Noumea

We awoke early to attend the Anzac Day service at 06:10 this morning.  A very similar service to our Remembrance Day. Approximately 450 people had gathered on Deck 11 to listen to several poems and speeches commemorating this important historical day in WW1. The service was very nice but they had issues with the Australian National Anthem sound so in true Australian spirit, they just sang it then and there. Well done! 

Service

People filing into the service on Deck 11

Weather is cloudy with intermittent rain as we came through some big reefs into the port of Noumea on New Caledonia.   We met up and had coffee with Cathy & Bryan then off to breakfast before starting our shore trip

Town center in the picture.

Off the ship at 09:15 for a walk into town. A bus ride takes us out of the port to the terminal where we hoofed it towards the city center.... and we are in a store looking at fabric.  It was a bit like Walmart at home although not as big. A little bit of everything.... even crabs for sale.

Crabs anyone?

Stalls

We eventually found the stalls that carried huge amounts of touristy items.  Kelly bought a few things and we walked back through downtown towards the cruise terminal.

Huge Palm Trees!

A quick stop for a coffee and treat then we headed for some geocaches along the way.

Yum!

Neat spot for a cache!

Back onboard the ship, Kelly headed of to a sewing class (English paper piecing) and I did some blogging. I changed up to swim wear and headed to the pool area... look a bar! The Corona tasted great! Then it was "drink of the day time) no swimming........ as it was pouring rain!

We met up later and had a small bite to eat then relaxed on our deck.  The ship left the harbor and headed off to our next stop on Lifou Loyalty Island. We enjoyed the views... definitely spoiled with this cabin location!

Dinner in the Main Dinning Lounge with our usual dinner group. Getting to enjoy these people as they have diverse backgrounds.  We attended the Invitation To Dance Show in the Palace Theater and enjoy 40 minutes of non stop dancing to a variety of styles and tempos.

Off to bed... exhausted from the early getup and long day! Tried to upload the blog but the service was minimal so had to wait till the morn.