AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

World Tour of 2013
With Brigit and Sophia (Sonya)

Auckland, February 25th 2013

The Pacific Princess continues to follow her South Westerly course over the South Pacific Ocean for our next port, Auckland, New Zealand's largest city.   With more boats per capita than any other city in the world, Auckland is appropriately known as the City of Sails.  It is also one of the cleanest and most peaceful cities in the world.  Auckland flourishes with more than 1 million residents.  Thousands of Pacific Islanders, seeking employment and education opportunities move here.  These immigrants, coupled with the indigenous Maoris, have made Auckland the largest Polynesian city in the world.

With so many points of interest -- Mount Eden, an extinct volcano, Muri Beach Gannet Colony, sheep sheering demonstrations, Antarctic Encounter, Glow Worm Grotto, Matakana Wine District, Harbour Bridge bungee jump, War Memorial and Maritime Museums -- how do we choose to spend our day in Auckland?

We begin with a "taste of Auckland" and we don't mean wine.  We step aboard our sleek 300HP Volvo turbocharged jet boat, sit back in comfortable grandstand-style seats, don ponchos to keep us relatively dry and set off on the 30 minute ride of a lifetime on breathtaking Waitemata Harbour.  As we hold on tight our experienced Skipper wows us with expertly executed fish tails, spins, turns, and power brake tricks.   Wind blows in our hair, waves come across the boat on both sides towering 5' as we become weightless in the turn as he shuts off the motor and we settle into a weightless drop.  Here we have a taste of the harbour's salty wine.

Whew!  What a trilling ride!  We couldn't wait to get back to safety.  We  stop near the iconic Chelsae sugar refinery and underneath the landmark Harbour Bridge hoping to see somebody bungee jumping.  Soaked through and through we jet back to shore, as the wind quickly blow drys our hair into never before seen styles.

Back to our ship to dispense of our soaked clothes before we're off for more adventure at the Sky Tower, the tallest man-made structure in the Southern hemisphere.  In a mere 40 seconds we zoom up in a glass-floored and front elevator to the observation deck, towering 1072 feet in the air.  Panoramic views and a 360-degree revolving restaurant greet us at the top.  From here we contemplate a "look and leap" from the SkyJump, a cabled 11 second jump at 52 mph from the platform.  We opt for lunch and another sort of bungee jump (see image below).

 

 "Virtual" bungee jump ~ weeeee!

Our day of adventure winds down with a blissful Thai foot massage and an extension of our gratitude with a crystal heart to one of the many lovely people we met in Auckland.  

We re board our floating home-away-from home and set sail for 3 days across the South Pacific Ocean and through the powerful, wild storm waves of Bass Strait to Tasmania, an island state of Australia.


Thank you for sharing this incredible journey with us andthank you for your kind and interesting comments.  We love hearing from you.

Lots of love to you all and best wishes for a beautiful day.
Talk to you soon.  Love, Brigit and Sophia

*****

TAHITI & MOOREA

World Tour of 2013


Tahiti and Moorea, February 18, 2013
Sailing the South Pacific Ocean we reach Tahiti, one of the Society Islands in French Polynesia.  We dock at the bustling capital of Tahiti, the chief port and trading center, as well as a provocative temptress luring people to her shores.  Immortalized in the novel "Mutiny on the Bounty," who could blame the men of "HMS Bounty" for abandoning their ship in favor of basking in paradise?  And what would Modern Art be without Tahiti's influence on Gauguin and Matisse?  

While Tahiti is rightfully an island paradise of it's own we opt to join a private group taking the 30 minute inter-island ferry boat service to its smaller neighboring heart-shaped island, Moorea.  Also known as "the island of love".

Ah!  Moorea!  Think of any superlative - beautiful, stunning, magnificent, spectacular, exotic, paradise - and you'll just begin to describe Moorea.   Writer James Michener was so inspired by this real-life French Polynesian gem with eye-popping gorgeous scenery that he based the mythical island Bali Ha'i in Tales of the South Pacific.  Indeed, it is one of the most beautiful islands in the world.   Emerald green mountain slopes are covered with rain forest and pineapple plantations and white beaches border crystalline lagoons.

Our Moorea tour guide takes our boat to beautiful Cook's and Opunohu Bays where we see dolphins.  We continue on to swam with sting rays and sharks on a shallow white sand bar.  Later the boat takes us to a "motu" (an islet) where the bar opens and the barbecue is started.  After lunch we snorkel in the warm crystal waters and walk the white sand beach.  Here we present our host and hostess a crystal heart as a way to say, "thank you," for their wonderful Moorean hospitality. 


Please enjoy the following images from around Moorea:

   Moorea coastline

 Water bungalows at resort and spa

 Pyramids on Moorea?

 Cook's Bay

Dolphins swim in Cook's Bay

 

 Our "motu" (islet) for the day on the left

 We had the small islet to ourselves for the day

Delicious fresh ahi tuna ceviche with fresh squeezed coconut milk and lime juice

 There are many ways to wear a pareo

 The men partake in coconut opening contest (used for our ceviche)

Swimming with sting rays and sharks - oh my!!

Aboard ship

Tahitian Folkloric Showtime

***

We went to sleep and it was February 21.  We awoke and it was February 23.  What happened to February 22nd? 

The International Date Line is an imaginary line running North and South along the 180th meridian of longitude that designates the beginning of each calendar day.  As you know, each adjacent time zone on the map has an hour time difference.  However, at the International Date Line, +12 hours and -12 hours meet, bringing about a 24-hour time change.  Therefore, when this line is crossed heading west, a day is subtracted, and while crossing in an easterly direction, a day is added.  

Hence, we are proud to say that during this sailing , we  have completely omitted Friday, February 22, 2013, "the day that never was!" 

 Quote for the day:

"...throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover" - Mark Twain

***** 

EASTER ISLAND, CHILE & PITCAIRN ISLAND & LIFE ABORAD SHIP

World Tour of 2013

Easter Island, Chile, February 12, 2013
Easter Island, not an easy place to get to.  In fact Easter Island is the most isolated inhabited spot on Earth.   Leaving Peru we sailed for 4 days to reach this remote place.  For all of you anticipating the ship's arrival to Easter Island you will be as disappointed as we were to learn that we were not able to go ashore as planned.   Large cruise ships are unable to dock at the small anchorage pier of Easter Island, so the plan was to tender ashore the ship's passengers with small safety boats.  However due to the ocean currents and prevailing swells our ship's captain announced that our Easter Island excursions had been cancelled.

What a disappointment all passengers felt knowing that we had traveled so far and found ourselves so near, and yet were unable to have a first hand opportunity to unlock the mysteries of this sacred site.   Perhaps we are meant to return another time.  We were consoled however by in depth lectures by an on board historian on his perspective of when the Rapa Nui, the first people of Easter Island, as they are known, arrived and why their civilization collapsed.   Since we could not go ashore our ship's captain sailed around Easter Island which provided photo ops albeit from a distance.   

Sunrise over Easter Island

There are many mysteries that shroud this tiny island, roughly 64 square miles.  Where did its people come from? Who built the hundreds of giant monoliths that dot the island?  Why were they built?  How did this once tropical palm-forested island become so barren?  The island's isolation combined with the destruction of the prehistoric culture and lack of historical records all contribute to the mystery.

The monoliths of Easter Island have fascinated and puzzled Westerners since Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen discovered Easter Island on Easter Sunday, 1722.  The mystery of Easter Island's first settlers remains just that - a mystery.  Today, most anthropologists believe the island was settled as part of the great wave of Polynesian emigration.  Some suggest that the population had reached a high of approximately 15,000.

The oldest of the Moai, as the great monoliths are called, date to 700 A.D.  The society that produced the Moai flourished during the 16th and 17th centuries, but population growth, deforestation and food shortages led to its collapse.  Today some 3,400 souls inhabit this 64-square-mile island, which lies some 2,200 miles equidistant from Tahiti and South America.  

Much has been written about the history of Easter Island as well as it's legendary mythological "bird men" cult.  Additionally there is Easter Island's eco-collapse hypothesis.  Whether allegations of the native islanders exploited their resources, engaged in cannibalism and mass starvation are based on fact or not, they serve as a warning about how we treat our global environment and what may lie ahead for all of us if we don't take care of Mother Earth.  We suggest you Google these topics surrounding Easter Island for more information.

 Easter Island (image taken from slide show)

Pitcairn Island, Pitcairn, February 15, 2013
Leaving Easter Island our ship's captain sets course for Pitcairn Island, Pitcairn.  It takes two days at sea to reach Pitcairn.  For those of you following the itinerary you know that Pitcairn was scheduled as a "cruise around" rather than an actual landing.  If you do the math you will discover that we had now been at sea for a total of 7 days since leaving Lima, Peru before we reached Pitcairn February 15th.

  Pitcairn Island

A bit of history:
The paradisaical South Seas islands sets the stage in the late 1700's for the most famous mutinies of all time.  The HMS Bounty steered by tyrannical Captain Bligh sailed to Tahiti in search of a new life and breadfruit to be collected and transported back to Jamaica to be served as cheap food for slaves working on plantations.  The sailors were greeted with overwhelming warmth and hospitality of the Tahitians, especially the uninhibited woman.  On the second leg of the journey with breadfruit aboard, the ship's crew had enough of Captain Bligh's harsh discipline and missed the feminine companionship of the Tahitian woman.  Fletcher Christian, staged a mutiny against Captain Bligh.  Returning to Tahiti after the mutiny some of the ship's crew decided to settle there while Christian and his sailors searched for a safe haven and settled on Easter Island January 23, 1790.

Today's Pitcairn population: 50 residents.  High proportion of senior citizens.  Most are over 50 years of age.  There is no "retirement" on the island, as they work well into their 80's.  There are 8 children that live on the island.  School is mandatory from 5 - 16 years of age.  At age 14 - 15 most children leave the island to go to boarding school in New Zealand for high school and university.  Most residents have Christian and Fletcher surnames.  All but a handful are direct descendants of the mutineers and their Tahitian wives.  Pitcairners are citizens of the UK and have British passports and receive government aide. 

Island stats: 1.75 square mile volcanic speck in the South Pacific.  Pitcairn is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world.  The only way on and off the island is by ship or boat.  The island is lush and green.  Bananas grow wild as does the famed Breadfruit.  Pineapple, papaya, taro, coffee, sugar cane is cultivated, along with plenty of vegetables.  There are goats, chickens, 1 Galapagos tortuous.  The Pacific rat is a problem on the island.  Honey is produced from the Mango, Passion Flowers, Guava and other flowers found in abundance on the island.  The honey is considered the purest in the world and can now be ordered online and shipped anywhere in the world.  There is Internet (came approx 3 years ago) and TV with 2 channels.  All supplies (mostly from New Zealand) are carried on and off the island at Bounty Bay port.  Supply ships come 4 times a year.  Cruise ships visit approx 8 times a year.  The Pitcairners buy and sell with the cruise ships.  Fresh water comes from rainfall and is heated 1 time a day.   Power is supplied via  buy and sell with the cruise ships.  Fresh water comes from rainfall and is heated 1 time a day.   Power is supplied via diesel generator with electricity provided from 7:00AM - 10:00PM.  Lights out at 10.  There are 2 cafes for shared meals and social events.

Bounty Bay (quite small) near Adamstown, the only settlement and capital of Pitcairn 

(image taken from a slide show)

Christian's Cave, named after Fletcher Christian 

(image taken from a slide show)

The tiny Pitcairn island is quite scenic as seen by our "cruise around" but what made this day extra special for us and our fellow passengers was an on board visit by the local Pitcairners.  At approximately 10:00 AM a longboat filled with local Pitcairn residents came along aside our ship and they unloaded dozens of boxes and bags onto our ship.  They set up a curio and craft market in one of the lounges on board and we had the opportunity to met them personally and purchase some locally created crafts and more.  

 Longboat delivers Pitcairners to Pacific Princess

Pitcairn woman sets up craft market

Jacqui Christian a local resident of Pitcairn (born on the island and 7th generation descendant of the Bounty Mutineer Fletcher Christian) came aboard and gave an informative presentation covering historic and modern life on the island.  Jacqui was born and educated on Pitcairn.  When of age she lived away for 20 years and was further educated in New Zealand.  Pitcairn is currently in the process of attracting more people to live on the island.

“If Pitcairn is to survive we must attract more people home to support our aging population.  A successful tourism industry will create jobs and income for the community and the Government. We hope to bring more tourists to Pitcairn and build a sustainable economy by creating a thriving private sector.”  Jacqui went on to say that they are particularly interested in woman of child bearing years to help increase Pitcairn's population.

If any of you are interested in immigrating to this small remote island you can apply at: immigration@pitcairn.gov.pn


    

 Pitcairn sunset and Christian's Cave

(image taken from slide show)

Life aboard ship
How have we spent our sea days aboard ship?  There is plenty to do and plenty of time to do nothing. 

Mornings we are professionally greeted by the dining room staff dressed in their pressed white suits and black ties.  We sit down for a delicious and leisurely breakfast by 9:00 AM with piping hot cappuccinos and a menu prepared by a master chef.  The menu is quite flexible and most waitstaff know of our particular preferences by now.  On occasion we opt for breakfast on our balcony and room service is brought in.  After breakfast we usually head to the library where we read and write.  After a refreshing morning we consult the ship's daily paper for activities of the day.  

We spend the afternoon relaxing by listening to special interest and/or port lectures, time by the pool or working off those extra calories in the fitness center or walks around the deck track.  Lunchtime is in the dining room or on the ship's veranda overlooking the ocean where we have spotted schools of dolphins jumping and playing.  A scheduled day at the spa for massage is always a welcome treat. 

The evenings are enchanting with a variety of pre-dinner music preformed live around the ship.  Dinner is always a gala affair with a wide selection of themed dishes from Italy, Latin America, Europe, North America and Asia.  Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day were most notable with exquisite dinner meals served.  Seated at our private dining table overlooking the ocean (on occasion we invite fellow passengers to join us) our waiter greets us and describes the evening's menu.  The maitre d', who started his career on the original Princess "Love Boat" comes by our table to check that our needs are being met and makes pleasant small talk.  After dinner, if a late evening calls to us we gather in the main lounge for showtime with live entertainment of dancing, music, comedy etc.  Such is life on board the Pacific Princess.

 Celebrating Valentine's Day

Double rainbow at sea.  

The rainbow reached across the sky and

our ship sailed through the beautiful colored light

Light from heavens above

Lots of love to you all! 

*****

LIMA, PERU ( 2 DAYS)

World Tour of 2013

With Brigit and Sophia (Sonya) 

Lima Peru, February 6 & 7

Bidding Ecuador farewell we set sail for 1 day on the Gulf of Guayaquil to Peru.  While on board our ship we become acquainted with fellow passengers and crew, eat more than we'd like to admit and generally relax.

Lima, Peru's capital city and the fifth largest city in Latin America, is widely considered to be one of its most beautiful.  Sit back and relax as you join us with the ever-changing panorama of city sights that take you back in time to the days of the Spanish conquistadors, Colonial heritage and the vivid modern-day scene.

Day 1 February 6, 2013:

We get a glimpse of that era during a visit to Plaza Mayor, a UNESCO World Heritage site.   The founding destination of the Historic Center of Lima, the Plaza Mayor, is lined with some of the city's most important buildings, including the Government Palace, City Hall, Archbishop's Palace and Cathedral of Lima.

Cathedral of Lima (construction began 1535)

 Inside the Cathedral of Lima we marvel at the Churriguerra altars and beautifully carved wooden choir stalls

Final resting place of Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire (1531-1533)

 

 Plaza Mayor

 Lima, known as the "city of demonstrations" as shown the day we arrive the Plaza Mayor.  Luckily we were spared the demonstration of 300-500 nude cyclists which took to the streets March 2012

Leaving Plaza Mayor we then visit the historic San Francisco Monastery, originally constructed in the 17th century, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Peru's most cherished, with an impressive convent library of centuries-old texts, eerie display of subterranean catacombs and religious artwork.  It is said that 70,000 people have been buried here.

San Francisco Monastery

 The San Francisco Monastery possesses about 25,000 antique texts, some of them predating the conquest

  Lima's first cemetery were the the catacombs filled with bones and skulls arranged in circular patterns

 On going restoration of the San Francisco Monastery

Next we have a refreshment stop in the heart of Miraflores at Casa Garcia Alvarado, a historical gem.  Constructed in 1912 it provides a glimpse of how life was lived by the Peruvian elite.  It was in the early 1900's that the upper class began to build luxury homes in Miraflores, one of the first residential districts to be established outside the downtown district.  Built of adobe, decorated with wood on the facade, and containing large inner courtyards, they became the new haven for Peru's most notable families.  

Casa Garcia Alvarado is a piece of "living history" with one of the great Peruvian families living there.  We are graciously greeted by its owners, Mr. Genaro Castro Iglesias and his beloved wife, Aurora Thorndike. The grand tour consists of the entrance hall, the grand salon, the music room, dining room and onto the terrace and gardens.  Music plays, house servants pass trays of delicious hors d'oeuvres and Pisco Sour beverages.  Yum - O!  
A good time was had by all.

Being good ambassadors of the United States we present Mrs. Thorndike with a gift upon leaving which she most appreciates.

 Casa Garcia Alvarado

 Presenting Mrs. Thorndike with a gift from the United States

Crystal diamond heart we are giving to special people we encounter 
around the world 

Our adventure continues to the nearby Parque del Amor (Lover's Park), a perfect spot to celebrate the romanticism of love.  We wander through the gardens, gaze at the sculptures, read the romantic quotes scripted in mosaic tiles and take in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean from the towering cliffs of Chorillos.

 El Beso ("The Kiss") by Victor Delfin

 Beautiful flower gardens in Parque del Amor

 Love poetry written on tile mosaics

Beautiful coast near Parque del Amor

Later in the evening we re-join our motor coach driver for the scenic trip back through the elegant residential neighborhoods as well as the shanty districts of Lima to where our ship waits us in Callao.  We reflect on a day filled with intriguing sights and friendly people in the vibrant city of Lima, the capital and largest city in the vibrant country of Peru.

Day 2 February 7, 2013:
We're off to shop the Indian Market where the excellence of Peruvian artistry is on display and bit of retail therapy is had.  We pore over the colorful weaving with bold geometric patterns, stone sculptures, wood carvings, clay pots and stunning gold and silver jewelry.  We picked up several stunning pieces of jewelry before returning to the pier.

Indian Market

Beautiful Inca style jewelry

We re board our floating home-away-from-home and set sail across the calm South Pacific Ocean for 4 days at sea to Easter Island, Chile.  We talk about a return trip someday to Peru to one of the most well-known archaeological wonders of the world, Machu Picchu which holds plenty of secrets of Peru's ancient glory of the Incas and the Norte Chico civilization before the Spanish colonial rule.  A must-see destination.

 

PS....We have decided to send an email with a URL link to our blog each time we post.    Many of you have requested to follow our blog but indicated that you do not know how to sign up as a "follower" but would still like to receive and follow our blog.  If you would prefer NOT to receive emails each time we post anew to our blog, please let us know and we will remove you from our email list.

Thank you for your interest in following our blog.  Also thank you for you kind and interesting comments. 

Lots of love to you all and best wishes for a Happy Chinese New Year - February 10th!
Talk to you soon.  Love, Brigit and Sophia

*****