We arrived in Papeete about 8pm local time (after a long and fairly uneventful flight) to a steep set of steps down to the tarmac, a light drizzle and some chickens. Tahiti imports everything...except eggs. Anyway, while waiting to go through customs a Katrina-like deluge moves through and, I'm sorry to say, probably will set the weather tone for this trip. Apparently there are two seasons in Tahiti...the season of sun and the season of rain. We are in the season of rain. Sigh. Chin up! It's still vacation.
We made it onto the ship about 10pm and found our lovely cabin. Our luggage arrived about 30 minutes later, and we began to unpack when an announcement came over the intercom: "If you boarded after 5pm, you must join the mandatory safety drill in the Marina Lounge at 11:15. Please bring your life jackets." Oh boy!
One thing about cruises - any cruise - the staff is from all over the world. Our cabin stewardess is Svetlana from Ukraine, and leading the drill was our Crew Master or First Mate or whatever he was (not the captain) - a Russian.
By this time Joe and I were a little punchy and were whispering back and forth in our best Russkie accent: "So, sorry for the lateness, I just wanted to let you know that we've had a change of agenda - instead of Bora Bora, we're going to Kiev Kiev." "Show of hands for Cuba?" "I can tell you where your MasterStation is, but I'd have to kill you."
We haven't even begun to explore the ship, and our first excursion is Sunday morning to a motu in Moorea for a beach picnic. Season of rain be damned.
Be sure and write something about Hinano beer now that you are a beer knurd aka yeast geek
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