On the Road Again & Again & Again: Glistening in Apia, Samoa!

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Glistening in Apia, Samoa!

So, today we docked at Apia Samoa… Samoa formerly known as Western Samoa… Greeted with Dancers (and, as we left, fire dancers performed from the dock by the way), we were entertained before we were due to leave for a tour of the area. All very organized, with groups of folks going different places. All the buses were air conditioned… oh, wait, all but OURS were air conditioned. Don’t know how we got so lucky on that. Certainly, it makes us appreciate what we have at home.

First time I saw Coconut Palm trees growing wild and not planted! Also, lots of ‘villages’, like in Fiji. We were not educated so much on life here as the hot little bus had windows wide open and our guide was not to talkative in sharing… she almost whispered… think it was her first day on the job as she couldn’t answer many questions… Hope she keeps her day job… Oh, did I say that???? My bad!

Lots of folks just hanging out around the area… There unemployment must be pretty high. Later in the afternoon, school got out, all of them in uniforms… and LOTS of kids! Oh, in the pics,checkout the wheelchair in the garbage. All their garbage sits on stilts so animals (mostly wild boar) don’t rummage and get it. Saw the boars on the side of the road. Lots of chickens and wild dogs too. We were warned to be too friendly with the dogs. They live in the neighborhoods but are not domesticated (and are not neutered, you could tell by their appearance).

I did take lots of pics… of course I would!!! Went to some falls there, very pretty gardens greeted you after you walked down beaucoup stairs. We just weren’t warm enough so we needed to expend even more energy so we could really work up an awesome ‘glistening’ as we view the falls wishing we could jump into them!

Last stop were some gardens and fresh coconut juice, fruits, and bathrooms (yippee)! We watched as one guy climbed a coconut palm and threw down some ripe coconuts, opened them and shredded them so thing…so good! Also, they grew ‘bread fruit’, which is high in carbohydrates and the sailors that visited would take it on board to help provide much need nutrition on their voyages. They showed how it was cook… Jerry and I sampled… had the consistency of a soft, boiled potato. It was flavored with a banana/coconut milk. Tasted interesting and not bad at all-just not great!

Also showed how the palm fronds were used to make baskets, etc. Gosh, he whipped out a decent basket in about 10 minutes. Also, made plates with them too.

Got back in a coach so we cculd glisten even more… got to the boat… and headed for the shower. Ahhhhh, home sweet home!!!