Bora Bora

We have bee. n here before and for that reason we do not have an excursion planned.
Last time here we took a princess tour that took us all of the way around the island with stops along the way. That is the tour that Al and Jan thought they would like sine this is their first visit to the island. We decided to meet for breakfast and go together. The Princess version was 69.95 each.

When the ship dropped anchor a fisherman in a small boat arrived. He was playing native music and trying his luck . This was our first view of the island.

We did not have to wait long for a tender, there was one ready to load just as we arrived at Michael Angelo.The trip was short and smooth. This was our first close up view as the tender pulled in. Oh did I mention that they now call them Water Shuttles and not tenders?

There were many native peoples selling tours and within minutes we found a lady who was offering the around the island tour for 35 dollars each. The tour would last 2 hours and the transport would be a truck. The box of the truck was fitted with well padded benches and there were backs also well padded. In all there would be six of us in the back of this pick up.

Our guides name was Daniella. She drove the truch which did not have a PA system. So when she came to a spot with history or the like she would pull over to the side of the road, get out of the truck, come to the back and tell us about what we were looking at.

There were several stops to see the view and some other longer stops. One was to show us where and how they make pareos. I bought one last time so I did not get one . But Jane made a purchase. They had free fruit samples for us and there were two musicians to entertain us.

The views along the way were spectacular!!

There is a special public beach that locals and tourist alike flock to. The beaches for the most part are private and you need to ask permission to use the.This beach is called Matira beach. It is amazing. They do not rent chairs or sell food. This is a golden opportunity for someone who wants to start a business. I would have bought an ice cream for sure. This beach is about 4 miles from town and there shuttles that will take you there and return you for 5 dollars each way.

The last brief stop was at Bloody Mary's Restaurant . This place is famous because of it famous patrons. The names of these famous people are carved into a wall for everyone to read. It has a sand floor and I am told the food and the drinks are top drawer.
Because of the crowds we could only stay long enough to get a few quick pictures. A place to return to.

That was our last stop and our guide was in a hurry to get back to the dock. She is eager to pick up another group and do the tour again. The last time we were here the road was  just gravel and full of pot holes and the like. They paved it last year and the asphalt was welcomed.

The tenders were coming and going , there were 6 in use and no one had to wait so soon we were back at the dock and heading for the ship.

The forecast was for rain...100% chance of rain. It did not rain a drop and it was HOT and very humid. As usual my system was not pleased about that. When we got back to the ship I could not get out of my own way. I don't know when I have felt that exhausted. We got lunch and I went to bed. I slept the afternoon away, had dinner and went back to bed. I don't know if it is was because I got dehydrated or if it was just the intense humidity.
I could not live here if that would be my normal reaction to this climate.

Bora Bora again tomorrow. We will see how I make out.!!!

Fifth of Five

This is our last sea day for awhile. Tomorrow we will be in Bora Bora.

It was a lazy day. We had breakfast in the dining room.
Then at 9:30 we were to Sharon's lecture on Tahiti.
She had great slides and I was able to capture some of them.

After lunch Ken went to a talk on Space history. I finished the blog and then went to play elevator roulette. It is a game during which you bet on which elevator will open next. It is just fun. About 20 or so played.
I did not win.

The evening show featured Benjamin Makisi.
He has a phenominal voice and he enthralled us with his version of many styles of music. The choice went from Some Enchanted Evening to selections from Phantom of the Opera.
What an amazing way to finish the day.

Tomorrow we will be in Bora Bora. It is a tender port but we will be able to step foot on land!!

Bora Bora

This is Sunday February 16, we are in Bora Bora overnight. It is really hot here and as a result I have no energy tonight. I am just too tired to begin the report of today and yesterday. I will try to catch up tomorrow.


BUT
there was a request to see the Love Story  entry that we submitted to EFFY so I will cut and paste it for those who are interested.

Did their Guardian Angel take a 40 year nap?

She was 17 and he was 19---it was February of 1962. They were students at college.

They went ice skating that afternoon. She fell and he stopped to help her to her feet. That was their first meeting. The college Valentines dance was coming up soon so he invited her to the dance. This would be their first date.

They would date for about three years. Time and distance in this pre face time and pre internet era would take its toll.

They both went on to lead full lives, to marry and to have families. There was no contact and no knowledge of the where abouts of the other.

In January of 2003 he was trying to locate an old friend whose Xmas card had been returned. He went to Classmates.com and the friend was not listed but she was. He had thought of her often so he decided to drop her a note.

In 2003 she was living in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and he was living in British Columbia. They were a continent apart.

Her husband was in a nursing home in the final stages of Alzheimer disease. His wife was in the final stages of a 12 year battle with Leukemia.

During the next few months they kept their computers busy filling in the detail of their lives during the preceding almost 40 years.

They finally met face to face at the 40^th reunion of their graduation from the NOVA SCOTIA TEACHERS COLLEGE. It was as if no time had passed.

During the following year they helped each other through rough times and the death of their spouses.

In October of 2004 they decided that life was too short and they has wasted enough time so she moved from Cape Breton to join him in British Columbia

He found her on January 7^th 2003

He proposed on January 7^th 2005

They were married on January 7^th 2006

Life had come full circle in 40 years.

She sold her Cape Breton home and soon after they discovered Princess cruises. Their first cruise was in January 2009. They loved it…. The funds from the house sale and other investments have been slowly given to Princess.

On February 3^rd they celebrated their 500^th day at sea on a Princess ship. This is cruise number 52

They are busy making memories and trying to make up for those lost 40 years.

At first they hoped to get 10 years together now they want 20 years.

Their motto is that every day is a gift that should be made the most of.

Valentines Day/2020

Ken and I began the day by exchanging cards. Then it was off to the dining room for breakfast. They had a very nice Valentine decoration at the entrance.

After breakfast we walked past the piazza and saw  they had set up a card making station. That is going to be one of the activities this morning.

Our next activity was the presentation by Sharon Faff

She began it with a Valentines greeting, followed by maps of where we will be going in these 5 port days.

She told us what to expect in the Islands with several slides. 

Next she told of things that are specific to Bora Bora

I left the lecture a few minutes early because I had an appointment to get my hair done for formal night. Boy do I ever miss Dee. My hair is clean but that is the only good I can say. It is bushy and does not look pretty at all. The salon area is bright and modern and large but I would prefer "Hair by Dee"

When we returned to our cabin around three there was a place of chocolate covered strawberries. There was not a note telling us who sent them but we are assuming is is part of the Milestone program. Or perhaps they were sent because we wrote our love story ???

Next we went down to Effy's to hear the love stories. I thought that there may be 3 or 4  stories. I was so wrong... there were SEVENTY-ONE entries in the form of love letters and stories. As a result they decided that just drawing out the name of the winner would be the only fair way to do it.

We did not win, someone whose name was Cynthia won. We did get a glass of champagne.

Because this is formal night we returned to our cabin to get ready. Our canapes arrived and  we enjoyed them as we got ready.Ken discovered there is a strange mark on his tuxedo jacket. We cannot figure out what it is. It is either a burn or something stuck on it. Ken was not pleased. He was able to wear it because it is the only jacket he brought.

Dinner included surf and turf and escargot (yummy). There was a special Norman Love Valentines dessert.

The show at the Princess Theatre was called "Blame it on the Boogie".

It was very good. We had seen it before but we enjoyed it .

Who are these men? Well I first met the man on the left on a previous cruise. I met the man on the right on this cruise. Apparently they had not met until this cruise. Each heard about the other's exhistance . They are both from Peru and they had never met. They look so alike and it is so amazing. If both have their glasses on or it they both have their glasses off you cannot tell who you are talking too. Caesar and Louise. the mystery twins.