Location map and sunrise 5.55 (didn’t get all of it as the ship did a u-turn so it was facing out of the bay!)

Some inconsiderate person has passed on their cold to me. I’ve got a bit of a runny nose!!! When in Tahiti all one could hear was car and emergency vehicle sirens. All I could hear in Moorea were lots of feral roosters crowing. Panorama from balcony.

Anyway, we had a much earlier start than yesterday as we were having to use tenders again to get onto land. This time though they decided that the tender we were taking was going to be amidship, so we had to walk through the bowels of the ship (deck 1) where crew quarters and storage areas are to the gangway. I managed a photo over my shoulder out the back door of the tender!

Finally found the right bus, but I had to go all the way to the back to get a seat! The island’s name is pronounced Mo-or-rea. First stop was the Belvedere lookout. The road was narrow and very windy. The driver had to reverse a couple of times to get around a corner! Great views but we only had 10 minutes to look and it took me 5 to work out how to get out of the seat!!!

We made several more stops along the way but generally only for 2-5 minutes, so I stayed on the bus and opened a window! This is another ginger flower, completely different to yesterday’s! And a 150 year old banyan tree.

We did stop for 20 minutes at shops and restrooms, but I didn’t get out. Interesting how shopping gets a lot longer stay than sight seeing!!! Another panorama, Tahiti in the background.

The bus was supposed to be back at the port at noon, but we didn’t get back until 12.40. One of the ladies at the back was supposed to be starting another tour at 12.45. Here’s hoping she made it as she wouldn’t have been able to get her tour sticker from the ship beforehand!

So had a very late lunch and then rest and relaxation! Went up to dinner a bit later than usual and only had a small snack meal! Carl found me so we had a chat about our doings over the 2 days. Now for another 5 days of cruising to Hawaii.

Location map and sunrise over Tahiti, 6.12

Definitely tropical! 27 degrees and very humid. Everyone kept complaining about how hot it was, when it was really the humidity that was unpleasant!

Did a panorama from the balcony!

Had a coach tour of part of the island today. Of course the gangway was at the very end of the ship and had to walk the whole length of the pier, through the front part of the port and then up a flight of 20 steps to get into the port terminal! Found the bus on the other side!

The tour guide said that the collection of islands that form French Polynesia covers an area the size of Europe, but it only has 280,000 people. 90,000 of them work in the city of Papeete which is just outside the ship. So the roads were very busy indeed.

We first visited a waterfall, but I didn’t do the trek to get to the base. I wandered around and took pictures of the plants!! Banana, bamboo, moss & ginger!

We then stopped at Pointe Venus which is where Captain Cook recorded the transit of Venus across the sun in 1769. Also famous for its lighthouse. It had some very old sheoaks there!!

There was another lookout, but I stayed on the bus! Back through the port terminal, down those stairs, across the port front and up the pier. At least the gangway had been moved to the middle of the ship! Up for a late lunch and then back to rest and recuperate for tomorrow on Moorea.

As I couldn’t do the sunset, completely the wrong side of the ship, here’s some night shots of Papeete!

P.S. to yesterday. Forgot about this until after I’d closed down. There are 3-4 elevators on the stateroom decks with one entrance, which has a security sliding door. I got out on deck 7 only to find maintenance men were working on the security door so I wasn’t allowed through it. I had to catch an elevator up to deck 8, walk across the ship to the other bank of elevators, catch one down to deck 7, then walk back across the ship (past the semi-closed security door) to get back to my hall way!

Location map and sunrise 6.45

The pool was heated this morning. Apparently there had been complaints about it being cold yesterday. The complainers have no idea how cold it was the first two days!! It wasn’t too bad yesterday at all.

Bumped into Carl at brunch time. Neither of us had had a good night sleep wise. So ate and went our separate ways! Didn’t do much yet again, until Carl turned up for our afternoon session. We have started on Maria’s edge jigsaw, doing it properly this time!!!!! We sorted and made a start but we were both struggling with the sleepies, so finished early and both had a nap! Now no sleeping tonight, LOL.

Had a pleasant dinner and chat and then grabbed my fruit salad and headed back for the writing of this blog! Tahiti tomorrow, will be interesting to see if legs are wonky on non-moving land!

Location map and sunrise 7.20

Starting to get a bit scary this daily routine of pool exercising, lol. Anyway, pool wasn’t heated again, the breeze wasn’t quite as cold, and it didn’t rain!!! I had had a quick chat with a lady wearing a nice swimsuit coverup, and she said it was only $10 down in the shopping precinct. So after pool, shower & brunch I headed down to deck 5. Lots of pretty things, jewellery, watches, etc., all with pretty prices!!! I found the rack of clothes she had been talking about and found a coverup still available, so that’s my first cruising purchase this holiday!!!

Carl and I played Tantrix. It’s a colour match game I’ve had for many year’s, which can be played solo or with 2-4 players. It’s always in my holiday bag to take away. Played a proper game and then made up our own rules for another version. Carl then had a go at some of the single puzzles.

Once again we have a time change tonight! We get these little credit card sized notifications in our door lock! I’ve changed the computer, just need to do the watch & phone when I’ve finished here.

It’s our second Saturday in a row, having crossed the International Date Line. Now Perth is in tomorrow land, lol.

Only 3 problems with the pool this morning! The heater hadn’t been turned on so the water wasn’t anywhere near warm. It rained so got even more wet and the wind was cold, so it wasn’t pleasant standing around in it trying to dry off a bit! However the nice hot shower made up for it!

I’m still having smoked salmon for brunch! Very yummy. Did quite a bit of family tree, have now done 500 pages of the 1939 Register. Still a way to go though.

Carl was up most of the night, so he slept in very late, lol. But we did finish the jigsaw. It took us about 9 hours to do it. I’ve got a game we can play for a change and then we can do Maria’s edge puzzle.

The elevators all have the day of the week in the floor to help us keep track of the days. This is the only day the staff didn’t have to change the day, as it stayed the same!

It looks like it is Miss Piggy day today as well!

Location map and sunrise 6.15

Once again in the pool this morning. I’m sure this won’t last, having the pool open on time, lol. The room attendant did his thing whilst I was in the pool, much easier than later when I have wet bathers hanging in the shower! He’s been doing it after I’ve showered and having brunch!

Carl popped in after his lunch and we spent another couple of hours doing the jigsaw It’s coming along nicely!

Carl then went off to the gym and I did my usual nothing much, lol.

Managed a sunset tonight, I was too late for yesterday’s.

Not quite sure when we are actually crossing the International Date Line, but we are repeating today tomorrow!

Location map and sunrise 6.30

We had to add another hour to our clocks last night, so now everything, including the sunrise is later. We are now 4 hours ahead of Perth.

Once again did the pool exercise, shower and brunch first thing. Then nothing much until Carl joined me for a bit more jigsaw. A couple of hours is enough for us. Carl brings in the table from the balcony. I sit on the bed and Carl on the only chair! But it is working well! Here are the start and finish photos for today.

Carl went up to the gym whilst I went to dinner! Bathroom was flooded again!!!!!!! My bear obtained eyes this morning, lol.

Location map and sunrise at 6 am. Including a westerly view as there was a touch of colour!

Solarium pool was open again at the proper time, so more exercises. This time because it was cold they started running heated water into it. Not overly warm, but at least not as cold! It was a rather grey day for a while!

Carl and I made a start on the jigsaw. I had a thought or two at 3 am about what to use to sort out pieces as nowhere to put them out. I had 2 bowls from my evening fruit salads and used the box Maria’s jigsaw was in. Also the empty rubbish bin until I finish tonight’s fruit salad! Spent a couple of hours on it!

After a relax, I only just managed to get the sunset, went to use the facilities and my bathroom floor was flooded!!! So headed upto the dining room a little earlier than planned.

I mentioned that I was doing the ‘Behind-the-scenes’ tour tomorrow when Carl said there are lots of steps! When I booked it I wasn’t using this wretched crutch, so had to cancel it. I had been really looking forward to it!!

Back to a dry bathroom, blog & fruit salad, lol.

P.S. for last cruise. There were 1100 children on it, only 100 on this cruise!

Location map 6.15 and sunrise

We had to put our clocks forward an hour again, so even though it was 6 am it did feel like 5 am!!

Headed up to the solarium and the pool was actually open!! Spent a chilly half hour exercising and then back for a nice hot shower. The water pressure is amazing, way better than home!! Brunch and then another day of doing nothing much.

You know the boat is rocking when the horizon disappears occasionally! The variation of visible water was very noticeable sometimes!

My location right next to the orange dot this time!

Met up with Carl for dinner and talked about a large variety of topics. AI, satellites, books, the state of the world, you know, usual stuff, LOL.

Location maps at 4.20 & 5.20 and sunrise!

Well today was a bit different! Finished packing and then did a bit of family tree! Left my room and headed for the Star Lounge where the consecutive cruisers were meeting. There must have been a couple of hundred people! We all had to have a numbered sticker and our passports labelled with our new room number. I was sitting chatting to a couple of American guys when the organiser asked if anyone needed a wheelchair and one of them raised his hand and said I needed one! Well it was really just as well because it was a long way off the ship, into the terminal, out onto the concourse and then back into the terminal. Had to hand in our incoming passenger declarations and then sat and waited for the immigration people to start work. What did we do before games on phones to pass the time? Then through passport control and back up the long series of ramps to the ship. Where we had to leave our passports for the French Polynesia part of the trip! Had an early lunch whilst waiting to be allowed into my new room. This one is on the other side of the ship next deck up, so now I’m completely turned around when getting out of the elevator. However, it’s identical to the last one, LOL.

Carl popped in for a chat and then we were going to meet in the WIndjammer for dinner. Out signals got a bit crossed as we waited for each other in different spots, but I’m sure it’ll be sorted before the 25 days are up!

This guy surprised me at lunchtime, moving around the outside of the ship!