Day 97 Pago Pago, American Samoa

Day 97 – Pago Pago, American Samoa – Monday 20/8/12

Weather – Fine, and Sunny. 25C – 30C

Sunrise – 6.34am

Sunset – 6.16pm

Time difference - minus 21 hours ex Sydney

At about 6.30am this morning Sun Princess passed just east of Tafuna International Airport. Shortly afterwards we passed abeam of Breakers Point and followed the leads into Pago Pago Harbour.

This morning we elected to have a day off from 'touring' and just strolled around town. I think we are all toured out, cultured out, museumed out..LOL, kidding, but we were not really up for anything outa town today.

We strolled the length of the town, checking out the shops and what the locals were up to on this fine Monday morning. The locals are so welcoming, and I dont just mean the traders and shopkeepers, but folks just going about doing what they do.

I was surprised that we actually filled up a full morning in such a small town. The beaches looked so inviting, but we had been warned that the water has undefined levels of contaminants. We dont know if that was true or not, but given there were no locals having a swim, that may have been correct, so we decided against it.

I saw the long canoe/rowboat that I have ever seen in my life. This thing a gazillion metres long, and had 52 oar stations. I just could not imagine it being able to float, but I am sure it does. There were 3 of them penned near the beach, quite a magnificent little rowboat I must say.

Back on board for lunch, spa, swim, and read for the afternoon..very nice

At 5pm the Captain moved the Sun Princess astern out of its berth, chucked a reverse 180, and retraced our track out of the harbour.

It was about now we did a spot of whale-watching from the front of deck 14. After all others had given up, we were the last couple watching, and we were rewarded for our patience when we spotted a whale puff in the distant. We tracked it as the ship got closer to it, and got some photos of it from fairly close by.

Once in the open sea Sun Princess set a south-south-westerly course towards our next port, Auckland.

After dinner entertainment tonight was 'Maggie', a comic/singer. We had seen her before on a previous cruise. She was fantastic, a very funny lady, and a great singer. Standing ovations !!!