Another French Possession in the middle of nowhere. Except nowhere is actually somewhere with hundreds of islands around us in all directions. There is a group if indigenous people known as Kanaks that are highly visible by their black skin and rather rough appearance. There are also many Polynesian people as well, plus of course Europeans, French, that seem to be the businessmen and women
It is a rather mixed bag as far as shops and stores. You can see the French influence everywhere, the streets are the same as street names in Paris or France and the stores are the same as in France except smaller. Apparently there is some unrest between the natives and the government as the natives are looking to independence as most of the land has ended up in non native hands. The French are not known for being generous and sensitive to the original owners of the land it seems. It seems that is true throughout the world over.
We went into a large supermarket and it was very interesting. There was clothing, shoes and of course all sorts of foods that I have no idea what they were. The beverages are all foreign to me but they all looked delicious. The wine section was closed today [?] We were specifically looking for French wines in boxes. The boxed wines are neat because they have a bladder that collapses as you use them so the wine does not get exposed to air like a bottle. A five liter box of French Chardonnay was $25.00! We have used boxed wines before and they are perfectly good. We will have to get Australian wines instead I suppose.
The day was nothing spectacular. We opted for a Hop-On-Hop-Off for $15.00. We hopped off and hopped on a few times as we searched for a beach and then a meal. We ended up at the far end of the island on a beach at a fancy hotel. Jim sprung for four ice cream cones that coast $30.00. But they came with a glass of water so I guess that makes it OK. Bless the French.
We ended up having lunch at a Bistro in a strip of the beach area that had wall to wall eating places. Jim had a steak and fries, Gail had a salad with Brie, Fellette had a caesar salad like you have never seen and I had scallops and prawns, and two beers. $124.00. But it was OK because we had Free Wi-fi. [Sure Doug]
We were walking the street one time and this open air tourist train/bus goes by and a voice yells out 'Doug', we look and it is sister Moe hanging on with one hand and shooting pictures with the other somehow. We all reacted and waved and soon all the pedestrians were waving as well. Over in less than a minute. Neat. Back to the ship all windblown and soaked with the humidity and to our cabin for a cleanup and a rest. We had a light dinner in the Lido and then to bed, early.
It was a good day made better because Gail and I connected as we took our iPads or the like with us and connected with kids who responded, it was a great feeling and it helped rationalize the over-priced meal.
I had a fluke Skype call with nephew Robin in Stockholm today: Moe left her iPad with me and the phone rang in it….strange. Nice to hear his voice.
We are now on Australian time: five hours behind Vancouver time and a day ahead.
Pics: Bedraggled and sweaty; I can't believe I ate the whole thing; Beaches and pool; welcome reception; more food pictures; bits and pieces.
No comments:
Post a Comment