN, US, THE SREETS WERE FILLED WITH LOCALS. THE CRUISE SHIP, WITH ITS WHOOPING 650 PASSENGERS COULD NOT PROVIDE THE CROWDS WE WITNESSED. SEVERAL HOURS AFTER LEAVING THE BUS WE WALKED THE FULL LENGTH OF QUEEN STREET ALONG THE WHARF AND ONTO THE SHIP. THE DAY WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

TONIGHT WAS THE SHOWING OF “SOUTH PACIFIC” IN THE LOUNGE AND WE WANT TO GET FRONT ROW SEATS. THEREFORE WE WENT TO THE BUFFET AT 6:00 FOR DINNER. TO OUR SURPRISE, RAMESH, LOLITA, RICK AND CINDY ALSO HAD THE SAME IDEA. AFTER DINNER GEORGIA WENT TO THE LOUNGE TO GET SEATS,I WENT TO THE CABIN FOR THE LAPTOP. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED AT THE LOUNGE THE DOORS WERE CLOSED, THE DANCERS WERE PRACTICING, SO I WAITED OUTSIDE. I KNEW GEORGIA WAS ABLE TO GET IN AND I DIDN’T WANT TO DRAW ANY ATTENTION AND GET US THROWN OUT. FRANKIE CAME BY AND ADVISE SEVERAL OF US THE DOORS WOULD OPEN AT 7:15, AND THEY DID.

A CROWD OF ABOUT 100 GATHERED FOR THE EVENT AND WE ALL HAD A GREAT TIME. WE ALL GAVE FRANKIE A HARD TIME BECAUSE HE DIDN’T PROVIDE POPCORN FOR US. HE TOLD US IF WE WANT POPCORN GOTO CARNIVAL. THE 3 HOURS PASSED QUICKLY AND IT WAS 11:00 BEFORE WE REALIZED.

WE STOPPED BY THE CASINO LOUNGE TO HEAR THE NEW PIANO GUY, DANIEL GOT OFF TODAY, FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE HIS BREAK. HE TOOK HIS BREAK AND WE HEADED FOR THE CABIN. TOMORROW IS A SLEEP-IN DAY.

DAY 38 - BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 6, 2010

ORIGINALLY THERE WERE NO EXCURSIONS SCHEDULED FOR THIS PORT, AT LEAST WHEN I BOOKED OURS ONLINE BACK IN NOVEMBER. THERE WERE 2 OTHER PORTS IN THE SAME SITUATION BUT THINGS HAVE OPENED UP AND WE NOW HAVE TOURS AT ALL THE STOPS AND ARE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR ONE OF THE OTHER PORTS IN EGYPT.

WE TOOK THE NORTHLAND AND MAORI HISTORICAL EXCURSION. SOON AFTER GETTING OFF THE TENDER WE BOARDED OUR BUS FOR A STOP AT THE FIRST MISSIONARY CHURCH ESTABLISHED ON THE ISLAND.

THE CHURCH IS SEVERAL MILES OUT OF TOWN. IT IS VERY SIMPLE AND STILL VERY ACTIVE. THE PIPE ORGAN IS WELL KEPT AND DATES BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH CREATION. SERMONS ARE DELIVERED FROM A PREACHERS BOX THAT LOOKS OUT OVER THE CONGREGATION. ALL ASPECTS OF THE CHURCH REMINDED GEORGIA AND ME OF THE COLONIAL CHURCHES IN WILLIAMSBURG, VA. EVEN DOWN TO THE BURIAL GROUNDS AROUND THE CHURCH.

THE ADJOINING PROPERTY CONTAINS THE SECOND OLDEST HOUSE ON THE ISLAND AND WAS THE RESIDENCES OF THE PASTOR, HIS FAMILY AND SOMETIMES 100’S OF OTHER PEOPLE. THE HOME IS STRICTLY FOR TOURIST NOW AND HAS BEEN EQUIPPED WITH ARTIFACTS OF THE PERIOD. AS WE ENTERED THE KITCHEN OUR EYES WERE DRAWN TO THE RACKS OF DISHES ON THE BACK WALL. THEY ARE EXACTLY LIKE THE BLUE DISHES WE HAVE AT HOME. GEORGIA’S MOTHER BOUGHT THEM FOR HER MOTHER YEARS AGO AND WHEN GRANDMA PASSED AWAY THEY WERE GIVEN TO GEORGIA. THE PATTERN IS CALLED BLUE WILLOW FROM LONDON, ENGLAND. GEORGIA ACTUALLY PICKED UP A PLATE AND TURNED IT OVER. YEP, IT IS THE SAME. GEORGIA ASKED THE GUIDE IF THESE WERE THE ACTUAL PLATES USED AT THAT PERIOD. THE ANSWER WAS YES. THE SETTING FOR THE HOME AND CHURCH ARE AS COUNTRY AS YOU CAN GET, PEACEFUL AND SERENE.

OUR NEXT STOP WAS THE MAORI CULTURAL CENTER. THIS WAS TRULY AND EDUCATION, LEARNING OF THE CUSTOMS AND ANCESTRY DATING BACK 100’S OF YEARS. WHEN THE MISSIONARIES CAME TO THE BAY OF ISLANDS THE MAORI HAD VERY LITTLE TROUBLE IN CONVERTING TO CHRISTIANITY AS MANY OF THERE OWN BELIEFS WERE VERY SIMILAR TO THE MISSIONARIES.

WE WERE NOT PERMITTED TO ENTER THE WHARE UNTIL INVITED BY A MEMBER OF THE WHARE COUNCIL. BEFORE ENTERING THE WHARE WE HAD TO REMORE OUR SHOES. THE WHARE IS THE SPIRITUAL MEETING HOUSE OF THE MAORI. THE MAORI BELIEVED IN GOD THE CREATOR AND MANY OF THEIR CARVINGS INDICATE, NOTED WITH THREE FINGERS, THE RECOGNITION OF THE TRIUNE GOD, FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST. THERE CEREMONY TO WELCOME US WAS STARTED WITH PRAYER TO THE LORD TO RECEIVE US IN PEACE, HEALTH AND SAFETY. THEY SANG “HOW GREAT THOU ART” TO US IN THEIR OWN TONGUE AS ANOTHER SIGN OF WELCOME.

OUR GUIDE, KENA, TRANSLATED THE GREETINGS FROM THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE WHARE MEETING HOUSE AND GAVE A DEEPER EXPLANATION OF THE FORMAL RITUAL THAT HAD JUST TAKEN PLACE. KENA CAN TRACE HIS ROOTS BACK 1000 YEARS TO ONE OF THE 7 CANOES CROSSING THE PACIFIC THE BAY OF ISLANDS.

KENA ASKED FOR SOMEONE TO BE OUR LEADER AND BOB FROM HAWAII VOLUNTEERED. HE GAVE OUR GREETINGS AND WE SANG “YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE” TO THEM. MORE GREETINGS WERE EXCHANGED AND WE ENDED BY SINGING AMAZING GRACE. THE ENTIRE PROCESS WAS ENDED AS OUR GROUP LINED UP TO SHAKE HANDS AND TOUCH NOSES AS IS CUSTOMARY IN THE MAORI CULTURE. WE FINISHED IN RECEPTION HALL FOR FRUIT, COOKIES AND DRINK. THIS WAS TRULY A MEMORY MAKER.

RE-BOARDING THE BUS IT WAS ONLY A SHORT DRIVE ACROSS THE SINGLE LANE BRIDGE AND UP THE HILL TO THE TREATY HOUSE. FILLED WITH 100’S OF ARTIFACTS FROM THE PERIOD THE HOUSE, ALTHOUGH BEING PARTIALLY RECONSTRUCTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IS IN REMARKABLE SHAPE. REMNANTS OF SOME OF THE ORIGINAL STONE WALLS STILL STAND.

THE TREATY BETWEEN THE ENGLISH AND THE MAORI WAS SIGNED ON FEBRUARY 6, 1840. (GRANNY WAS BORN ON THAT DATE IN 1918) IN 1845 THE MAORI REBELLED BECAUSE OF AN INTERPRETATION OF THE TREATY. THE MAORI, NOT BEING EDUCATED AND SOMEWHAT GULLIBLE, FELT THE ARRANGEMENT GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO GOVERNOR THEMSELVES. THE ENGLISH DID NOT AGREE. THE FIGHTING LASTED FOR 32 YEARS.

AS ANOTHER SIDE NOTE, THE MISSIONARIES STAND IN VERY GOOD STED WITH THE MAORI EVEN TO THIS DAY. THEY ARE CREDITED WITH TEACHING THE MAORI HOW TO FARM, CARING FOR THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS AND SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS I DON’T REMEMBER.

THE CULTURAL TRUST THAT RUNS THE PROPERTY HAD A CEREMONIAL WHARE HOUSE BUILT FULLY COMPLETE WITH TRADITIONAL MAORI CARVINGS. UNLIKE THE WHARE HOUSE DESCRIBED ABOVE, WE WERE ALLOWED TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE INTERIOR. WE HAD TO REMOVE OUR SHOE BEFORE ENTERING THIS WHARE HOUSE ALSO.

GEORGIA AND I STROLLED THE GROUNDS AND EVENTUALLY FOUND OUR WAY TO THE BOAT HOUSE. MANY WAR CANOES WERE ON DISPLAY INCLUDING THE LARGEST WAR CANOE EVER CONSTRUCTED. IT IS WELL OVER 100 FEET IN LENGTH AND REQUIRES 140 MEN TO ROW.

RETURNING TO THE BOAT STARVING, WE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE LEDO DECK FOR FOOD. WE ATE ENOUGH THAT WE SKIPPED GOING TO THE DINING ROOM AGAIN. BECAUSE TOMORROW IS A PORT DAY SECOND DINNER PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SHOWTIME WHILE THE 1ST DINNER FOLKS HAVE DINNER. WE WENT TO THE LOUNGE FOR THE SHOW. BOB HOWE WAS BACK WITH HIS GUITAR IN AN ALL NEW SHOW.

DAY 37 - AT SEA - MARCH 5, 2010

WE HAD TO GIVE UP ANOTHER HOUR AGAIN LAST NIGHT BUT WE DIDN’T SLEEP NEARLY AS LONG. WE FINISHED EATING AND RETURNED TO THE CABIN SO GEORGIA COULD CONTINUE ON HER BOOK.

GEORGIA HAD ASKED ME ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION TO READ THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES OF LEFT BEHIND. SO AS SHE TYPED AWAY ON THE BOOK I BEGAIN READING. I’M PROUD TO SAY I READ 85 PAGES, THAT’S 20% OF THE BOOK, WOW.

IT WAS NECESSARY TO WASH CLOTHES AGAIN. THE PLAN WAS TO GRAB A BITE TO EAT, THEN, AS GEORGIA WENT TO A SEMINAR I WOULD WORK ON BUILDING AN ACCOUNT IN APPLE-MAIL FOR GEORGIA SO WE COULD HOPEFULLY DOWNLOAD HER MAIL FROM AOL, JUST LIKE I DO.

AS DINNER TIME APPROACHED WE FIGURED THE LAUNDRY WOULD BE EMPTY. OUR REASONING, THE LATE DINNER HAD AN EARLY SHOWTIME WHILE THE FIRST DINNER ATE. WELL, IT WASN’T AS EMPTY AS WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. GEORGIA HAD TO WAIT FOR QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE GETTING THE WASHERS AND DRYERS. THE LAUNDRY IS HAMPERED BY BROKEN EQUIPMENT. THERE ARE ONLY 3 WASHERS AND 2 DRYERS IN WORKING ORDER.

I WAS HOWEVER ABLE TO CREATE GEORGIA’S APPLE-MAIL ACCOUNT AND DOWNLOAD THE CONTENT OF HER AOL MAIL. KUDOS FOR ME. ANYWAY EVERYTHING WAS FINISHED JUST IN TIME FOR US TO GO TO THE LOUNGE FOR THE CONCERT PIANIST, AGAIN AN EXCELLENT SHOW, HOWEVER IT’S THE FOURTH TIME ONE OF THE ENTERTAINERS ARRIVED ON SHIP, AND THEIR LUGGAGE DID NOT. LUCKY HE DIDN’T NEED SHEET MUSIC.