Sailing in the South Pacific
Somewhere near Bora Bora
Good morning. We left Papeʻetē last night and headed towards our next stop in Bora Bora. There were numerous signs we would be stopping there. The furniture on the pool deck was very much secured fr rough seas. Bora Bora is a tender port, which means if the seas are rough there can not be any tendering to shore. Watching the sun peak over the horizon, seeing the very ominous dark clouds and feeling the swaying back and forth of the ship, the brain is screaming – not a chance of stopping buddy, not a chance.
Forty-one years ago, when we last visited it was also in late January or early February.The calendar clearly stated it was cyclone season, although no one informed us when we were making the plans to go. This was back in the day when you relied on travel agents. The Polynesians were in the process of cleaning up after the cyclone when we arrived, we just didn’t realize it. It was still an amazing adventure.
The projected arrival time is 8 in the morning. Just as it had gone 8, the ship wide speakers came on. The captain announced that due to sea conditions we would be unable to stop in Bora Bora. John, our cruise director, followed with don’t worry we will have lots of fun activities. A new edition of the daily activities schedule followed a little later.
Another day at sea! Not feeling seasick this time. The day passed slowly. A card game, a nap, a little lunch. The afternoon speaker series was titled “Our wonderful world of water”. Really? You just have to look out the window to see all the water you want. If you wait a few minutes it will even splash onto the window. You can’t walk anywhere on the exterior of the ship. It is all closed off for safety reasons.
We met with the cruise consultant and tentatively booked the Southampton to Oslo cruise with Mike & Maddie. Today, armed with Mike’s excursion list, hours were spent trying to match our excursions with his. Out of about twenty, I was able to match about ten. We are wait listed for all the others. It will take a phone call to book alternates.
Eventually it was dinner time. Not really in the mood to get dressed up, so we heads to the pool grill for dinner. Up the elevator to the 11th floor. Out the doors to the pool deck. The chaise lounges, tables, chairs and anything else loose is lashed down securely. Oh, oh, wait that sounds a lot like yesterday. Oh, it is the pool grill is closed.
Ok, Sette Mare is right there. However, unlike yesterday the maître d'hôtel was able to seat us immediately. The waiter came by and informed us that tonight was Polynesian night, featuring traditional Polynesian dishes.
Tonight we took advantage of buffet style hors d’oeuvres. There were pot stickers and spring rolls which looked interesting. They had soy sauce out, but they didn’t have hot chili oil or paste. When we got back to the table, we waked the waiter to please bring us some hot chili oil. It took awhile for him to return. To his credit he brought hot oil. Literally it was hot vegetable oil. No, No, chili oil, hot chili oil.
After the passage of a little more time, enough that we had almost finished the hors d’oeuvres, a different waiter arrived with a bowl, a hot bowl, containing what was probably chili paste watered down with hot vegetable oil. Doesn’t matter it tasted fairly close to what we were looking for.
That’s all for now folks. Buonanotte e ciao, Enrico
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