International Date Line

Tonight we will cross the International Date Line. In addition to setting the clock back one hour, we will set the calendar to 3 March 2025, skipping over 2 March. 

This event is hard to comprehend. Where did the day go? Will we be 1 day younger when we get home? 

We will celebrate with music and drinks at a “Jump Over the Dateline” party. (This being a German cruise ship, we find something to celebrate with music and drinks every night.)

We have been traveling the last week in time zone GMT-10, 11 hours behind German time. Tomorrow, we will be in time zone GMT+13, exactly 12 hours ahead of the time in Germany.

This being a German cruise ship, Eve and I received certificates documenting our noteworthy accomplishment the next day. 

Napoleon Enters Moscow

This stretch of our world tour is nearing its end. After 4 days at sea we will dock in Auckland on 5 March. 

The day is somewhat overcast and cooler. Good day to read. I marvel at Tolstoy’s (and his translator Anthony Briggs’) skill with words. 

Eve is reading an autobiography of Mary Roos, a german singer. We learn that Frank Sinatra hated the song, “My Way”. 

It’s the little things that make life interesting. 

Cook Islands

The largest of the Cook Islands, Rarotonga, pleasantly surprised us. We anticipated a day baking in the sun on a white beach, with little else on offer. 

However, the skies remained overcast for most of our visit and there were plenty of shops in Avarua offering things to buy, food to eat, guided tours, and rental cars. We chose the latter. 

As on Bora Bora, we circled the island at our own pace. I managed to drive on the left side of the road (The Cook Islands are a loose protectorate of New Zealand) most of the time. 

We hiked through a forested hillside to a small waterfall, stopping often to observe the flora and fauna along the way.

Back on the road, we drove a bit further before stopping at a roadside restaurant for lunch. We were struck by how different “life” on Rarotonga was from that in French Polynesia. On Bora Bora, we drove a long way before finding a place for lunch. Here, it seemed a cafe or restaurant was located around every other bend in the road. The Pacific islands that developed under English colonialism have gone down a different path than those under French colonialism. That should not be a surprise, but I found the contrast remarkable. 

After lunch, back on the road to complete our tour. We turned the car in, and walked back to the harbor. 

Along the way, birds, wild and domestic, were everywhere, the air filled with their calls. 

Back on the ship, we showered, had dinner, and let our beds welcome us. 

Aha! That’s Why!

 

Today is a sea day. Tomorrow we visit Rarotonga, one of the Cook Islands. 

I took the screenshot above two days ago. It illustrates perfectly a major benefit I will get from this cruise.  

Up until now, I would have seen this headline and thought, “Cook Islands?  Somewhere in Pacific? Yeah, whatever.” I would certainly not read the article. But now, I know specifically where the Cook Islands are, and I am quite interested to know why they are in the news. 

The old saying about travel opening our minds is certainly true. 

Bora Bora

 

We took the tender boat to shore with no specific plans, other than seeing as much of the island as possible and avoiding the water, other than for a short swim. (We have gotten our fill of direct sun for a while.) After talking to a couple of tour operators, we decided to rent a car and plan the day for ourselves. 

A 32 km long road encircles the island. We easily acquire an Avis rental at their harbor office, and set off to drive the island CCW. 

There was little traffic, and parking on the roadside is easy. One caution: Eve made sure we didn’t park under hanging coconuts. 

The views across the lagoon to the atolls where the rich and famous hang out are splendid. We find a couple of spots where a short hike up a hill gives us a better perspective. 

We finished one loop and started around again to find a lunch spot. The Bora Bora Beach Club was perfect. 

After lunch, we continued our second loop.  On the northeast side we hiked out on a promontory where two abandoned US canons from WW II can be found. The view over the lagoon was, as you might now expect, exceptional. 

Returning hot and sweaty to the car, we drove back towards the tender pier, stopping for a quick swim before returning the rental. We took the tender back to ship, showered, and collapsed in our deck chairs for a review of the day. 

10 out of 10 points. 

Tomorrow is a sea day. Yaaayyy!

Papeete

 

Our expectations for Papeete were not particularly high, and they were pretty well met. We docked in the town center last night. It is Sunday morning, and lots of excursion buses are picking up passengers at the cruise terminal, but the town of 25,000 residents is not particularly active.

We visit the marketplace and photograph the city hall. A long thin park bordering the harbor invites exploring. 

My goal for the day is to visit Venus Point. Eve would like to see more of the island. We decide to split up. 

Eve buys a ticket for a local tour around the island. I stubbornly maintain I can walk the 10 km to Venus Point. 

Bidding Eve adieu, I set off. After 3 kilometers under a glaring sun, with little shade, I turn around to head back to the town center. There, I find a taxi to take me to Venus Point. 

The beach there is crowded. I reflect on James Cook, take a few photos, and then  get back in the taxi for the return trip. 

The taxi drivers stops at an overlook point with a great view of the town and Moorea. 

Eve thoroughly enjoyed her bus outing. She could not get over how green everything was. The bus circled the big island, with 8 scenic stops (including Venus Point) along the way. 

Message to self. Go with Eve next time. 

Huahine

A dramatic sunrise highlights our entrance to the bay dividing this island of 6000 inhabitants. 

We grab our swimsuits and towels and take the tender boat to shore, where a shuttle bus takes us 10 km to Fare, the main town. 

Exiting the bus, a narrow path along the waterfront leads us to the recommended beach. 

Less touristy than other islands, the main offerings here are exotic tropical vegetation and super beach vistas. 

We find a spot in the shade to spread our towels, and let the views soak into our brains. 

Late afternoon we return to the ship. A light breeze and tropical drink on the afterdeck keeps us cool as we continue to absorb our surroundings. 

We will sleep well tonight.