Pago Pago

Pago Pago – American Samoa

Sunday is a quiet day in Pago Pago (pronounced Pango Pango) and the sun is bright and sunny. The temp and humidity keep rising….today it’s 29 with 82% humidity.

We didn’t have a tour so we wandered ourselves down to the point and hopefully got some lovely photos. The landscape is very green and lush with mountains rising straight from the port. Much greener than Fiji I thought and also less developed. The Samoans are very welcoming and wear a single beautiful hibiscus flower behind their ear - something so simple and beautifully decorative. One doesn’t really need so much sparkle, and shiny, shiny - just one fresh flower can show an understated elegance. It just doesn’t work in the city though, does it? On an island, it looks so attractive.

We heard a church service that was blaring down the road as we were walking to the point. It was rocking with electric guitars and loud singing – but when we arrived at the larger church in town, it was much more sedate. Samoans converted to Christianity and there are churches and crosses you can see all over the harbour.

I saw some payphones and people were on them so I decided to stop and try to phone roby to day hello Since it Pago Pago is on American Samoa, I thought my US calling card would work inexpensively, but that was not the case nor did I get through. However, I met an Afghani man and his wife who are on the cruise as they were calling their children in the US at the phones (he has lived in the US for 30 years and fought the Soviets – he proudly told me that). However, a young Samoan boy walked up to use the phone as well and the ‘men’ struck up a conversation with me as the third party. When the Samoan understood what the Afghani told him about fighting the Soviets he asked if they fought with guns and the Afghani replied yes. The Samoan said they did not use guns, but fought with their hands in times of conflict. After the Afghani had left, the young man asked me how much it cost to come on the ship (as you could see it towering over us at the call boxes) and I said I didn’t know as I didn’t pay – I came with my father. He said everyone thought that the people on the ship were very rich so how much did a ticket cost. I told him I wasn’t rich, but there may be people there are (and I have heard of people spending thousands just in the ship’s shops for jewellery and paintings – see photos for art for auction on the ship).

Whereas Fiji looked to be taken over by Indian traders, the Chinese are here. They had their shops open and were doing a roaring trade – plus there were lots of Chinese imported items for sale. From what I have read, the big export here is tuna fish – canned for the US market. But I couldn’t see any of that on the shelves in the shops – (I am sure you are relieved as that could have well been your gift!)

Clocks go ahead again tonight – going to be on the same time as Honolulu now so that will be go to not have to change our clocks again for another week and a half.

Since it’s a port day – the ship is relatively quiet. There was an inspection of the ship by the US coast guard today so all the staff were very busy in the am and then after 12 – they all ran out on port to go exploring.

I hope some of you aren’t upset by my comments of my fellow passengers as I have received a couple of comments about what I have written. I didn’t mean to offend, but I must say I am not alone in my observations. Last night, some of my dining companions also made similar comments and they belong to the age bracket on which I commented. So it’s not just a viewpoint of a 30something, but it appears to be a common perspective no matter what your age.

No place to eat in Pago Pago so we had to go back on board and have lunch. I must say it ALWAYS seems like we are getting ready for another meal. There is no relief. I have sat out a couple of meals, but my father loves to eat and doesn’t miss a meal so I don’t want him to have to eat by himself. And this trip is to spend time together.

Not much to do tomorrow as we have yet another day at sea. Probably more walking around the deck – maybe I’ll try to fight my way on one of the machines in the gym. It’s a mad house up there! But will always find time to relax in the spa…

Only three weeks more! I can’t believe that I’ve been gone for two and half weeks. The time really has slowed down here. It does seem like I have been on the ship for a while now and wish there was a bit more variety – I think I am getting to the point I was hoping to reach – a relaxed boredom!

special shot out to lisa and randall! you guys rock! running a half marathon! that is tremendous! well done to you both! and under two hours! you guys looked so CLEAN afer your run! like you had just gotten out of the bath! woooo hooooo! xxxxxxx