Pacific Odyssey - Leg 2

The last of the trainees of leg 2 just left.  It was a prolonged
good-bye with most of them spending parts of yesterday and today on the
ship.  There was a wonderful final supper together at a great little pizza
restaurant before they all boarded the taxi to catch middle-of-the night
flights out of Papeete.  It was sad; it´s difficult to leave each other, to
admit this is it, our leg is done and our relationships will have to
continue in another context.  Trainees have been planning get-togethers with
each other and the crew before and after the boat returns to Victoria.
There were two more trainees who had beautiful tatoos done during the past
few days.  Several girls went to Moorea for the day, visiting a juice
factory where samples were offered and an agricultural school where one can
tour the property and see the various fruit trees and flowers, as well as
taste samples of the different foods they produce.  In the last few days
there have been some very impressive pendants made from the mother of pearl
shells we received from Coco on Apataki.  It rained for a good portion of
the day; the cooler temperature was a nice reprieve from the heat yet I
think we´re ready already for a dry day; things are pretty damp around here.
Skipper, Stephen, the kids and I had a picnic under a gazebo, as it started
to rain just after we purchased our food from the local ´Champion´ food
store.  Two security guards came over to check us out, asking where we were
from.  We pointed to the ship and Tony, the captain, and mentionned we were
looking for a place to picnic with the kids; then we offered him some
baguette and brie.  He smiled, nodded his thanks and said we were okay to
stay.  The bread and cheese here is delicious.  France subsidizes quite a
bit of the food and supplies wonderful dairy products from France.  A
good-sized piece of Brie cost me about $2.50 today, a baguette, still warm,
about $1 and a bottle of juice, very expensive, at about $4.50.   All in all
a great lunch, the kids love it. Jen´s parents are staying at a hotel and
invited some of the trainees to their room for showers and a swim in the
pool; they returned to the ship all clean and with fluffy hair.  We have
found a public, outdoor pool, but unfortunately it is only used for length
swimming.  Also, men and boys are required to wear SPEEDO suits and they
even rent them if you don´t own one.  We call it the SPEEDO pool and no one
has gone to swim there.  Most of us on the ship are planning to go early to
the market again, 0530 hrs, to see the fish piled high, as well as the
vegetables, bread, croissants, baguettes, coconut products etc.  It was
quite something last week; I´d like to enjoy it once more.  This is it for
tonight.  Tomorrow I will not be writing.  We are taking a day off to rest
and be with the kids, especially as today was very busy with many people on
and off the ship, saying good bye etc.  I will continue again the following
day, Monday, when the new trainees have boarded. Parents, siblings, friends,
family and partners, enjoy having your trainee home again and listening to
their experiences as they unfold bits at a time.  We sure enjoyed them and
we will miss them.  Good night, Bonice.