Usual at sea activities. I managed to resist the 80% off sale colored diamonds. Our now 11 person choir sang our two songs with the band as the warm up acts for the 8 and nine thirty shows. We’re well received. Sure helps to have a hot band behind you.

Wind, rain, and cloudy day. Did the usual on board activities that are interesting to me. Some new ones have been added. I did not get to the beginning ballet class! I wonder how that is on a moving surface! Also missed the 60%off sale of emeralds at the jewelry store. There were 46 activities available today so something for everyone. Weather getting a little warmer. 78 degrees. We are headed back nearer to the equator. I am sending a few pictures I haven’t sent yet. Tomorrow, another sea day. Then Fakarva island for a day. That will end part two of the ten part cruise.

We got to go on shore!!! The sea swells were large and getting into the tender was very tricky. Four men were there to help load passengers. When the tender was evenish to the ship they hollered “jump “. And they helped you do just that. They started at noon and went back and forth until six pm. At the dock there is a boathouse about thirty feet up on the shore. Islanders protect their several boats because without them they could not get off the island.

There is nothing else at the boat dock but the concrete road that goes up to Adamstown. It goes straight up for a mile then down half a mile. Some industrious folks were working as taxi drivers so I took advantage of that right away. After Easter I swore to take any type of taxi available rather than walk for miles in the sun. So I got my first ride on an ATV.

I saw the church, the town square, the police station, the town hall ( already had a picture of King Charles), the recycling site, the general store, the post office, and the museum. Town is called Adamstown after John Adams the last of the mutineers to die there. All of the inhabitants joined the Seventh Day Adventist church in 1894. They leave the church open 24 hours a day and all are welcome.

Back in ship we had a market going on the pool deck. Local hand made crafts brought aboard. This is the islanders main source of income besides government jobs. We were encouraged to buy and we did! I bought a hand made basket that can be used as a purse. It was the only basket there. Turns out it was made by the 84 year old mother in law in one of the venders. She makes them from start to finish with fronds she gathers and dyes herself.

Back onboard for a talk by Adamstown representative. Well attended. More information and good questions and answers.

Sailed away at six thirty. We really were so lucky to have had this experience.

Usual various at sea activities during day. Things picked up late afternoon. Had a fashion show with guests being escorted by husbands or male crew members. They wore jewelry provided by the on board jewelry store. Lots of sparkles. The round the world folks were given a special dining experience on the boat deck. After that there was a floor show for all the passengers. We dressed up! Everyone is in high anxiety because we will not know if we can go onto Pitcairn Island tomorrow. Depends on the weather.

Ok. This is what happens when you are at sea for several days. The time runs together. Today is really the 26th. Usual activities. Trivia, choir,, etc. Was treated to a talk by Jackie Christian. She is a native of Pitcairn island and is the seventh generation of the captain of the Bounty. She was born and raised there and has spent her adult life away from the island representing it for Britain. Britain supports the island. They have 33 Pitcairn natives living there and 13 non natives. The average age is 70. They do not have any certified mechanics,engineers, or other qualified people for repairs. All pitch together to build, repair, do road maintenance as best they can. They are looking for new qualified settlers. They do have a medical center and a doctor paid for by Britain. They have solar power on houses and freeze everything including flour to keep their food bug free. They get supplies by freighter four times a year. The freighter is the only way to get there . Island is very far from anywhere. If there are no changes they expect to be able to live there five more years. Jackie is a leader is trying to bring the changes they need. She is a fellow passenger and an excellent speaker. She is on the trip because she said it was a great way to get home without island hopping by small planes and ending up on the freighter. If we cannot land there tomorrow because of sea conditions, the people there will bring their handicrafts on board. She encouraged us to buy something because it will help the islanders. So this is a souvenir that I will buy.

They have their own language. “What-a-way-youre” is hello.

I am sending a picture of the ocean. We have left the pretty little whitecaps and are cruising in swells. Up and down. Side to side. Everyone is walking wobbling from side to side as they walk. Walking by wishing is what I call it.

Left Easter Island around noon…We were so zonked out from yesterday that we did not set the clock and slept until noon. Read books and goofed around. Back in bed early. Noticed not many people at dinner. Guess we where not the only ones who were taking it easy.

Here are some pictures Colinda shared of Easter Ireland. I only got one before my camera shut down.

Most in one place.

Woke up with Easter Island outside our window! Heard the boat that is kept right to the left of our room being lowered. Got a picture as it was being lowered into the ocean. There are two onboard and they spent most of the day taking us back and forth. Everyone was super excited. The staff especially. Seems it is very unusual to have calm enough seas to let the passengers get to the island. One couple said this was their fourth time to visit and first time for them to get off the ship. Lots of staff including the captain went ashore.

Walked to where the restaurants are and ate fish at the Pea which means turtle. There were huge sea turtles in the waters on the right side. In the left side there was a sheltered sea area where people were snorkeling and swimming. Eastern Island is volcanic and has a Ragged Point look. Huge waves with surfers completed scene.

Our tour started after that and we appreciated the air conditioning. Although in the low 70’s was humid. The island has three main areas to see the famous statues.

The statues did not disappoint and looked just like you see in pictures. In fact, the pictures show more details. The settings were what impressed me most. They evoked wonder at how they were made and placed without modern technology. Huge! Lots of reddish volcanic rocks everywhere. Walls of piled up rocks for fences in many places. Also noticed piled up rocks in oval, square, and round shapes that looked they may have been used for shelter. Maybe past homes?Horses are allowed free range. Saw many of them grazing just beside the road and f fields. The land provided just scrubby vegetation. They did not seem to notice us whizzing by. Beautiful especially the colts. Saw a few loose cows too.

A few facts. 3,300!inhabitants in the only town of Hanga Rea. The Rapa Nui people are the original inhabitants. Easter Island is part of Chili.

Colinda has a grandson who made her a booklet of phrases to say in every county we are visiting. This was the first stop that used something other than Spanish. We tried hello in Pascuan and got positive feedback. Hello and Goodbye are the same.

Iorna (Yo-raw-nuh)

Not many pictures today. My phone got overheated just like I did. It just went black. Now it is working. Checked it out and found that it needs a new battery. Really? How many Apple stores in the South Pacific? Guess I will find out. Colinda took some pictures and I will have her text me over a few tomorrow. We are at sea tomorrow . Iorna.

Whew! Fifth sea day in a row. Lectures, singing, did laundry. Tomorrow we stop in Easter Island for a day and a half. Everyone is very excited. Thought I would share another activity that we participate in on sea days. We started the first day in the World Voyage Cumulative Trivia Contest. There are ten teams so far with seven to twelve in a team. The questions are different topics and gives you a chance to learn how much you really do not know. We have people from all over the world on the tour so it helps to have a few on your team. We picked up a couple of Aussies and they knew the answer about which country has camels to export. Guess what? Australia! At the end of the voyage we get to cash in our points on Azamara swag. Maybe will get a key chain or a luggage tag. Our team is currently in last place so we are hopeful that there will be a booby prize!

Still staggering but ship seems to be going slower. Nigel spoke about the gray whales voyage from Mexico to the Arctic. He showed pictures of seals and sea otters too. Felt like I was in Morro Bay! Second day of choir practice. Spent all afternoon catching up on my blog. Only took a break to get to the frozen yogurt machine. Vanilla and chocolate today. So many sprinkles. How can anyone decide. Pants fit so far! I think I have the hang of blogging now. I cannot get pictures from my iPad to my phone and from phone to iPad . I expect there is a way but I have learned to get around that. . Also we often have poor or no connections. Still do not have a private line. They did give me my own line so I no longer have to wait until Colinda was not using the line. I am blogging from a hot spot in the front of the ship. It is in an entertainment area. The sun is going down and a three peace group is singing and playing. People are coming in dressed up to get a drink before dinner. Azamara really has lots of activities daily especially when we are at sea. Every night they put a booklet with the activities. I am sending you one. You may not be able to read it, but it will show how many choices. Easter island next!!!