DAY 23---LAST SEA DAY FOR PACIFIC OCEAN CROSSING

 

        Our position at noon on Sunday.  Mostly sunny day and 85 degrees later in the afternoon.  Still getting a great ride for the Pacific.  Unfortunately, there was no internet or phone all day.  Captain Avio said he was going to alter course for a couple hours in the afternoon so we could have internet for a while.  HE DID NOT DO IT.  Several of us were NOT  happy.  So this post is being published on Monday not Sunday.

        So for 10 days we have been crossing the Pacific Ocean, as you know.  The Pacific is the largest and deepest of the Earth's oceans.  It covers 64 million square miles representing 32% of the earth's surface.  That's larger than it's total land area.  The average depth of the Pacific is 13,000 feet (2 miles) but there is a area reaching 35,000 feet deep.  More than 25,000 islands rise above the surface of the Pacific Ocean.

        French Polynesia is made up of 118 islands and atolls, of which 75 are inhabited.  It stretches for 1200 miles in the South Pacific Ocean.  Total population of the Polynesia islands is approximately 279,000, 69% of these live on Tahiti.  French Polynesia is known world wide for its diving and we are going to visit two of the most popular:  Fakarava and Rangiroa.

LAST EVENING

        We went down to the theater for the "Top Tier" cocktail party a little after 6pm.  When we got there the theater was full so we left and headed to the Mariner Lounge.  Then at 6:45 we headed in Compass Rose as Jason had reserved this table for 8 for our safari group.

                        Rebecca had the veal piccata with polenta which was very good.

I tried this new dish , Guinness & steak pie.  The crust was as tough as cardboard and I needed a knife to cut through it so I sent it back and got the veal piccata also.

I tried the Mississippi mud pie.  Well, it was NOT Mississippi mud pie that they make in the States.  It was basically a flourless chocolate cake.  I talked to the pastry chef last night and told him I would bring him a recipe for it.  He said if I did he would make it for me.  Roshan is very nice.

I went to the show for about half of it.  This is our orchestra leader playing several instruments.  He was very talented.

TODAY (SUNDAY) 

        Joseph brought me this huge serving of caviar.  I told him to cut it back next tme but I did manage to eat all of it.  I followed it with the omelet pictured below.  For some reason I could not get it up here.

        I went down for the Sunday champagne & caviar breakfast in Compass Rose.  Rebecca had room service as usual.  After that we did out treadmill time and got cleaned up before the 11am start of the Eagles/49ers game.  We will watch today's games in our suite.  I ordered a tuna salad sandwich with chips for lunch from room service.

        Well, we are without internet and phone service again today.  The Captain said he would be altering course again this afternoon for a couple hours so hopefully we get internet back so I can publish this post.

        Usual plan for this evening with cocktails in Mariner Lounge followed by dinner in Compass Rose.  Setter Mari will be transformed into a "Pan Asian" dinner venue tonight and tomorrow night.  It was very popular when they did it previously.  We will not be doing it.  In the theater at 9:30 will be the magician, Levent's second and last night.  Did not go to his first show so not sure about tonight as magic is not our cup of tea.

        At noon our Captain said we would be anchored at Fakarava by 8am tomorrow.  There is nothing here and no ship's tours.  This is purely a beach stop.  I don't think we have been here before.  We are not water/beach people.  I know Rebecca will not go ashore.  Not sure if I will either.  Hopefully, our internet will be back all day tomorrow.     

                                       Western omelet with extra cheddar cheese.  YUMMY!