Samoa

 

We landed in Samoa this morning...and we were welcomed to the island by a dance troupe. Then I went on a shorex, and there was another dance troupe. I loved watching the subtle moves the dancers made to convey a story. This troupe was at the Robert Louis Stevenston home in Vailia Samoa. I did a self-guided walking tour of his home then saw the dancers. I even participated in their cava ceremony...cava is a drink that seems to be rather bland but we were told it has a kick if you drink too much. 

Our next stop was the Catholic Church. It is a highly decorated building with a mahogany ceiling as well as mahogany pews (the kneelers are mahogany too, not very soft). 

The ceiling takes your breath away, it is that spectacular. 

With stained glass windows and lots of color, the place is a delight for the eyes and the soul.

From there we went to a market. The heat and humidity were starting to come on strong by now. In the morning, the RLStevenston house was relatively cool. The church had open windows and doors and the breeze cooled it off. But, the outdoor market was another story. Stall after stall of fruit; then more stalls with local souvenirs. Way too hot--and since this is the "wet season" there was no relief except for a fan, which was selling for 15 taha about 15 US dollars. Instead of buying a fan, I went to our air conditioned bus to cool off.

The best part of the market was a one year old girl. We were flirting with each other, so I asked her mom if I could take her picture. Mom said yes. That's when the little girl became very solemn.

From the market we went back to the ship. It was cool in the ship, which was very welcome. We had dinner at the Pinnacle Grill which was fantastic, then we both had acupuncture treatments. I know my back is better because I'm walking better. I wonder where I can get acupuncture at home? 

It was a good day on the island. Our next stop is Lautoka, Fiji and we are cruising along at 21 knots, which is close to full-speed-ahead. The sea is calm but we are moving quickly, so the boat is rocking more than usual. I wonder why we are moving so fast? We are scheduled to arrive at Lautoka at 10 AM, and the distance does not look that far on the map...I guess there's a reason. We have a restful sea day tomorrow. We like sea days.