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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Lots of love to you all!
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
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!
*****
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