00PS correction again... BORA BORA was the 26th day of our journey...

BORA BORA - FRENCH POLYNESIA (25th day of our journey)

A lush rainforest with covered peaks, blue green lagoons, & lovely beaches. The island itself can be explored in a few hours, which we did. It is populated by 8,880 Polynesians who love to show visitors their island. During WW ll Bora Bora was a strategic strong hold for the US, interestingly, many of the giant cannons and bunkers remain.

Two of the local women demonstrated how they dye the cloth for the wraps that they wear.

Bora Bora is recognized as the "ultimate South Pacific Paradise". My sense is that it is for the rich and famous. The local people work very hard and live very modestly in small houses that are typically without glass windows and actual doors...it is, however, obvious where one's property begins and ends.

  

PAPEETE (TAHITI) - FRENCH POLYNESIA (25th day of our journey)

Prior to docking in Papeete  last night a Polynesian dance group came on board to entertain. They were incredible, adorable and delightful!

Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, is still a very provincial French town.
We spent the day in port  enjoying the local sights and shopping. Interesting, French is the primary language here, and neither of us know how to speak French, but when the merchants wanted to make a sale we did not have any problem communicating. Everyone that we spoke with was nice.

One of our stops was the town market filled with foods an trinkets...

The pictures below are a view from our balcony and view of the ship from the dock.

BORA BORA tomorrow...

MOOREA-FRENCH POLYNESIA (24th day of our journey)

An island with South Seas charm and a relatively slow paced life. with fields of pineapple and banana  plantations. Additionally, there are many exclusive hotels on the island.

Took a four wheel drive straight up to the Magic Mountain peak this morning.  

AWSOME VIEW LOOKING DOWN FROM THE PEAK

The white foam that surrounds the island delineates the living coral reef separates the sea water and creates a lagoon all around the island.                                                                                                    

Three are 12 breaks in the reef where the reefs were separated by fresh water running sown the mountains to the sea. These areas allow for boats to have easy access to and from the sea.

Black sand volcanic beaches.

MOOREA  is called the sister island to TAHATI. They are 12 miles apart and the children from age 16 board a Ferry daily to attend school on TAHATI. 

4 pm on our way to TAHATI........

FARARAVA
Correction today was the 23rd day of our journey...but whose counting?

NATIVE FISHERMAN

HOUSE MADE OUT OF STRAW

FARARAVA, FRENCH POLYNESIA  (22nd day of our journey)

Fararava is known as "Mother Nature's ultimate sanctuary"' it is a natural reserve to many rare species of birds, plants and crustaceans.
We awoke to a gray rainy day, it was, however, warm and the day was promising. We dressed for swimming, took our snorkel gear and we went ashore in Tenders.
It was raining most of the time that we were on the island, but it truly did not matter. Polynesian dancers were waiting to greet us when we arrived to the dock and we instantly forgot about the weather.
(the pictures are not uploading, I will try to upload them again later)
We walked along the road, no crowds, that hugged the shoreline made up of white sand and after much deliberation since, the entire area was beautiful, we finally chose a spot to darner gear and wade in. The water is a clear aquamarine and full of live reefs! The sea life could care less that we had come to visit. The snorkeling was amazing! Also, we have never snorkeled in the rain before and it certainly added another dimension...this was fun.

AT SEA (22nd day of our journey)

This is what 11 days at sea looks like...

AT SEA (21st  day of our journey)

Nothing special to talk about today. 

Water, water all around.

Did our usual reading. 

If I ever complain about having to much to do and not having time to read a book I will remind myself of all of the days that we spent at sea with nothing else to do!

Day after tomorrow we will dock in Fakarava. Hopefully we will get to do some snorkeling there.

PITCARIN ISLAND (20th day of our journey)

After 9 1/2  ays at seas we arrived to Pitcairn Isle at noon today as scheduled. The island is a 4x4 mile land mass, inhabited by 43 people, made famous by the book Mutiny on the Bounty. Supposedly all of the people that live there are related to the indigenous Polynesians and the sailors from the Bounty. Apparently, they are currently they are looking for people to live there, so if you are interested you may apply. Like Easter Isle there are no docking facilities and the seas need to be flat in order for the Tenders to land. Yes, you guessed it. We were unable to go ashore. Believe it or not just seeing land at this point was a relief!
Since, we were unable to visit the island the natives brought their goods to the ship in a longboat. What was most interesting was their appearance, I do not know if you will see in the photo's below that the the people who we saw all did seem to have a family resemblance. They support themselves by selling a small amount of goods to passing cruise ships.

LAND HO!

.

4:30 this afternoon on our way to Polynesia ...This means more days at sea but, once we get to Polynesia it will get ore interesting...

AT SEA (19th day of our journey)

Not much to talk about today, except that the seas are rolling and so is the boat. Been pretty uncomfortable at times. We spent most of the day trying to ignore the discomfort. The weather drove us to the casino and you know that we lost! It was a good diversion, however.

Looking forward to docking in Pitcairn Island tomorrow at noon, from what we have been hearing and given the seas that we have been encountering that is questionable.

Stay tuned...

AT SEA (18th day of or journey)

What I forgot to write yesterday about Easter Island is that from what I hear from veteran World Cruisers is that so far after attempting to visit the Island as many as 10 times they have been totally unsuccessful. So much or my disappointment!

Currently we are headed for PITCARIN ISLAND. The 4mix4mi island that was made famous by the novel MUTNEY ON THE BOUNTY. Apparently this is another Island with no harbor and there is a distinct possibility that the seas will to be hospitable so that the Tenders will not be able to land there either. Stay tuned......

Below are pictures from LIMA that I could not upload that day. The town was getting ready for an independence day celebration the next day.

                                                                                  

AT SEA (17th day of our journey)

This is the closest that we got to EASTER ISLAND today.
Easter Island is the most isolated inhabited island in the world. The Rapa Nui, a polyneian culture erected statues carved stone, called Moai, sometimes 37 ft high. The Island has quite a tumultuous history, erosion of natural resources, famine, being conquered by many different cultures and enslaved. Still it continues to thrive.

We were looking forward to going ashore by tender but, the swells were 10 ft.+ high and the most that we got to do was sail around the island on the ship and view what remains of the Moai from a distance. DISAPPOINTMENT!

AT SEA (17th day of our journey)

Still doing a lot of reading...

I am amazed that this picture actually uploaded!

We are about 200 nautical miles off the coast of Chile.
Looking forward to EASTER ISLAND tomorrow.

AT SEA (16th day of our journey)

Very relaxing.
We are both catching up on our reading.

Also, we are both very conscious of what we eat! The food and the service are unbelievable, it is so good and if you let them they will feed you all day.

Looking forward to land tomorrow.

AT SEA (15th day of our journey)

Not terribly exciting.

I learned about the evolution of man in one lecture and how to cook Duck in a French Lunch & Learn. If you know me you know that I do not eat Duck and it was hard for me to watch. I did not want to be rude so I made myself appear to enjoy it.. Actually the chefs were so proud of themselves, and for good reason, that I was glad to go along with the program.

Today we are 1/2 way between Peru and Easter Island Chile. Out on the middle of the ocean with no land in sight only the horizon all around us.

For whatever reason, ???, the picture of the sea, rolling against the starboard side of the ship causing the water to create humming bubbles and foam she steadily moves toward safe harbor will not upload...

AT SEA (14th day of our journey)

The horizon from the Bow of the Silver Whisper as she glides gracefully in the south Pacific...

  

LIMA (12th day of our journey)

Took a city tour today.
Saw 2 Cathedrals that date back to the 1500's. Both restored after wars and earthquakes. Amazing to see the detail in the restorations.
The Cathedrals were well worth seeing and all the while our guide was explaining the pomp and circumstance and showing us the elaborate Silver and Gold Floats that they parade through the streets on All Saints day Nov. 2nd, I could not help but think about the cross over between the indigenous Chan Chan holiday, on Nov 1, that I wrote about earlier. Also, even though the Indians worshiped the Sun, the Moon & the Stars and the Christians worship only one G-d, the Cathedrals resembled the Temples in that they both were a labyrinth of rooms dedicated to reverence of the dead.
Otherwise, Lima is a very busy place with lots of traffic and bad drivers just like in Florida.
No pictures today. They do not seem to be able to download?

AT SEA (13th day of our journey)
Today is the 1st of 4 days at sea.
As I am writing we are 200 nautical miles off the coast of Peru. The humidity is gone, the water is kind of rolling along, and the sky is a fluffy shade of blue...

CALLAO (LIMA) (11th day of our journey)

Docked later than expected this AM. A submarine and some Military ships were in the harbor & we had to wait for them to leave before we could approach. Interesting, especially since Peru does not have an army???

Went to the Artists of Barranco District rather refreshing since the area was hustling & bustling with people who seemed to be dressed appropriately and have a purpose.
Visited the home of Victor Delfin an 88 yr old renowned local artist. His air is bold and dramatic and is done in many different mediums from oils to steel sculptures. Every "everyday" item in his home became a piece of art!

Next we visited the Gallery of a famous Peruvian artist, Mario Testino one of the most influential fashion photographers of our time.
                                                                               

We enjoyed some free time around the main square as well. 

What was different about today was that we got to see a bit of the working class as well as the people and their works that the country takes pride in.

SALAVERRY PERU (oops made a mistake yesterday today is the 10th day of our journey)

Pre Inca Civilizations CHAN CHAN RUINS. Dating back 1500 years.

The largest clay city in pre Hispanic America. There were 10 of these cities built for their Kings that  were mummified after death to be buried in. It was mile by 1&1/2 miles, with 12 ft. walls that were 5 ft. thick, & made out of clay, Lama poop, bird poop & shells.

It does not rain very much in Salverry, but through out the yrs. much of the cities have been diminished. As you see they are trying to salvage the remains...

To date November 2, is a national Holiday! The Peruvians still celebrate the DAY OF THE DEAD by visiting with their dead ancestors and bringing them gifts and food and dancing around their graves as they did with the bodies of the mummified kings 1500 yrs. ago! 

Really interesting to see the ruins, but sad to see the living conditions. There are living areas where there are no services at all. Although, I do have to say that it looks like the people who live there are accepting of what they have and we understood from the guide that they have the ability to elevate their standards. 

DAY AT SEA (12th day of our journey)

A day to enjoy the calm seas and view as I gazed over my book at the ships wake.
Tomorrow morning we will be in Salaverry Peru The Gateway to Northern Peru's Archaeological Treasures.

MANTA ECUADOR (10th day of Journey)

A major port along the central coast of Ecuador. Fishing villages, Native Ecuadorians in the local market. The birthplace of the "Panama Hat"

We enjoyed all of the sights. We most certainly not accustomed to this sub standard of living.
When it came time to use the facilities it cost 25 cents, American, and that included a rationed amount of toilet paper as you went in. When you were on your way out there was a communal bucket of water to wash your hands. Needless to say we did not use it! The facilities were clean...

COSTA RICA

BLUE JEANS FROG

POSIONEOUS

I just realized that I can download photos!

DAY AT SEA (8th day of Journey)

I forgot to tell you that yesterday as the ship transited the Pedro Miguel Lock in the canal we watched a huge container ship that is set up to have a 2 ft. clearance on each side of the lock actually hit the wall on the port side causing a horrible noise and a great deal of smoke. Interestingly, once it passed thats all it left that was visible was a minor scrape.
We crossed the Equator around 3:30 this afternoon and King Neptune welcomed us to the Southern Hemisphere.
Oh, also I made a mistake yesterday. We are going to be in Manta Equador tomorrow. Peru is not until next week...

TRANSITING THE PANAMA CANAL (7th day of our journey)

As you know it is an amazing feet of engineering! Hard to believe that it is 100 years old?
The transit has taken all day and of course we listened to the commentary and watched as the ship was guided through the locks 6 in all.

Tomorrow we will b in Peru.

COSTA RICA (6th day of our journey)

Disembarked around 9 AM.
Tried to help resuscitate a man on the dock this AM, unexpected!
Went on tour as scheduled. Got to see some neat wildlife, Crocks, Sluths, Bats etc...
Back to ship to find out that the man did not make it.
Looking forward to the Panama Canal tomorrow.

SECOND DAY @ SEA (5th day of our journey)

Water, water everywhere... & thats all there is WINE to drink! No wonder more than 1/2 of the guests have been on this cruise 3 or more times!

The most exciting thing that has happened so far is that Woody came in 1st in the putting contest. Now that was a surprise!

Otherwise we are settling in and looking forward to Costa Rica tomorrow.

KEY WEST FLORIDA

First stop.
I have been trying to download the video all day, come to find out that the internet system on the ship does not support video downloads?!? I will keep trying...
Meanwhile Key West does not change. I do not know if that is good or not s good?
Nevertheless, it s a fascinating Island, that attracts all kinds of people,and we always look forward to going back.

Today we are at sea. The ship is very comfortable. The staff is so helpful that it is almost uncomfortable and the food is to good!