LAST EVENING AND OUR FIRST PORT OF CALL - JANUARY 13th

Last evening was wonderful. We had dinner at the Captain's table.  They do not put husband and wife side by side. This was the case with the other staff we've dined with as well and there are place cards where to sit at these tables.

 The Captain is a very gracious gentlemen.  He is also very diplomatic.  People do ask the most stupid questions and he answers them all in a serious tone.  "What is your favorite port" simpered a ditz at the table.  He replied, "Nuku Hiva" (that's the port were heading to last night.) "Seriously?" she replied.  His response "Any port we are about the enter my dear is my favorite port." (this way he is not offending the Brits, the Americans, the Brazilians, the Canadians and the Korean's who were at the table.  (I was sitting beside him and I leaned over to his and said softly to him "You're such a diplomat." He laughed.
I am sure he wishes he was elsewhere. Sitting and chatting with 12 people at the table cannot be his idea of much fun,

Food of course is incredible.  There is a dessert they have every evening at the Grill by the pool and often in the other restaurants as well.  Its called Pot au Chocolate.  There is probably not more than 6 teaspoonfuls in the little dish but it is pure heaven.  I will NOT leave the ship without the recipe.

They did not offer it last night in the main restaurant where we were eating and I asked the waiter if there was that dessert even though it was not on the menu.  He went upstairs to the pool and brought back 4 pots.
I didn't really want to be piggish about it so I only ate 2! (LOL)

We were up at 4am this morning - the ship was scheduled to dock at Nuku Hiva at 8am - the capital of the Marquesas Islands.  The sky was just lightening up and we went on the top deck to watch.
At first you only see a cluster of clouds on the horizon and slowly the shape of the mountains on the island just miraculously appear through the clouds.

It was a little gloomy,  the sun was trying to peek out and there was a very light drizzle.
By 6:30 am the 2 lunatics were exercising.  I get dizzy just from watching. I don't know why her hands are covered (see photo). I guess I'll get up some nerve to ask her. (if she will stand still long enough)

We went downstairs at 8am to board the first tender (little boat) since the ship is parked away from the pier.  For most of the destinations we will disembark from we will need to do so with a tender not at a wharf.

                         VIEW OF THE SHIP FROM THE OTHER SIE OF THE ISLAND


The island was quite small, rugged looking, very rocky and the people speak French but they certainly made all the tourists feel welcome.  We took a bus ride around the one street that the bus route took us.  There are many cars, trucks and Jeeps on the island although it did not look like there were very many roads.  No beggars and people seemed to be pleasant.  Polyneasian  looking.   (tried 3 times to get the spelling right)

                                                   FROM THE SHOW AT THE WHARF

There was a very small market at the wharf - mostly shells, beads and Tiki gods for sale.  They put on a little show for us and surprisingly it was entertaining.


The ship was in port only for 4 hours and after the show we got back on the tender.  One native told me it had not rained in 3 months and the island is very dry.  After the dance it started to pour rain. Maybe the dancing had something to do with it.

We are back on board - it is about 750 miles to Papeate  Tahiti and will arrive on Saturday for 2 days.
Len is watching TV in the room and I am up on Deck 9 in a corner - nice and quiet.
We will probably eat at the Grill by the pool or in our room.

Len has fabulous photos but can't upload large files. will make a book about the trip when we come home.