Thursday, Day 26 - Feb 1 - 10am to 7pm, Suva, Viti Levu, Fiji

The Fiji Islands have two new ports to offer us. For years we have heard about how beautiful the various islands are and are excited to finally have a chance to see Fiji for ourselves.

Suva is located on the southeast coast of the island of Viti Levu and is the capital city of Fiji. As the largest urban area in the South Pacific outside of Australia and New Zealand, it is Fiji’s main port city, and the commercial and political center of Fiji. The city hosted the 2003 South Pacific Games, being the third time in the event's history that they had been held in Suva. We plan to take one of the free ship’s tours to explore the fascinating cultural history and art.

Unfortunately, Carolyn is still sick so we cancel.  Here is what we were to have done.

Pacific Harbor Cultural Extravaganza departing a 1PM for4 hours.  “Drive to Pacific Harbor about an hour away, but time passes watching the Fijian villages, tropical rain-forested mountains and flat pastureland. Make a  photo stop at the world-renowned Arts Village of Fiji. Arriving at Pacific Harbor, we are greeted by the reverberating sound of a hollow drum beaten by a Fijian warrior, the blowing of a conch shell, the welcoming song of the villagers and a complimentary drink. From there it is off  to the amphitheater for a spectacular performance by Fijian Fire walkers and the group from the Arts Village of Fiji. See Fiji's storied past come alive and marvel at the Fijian Fire walkers demonstrating their mysterious power over flame. As elders chant, young men will remove the burning logs from a smoking pit to reveal the white-hot stones signaling the beginning of this ancient ceremony. The group from the Arts Village of Fiji entertain with traditional dancing, and re-enacting their legends and history. After the show, stroll around the cool fern trees and shady palms in the exotic tropical gardens, serenaded by the village singers and tour the Arts Village complex mingling with the villagers and watching handicraft demonstrations.” Just a note the buses are best available which means no AC!

We dock on time. The water is oily calm and the heat and humidity are stifling. 

Carolyn stays in bed and Dick decides to step onto the dock to at least say he has been here. At the foot of the gangway he is accosted by natives in grass skirts who speak pretty good King’s English and welcome him to the island and country. After formal introductions, they revert to tourist mode and photos are taken for posterity.

After walking through an old dockside warehouse, Dick is accosted by all the tour operators and taxi drivers each offering, “the biggest, newest, cleanest car with the coldest "AirCon," and the best price,” all with a sincere smile!  Not being interested in a tour or their sisters (just joking), Dick politely extricates himself from a half dozen of these fellows and walks across a very busy street to a huge “Farmer’s Market.”

Nearly all of what is on offer is of a vegetable nature but there is some shellfish. The people are all very nice and willing to talk, explain their produce and have a picture taken of them and/or their products. After 20 minutes or so in the heat and humidity, Dick has learned all he wants to know about taro, cassava, greens both recognized and unknown and all manner of seaweed and shellfish.

Once again running the gauntlet of cab drivers, he returns to the ship to find Carolyn still asleep and he wiles away the afternoon on a book and playing Civilization VI.

We sail from Suva just after a heavy thunderstorm that dumped a lot of rain. Carolyn gets up long enough for the housekeepers to make the bed and change the towels and then she goes back to bed as she is asleep on her feet with a fever and sick headache. Dick goes to dinner by himself for the third night in a row and enjoys the food, chicken tandoori and Grand Marnie souffle as well as his own company!

Carolyn has ordered in but did not eat much and the lights are out by 9:00PM.