The time at sea between Lima Peru and Tahiti is a total of 10 days with one stop, at Easter Island. During those long days at sea it has been very relaxing, bordering on boredom. To compound the matter we have had internet problems so my blogs have not been getting through. This writing thing of mine has now become a way of life. It is always a challenge to "Get the blog done" even at home, but it gives me a sense of purpose. It may be hard to understand but it is what it is.
Fellette seems to have picked up 'The Columbus Cough', so named because it has been around since Christopher Columbus on ships at sea. That means we are a bit restricted to our cabin and deck, which is not too bad actually.
I had the blog written on my laptop, which is easier to do, but I think that I will back off on trying to post the blog until we get ashore in Tahiti. The iPad is easier to pack around in my rucksack than the computer so I am redoing it. I may try and post it, who knows???
Yesterday, a sea day was rather intense with exercise and several lectures. I put on 6000 steps and 48 flights of stairs as we avoid the elevators.
We were up at 5.00 this morning as we set the clocks back again. The islanders boarded around 8.15 and the ship circled the island several times. It is only about 1 1/2 square miles. A Jacqui Christian, great, great, great, great granddaughter of Fletcher Christian, [Marlon Brando or Mel Gibson, depending on your age] gave a talk to about 400 of us in the Lounge shortly after.
The story is interesting. The mutineers went back to Tahiti and picked up their 'women' whom they had been living with for five months plus some Tahitian men and other women and set out looking for a place to hide from the Royal Navy.
They found Pitcairn, not marked on most maps and settled down. Dissent broke out when one of the mutineers 'wife's' died and the widower decided to take one of the Tahitians wives. That was the beginning of the end of it for the mutineers, the Tahitian men shot five of the mutineers in one day, including Fletcher Christian. Eventually the Tahitian women became the force to be reckoned with and it still that way today.
The speaker was educated in New Zealand and is a trained pharmacist, about 40 years old I would say. The population is ageing and the status quo is not sustainable with the present residents. Regarding inbreeding, she did mention that inbreeding was not a problem when they had a larger population because "Passing ships always managed to leave their genes."
Some pics... In no order because it is difficult to compose in order. Me and my hat!, our first glimpse of Pitcairn, Gail at Tai Chi, Pitcairn Buns on deck this morning, the islanders coming onboard, the shopping frenzy on deck as they sold their crafts, Fellette having lunch as Pitcairn fades away as we head to Tahiti. The last shot is one I got from Moe, it shows almost all of the 50 or so islanders coming out to the ship early in the morning with their wares to sell. They postponed their annual celebration of the founding of their colony because everyone was preparing to come on the Amsterdam. They will celebrate it on Sunday instead.
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