Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands

We made our landfall in the morning, and our tour of the island by Toyota Landcruiser was for just over two hours. We landed on the first tender boat.

We drove around seeing a few sites, the island is mostly volcano, we were mooredin a bay.on return we had a welcome cold beer (it was getting very hot!) and a local ice cream, getting back to the boat in time for tea!

Last day at sea!

Thought it might be nice to describe part of a typical day, or at least a morning!

First breakfast, then a port talk on Suva and Fiji, then morning coffee, then a talk on the EU by Robin Oakley of the BBC, then lunch (Fish and Chips, Friday!), finished by an afternoon snooze!

In the evening we have show- tropical night - and wear fancy shirts! Helen fitted in a hair cut at 2PM! It will be good to reach land and have rest!!

Birthday at Sea

When you hear the distant rattle of the tambourine in the dining room on a Fred Olsen ship, and it is your Birthday, your mind turns to flight. with the thoughts of singing waiters and approaching cakes.

This time it wasn't too bad...... We had finished off some Champagne (bottles) so I was fairly unconscious and made it through!

The South Pacific

Here are some pictures of us at Machupiccu, and some flying fish spotted from the balcony this morning.

Lovely weather, and we have another seven days at sea before Nuku Hiva in French Polynesia. The captain today said we had done 8000 nautical miles from Southampton at midday.

Quite a few people are ill and are confined to cabins, guess it must have come aboard in Peru with a passenger. Fred Olsen call it code red, and it means increased hygiene measures, such as washing of everything! Not too much trouble for us - yet!

Cusco and Lima

After the night at the Marriott in Cusco, with some guests taking a quick fix of oxygen, we boarded buses to see the fort at Saqsayhuaman. Very finely cut limestone.

Then on a Cathedral in Cusco where after a 1950 earthquake Inca remains were discovered

Then on to the airport for the flight to Lima and back to the boat.

We are now on a 9 day cruise to our first land in the South Pacific!

Machupicchu

Up at 4am to breakfast and Coca tea.
Then a bus journey of 90 minutes, a train journey, and finally a bus journey up to the tourist entrance.

Finally a stroll around!

Off the boat

Took a flight from Lima to Cuzco.

Now at a height of 11000 feet above sea level. Air is a little thin, off to the Hotel.