Thursday, October 15
Today was a real stop/start affair. We woke up to another glorious island view with bright sunshine and aqua waters. By the time we had dressed and gone for breakfast the sky was completely overcast and threatening to rain. Our tender tickets had us leaving the ship around 10.00 am but by then the heavens had opened and spending a day on an island beach was not that enticing. We decided to take a "rain check" and evaluate the situation around 11.00 am. Between 10 & 11 am it rained then cleared then rained again and the skies remained gloomy and overcast. The four of us all felt that it would be a shame not to at least go over to the island and have a bit of a look around, even if it meant wearing rain jackets, so just after 11.00 am we boarded a tender looking more like we did in Alaska than as if we were heading to a tropical island.
Not exactly beach gear or beach weather
As we got off the tender it began to drizzle again but the temperature was pleasant so we didn't mind too much. At the end of our tender dock someone spotted a water snake and that caused quite a bit of excitement (and probably consternation for those planning to snorkel) and before too long there were several large black and white striped snakes swimming around. Angie & I were very glad we hadn't taken our bathers across.
One of the black & white striped sea snakes near our tender dock
We ambled along the waterfront for a short distance and the rain shower cleared and the sky began to look brighter. Locals had set up market stalls selling beaded and wooden handicrafts along with the usual sarongs and sundresses, postcards and photos. We browsed through the stalls for a little while and by then the sun was shining. The water was changing from a grey blue to a bright aqua blue and everything looked so much better. Bougainvillea was intertwined with other tropical flowers and plants and large Banyan trees with their multiple trunks provided the backdrop - absolutely gorgeous!
Angie amongst the Bougainvillea, impatiens and other tropical plants
Tony & Al found an old native canoe
We continued walking along the foreshore, stopping to take photos of this very lovely part of the world and paddling in the clear waters. We came to a resort where we bought a beer each (at $8.50 a glass!) and sat and looked out over the glorious setting before us. This really is paradise - even the pine trees looked like they were standing guard over this island!
Paradise
A beer and time to take in our magnificent surrounds
The magnificent view as we enjoyed a beer
We continued walking around and ooh-ing and aah-ing for another hour or so then caught a tender back to the ship - a very pleasant journey on much calmer aqua and turquoise water. We had a light lunch because we were off to the Pinnacle Grill for dinner (magnificent steaks) and didn't want to spoil our dinner. There was time for a game of cards and a read before getting ready for our sunset sail away and South Pacific soirée before heading off for dinner.
Al enjoying the music at the South Pacific soirée
Sunset over the Pacific
We are just loving this holiday life! What a blessing to be able to see such magnificent sights like the Ile des Pins and many others along the way.
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