Monday 19 March 2012 - Noumea, New Caledonia

Monday 19 March 2012 – Noumea, New Caledonia

We dock in Noumea, New Caledonia about 6:30am.   At breakfast Patte says  Dave isn’t feeling well so he probably won’t be getting off the ship today --- but he rallies -- has breakfast and gets off the ship.   The  shuttle bus drops us in Coconut Square downtown.

After a stop at the Information Center – we are told that most attractions are closed on Mondays except  two musums and the Public Marketplace – which is open from 5am to 11am.  The marketplace is closed when we arrive – we can’t figure it out.  Moving on to the New Caledonia Museum – it is open but they only take French Polynesian Francs to the equivalent of about $4 US – not worth changing money since this is our last day in New Caledonia.  In Lifou US dollars were readily accepted.  When the Destination Manger said Noumea had not been discovered by tourists – she was right.  There are three cruise ships in town today – we are the smallest with 678 passengers – and yet attractions are closed and there is no flexibility on acceptable currency.

Noumea was originally called Port-de-France when settled by the French in 1854 – the name changed in 1866.   This area first served as a penal colony – then as a center for exploitation of the nickel and gold mined nearby – and in World War II it served as the headquarters for the United States military.  French is the first language here and many people  speak  very little English.

Our next stop is St. Joseph’s Cathedral on the top of a hill – originally designed by an ex-convict  alterations needed to be made before it could be completed  in 1890.   St. Joseph’s replaced St. Clotilde’s Church after it was damaged by a cyclone in 1880.  It is a lovely cathedral with a vista looking over the city towards the Pacific Ocean.

Then it is back downtown on our quest  for an internet café --  along the way we stop in a kitchen shop – I purchase a teapot and Lynn finds ramekins identical to those used on the ship that she admired.     We  find an internet café – for  $8 US per hour – I am on for a little over an hour posting the blog/photos and checking e-mail. 

Back on board Regatta in time for lunch – there is “never miss a meal” mentality going here.  After lunch Beth, Patte, Lynn Phil and I venture out to see what we can find near the ship.  There is an arts & crafts market across the street from the ship.   It should be open according to their sign -- but like the public market it is closed with no explanation..  We wander around the area where the ship is docked but nothing piques our interest so it’s back on board for three days at sea.  Rain comes torrentially late in the afternoon --  we’re glad to be undercover.

An explanation as to why the two marketplaces are closed -- we find out later  is that  attractions normally open on Mondays are closed on the 3^rd Monday of each month.

 Dinner is in the Grand Dining Room tonight and Brain Teasers at 8:45pm – we come in 2^nd.  Tonight Nolan Dean, our Cruise Director puts on a one man show as a stand-up comedian and singer.  He’s pretty good keeping our interest for an entire hour – amazing.

It’s off to bed – we have been warned that rough seas are ahead.

Thanks, for Reading.

Pat