DAY 36---SUVA, FIJI

                                                                      SUVA, FIJI

Our position shown on extreme right side of the ship's tv map.  It was pretty nice this morning but it is overcast with some showers and 85 degrees this afternoon.

Historical/Background Info:

        This is our second time visiting Suva which is on the southeast coast of Viti Levu.  Suva is the capital, largest city, and Fiji’s main cruise port with a population of 94,000.  It is the political, economic, and cultural center of Fiji.  Suva boasts many thriving markets and shopping complexes.  The largest shopping mall in the South Pacific outside of Australia or New Zealand is located here.

        Fiji has been inhabited since 3000BC.  The British ruled Fiji from 1874 to 1970 when it gained its independence.  The British brought in indentured laborers from India to work on their sugar cane plantations.  The British influence still remains as they drive on the left side of the road and the car's drivers sit on the right side.

LAST EVENING

Loved the hearts of palm with tomatoes (and we asked for avocado too) salad with green goddess dressing.

                                            We give up!  The soft shell crabs were not good.

This cheesecake was ok but not New York style

                                                  Bruce Hammond's show was another good one.

TODAY

                                                                       BULA!!!

                                                       "Bula" is Fijian for hello!

                                     Another Sunday caviar breakfast for me in Compass Rose.

                                             Eggs benedict but I could only eat half of them.

                                               We were docked at the pier in Suva at 7am.

                                               Photos taken from deck 10 of the port area.

                                                     Buses ready this morning on the pier.

There was a small combo playing as the tours headed out to their buses.  No tour for me today as there were only two tours available here and neither appealed to me.

Tappoo City mall

       After my treadmill time I changed and headed down to go in town.  There was a shuttle van from the pier to the shopping mall (above).   The van was packed full and hot.  I asked the van escort guy if there were any pharmacies open on Sunday.  He said the only one open was on the 4th (top) floor in the mall.  Well, it was closed too so my trip turned into a photo taking trip.

Not many locals in downtown on Sunday.  Just crew members getting free internet at the mall and us passengers shopping.

        Turns out the port was very close so I walked back rather than taking the hot shuttle van.

Across the street from the mall was this market.  Only a few vendors were there on Sunday however.

                                                            The Fijians are very friendly.

I hope you will click on this to enlarge as these flower arrangements are beautiful.  I could not believe the prices.  I bought a very nice arrangement for only $5.  After all Valentines Day in coming up!

                                                                 My walk in to the port.

This is the $5 arrangement I bought.  What a deal.  When I came back on board I ran into several other passengers who commented on how beautiful it was.  They could not believe it when I told them what I paid.  Of course they wanted to know where I got them.

Happy Valentines Day

        At the carving station in La Veranda for lunch they were carving a huge ham.  So I made a sandwich and had some fries also.  After lunch I tried to do some work on my laptop but the internet is absolutely useless.  Parts were to be installed yesterday but today the internet is worse.  This is getting ridiculous.  Hopefully, I will be able to get this post published later.

        Nothing planned until our interdenominational church service at 5:30.  We are sailing again this afternoon at 4pm.  Tomorrow will be a sea day enroute to Luganville on the island of Vanuatu.  This is a change to our planned cruise.  We were supposed to be heading to Champagne Bay on the other side of Vanuatu but the tender dock there was damaged by a storm. 

        I think we will have our cocktail hour in our suite this evening before heading up to Sette Mari for dinner at 6:30.  I have requested a veal parmesan.  The show tonight at 9:30 is featuring a pianist, Carl Doy.  I believe he is new to Regent.  Rebecca wants to go.

                                                   Here is tonight's Compass Rose menu.