Apr 24, 2012 - The Samoas - Suva and Pago Pago

Apia, Western Samoa – The Local Bus Just a few hundred yards along the harbor in Apia sits an icon of the South Pacific. Aggie Grey’s hotel and bungalows were built in 1937, just in time to welcome the soldiers, sailors, marines, and war correspondents arriving a few years later as the U.S. and its allies made their way north toward Japan. Today the hotel is a classy resort with bungalows named after famous people who stayed here – Brando, William Holden, Gary Cooper, and James Michenor. It was the latter who used Aggie as the model for one...

Oct 4, 2011 - Pago Pago, Samoa

Tuesday, October 4– Pago Pago, American Samoa We arrived at this beautiful capital city on another volcanic island that happens to be an American territory. The official languages are Samoan and English, the currency is dollars, and it has a US post office (that we used to mail some things home). The Samoan people (and the Tongans) ruled the Pacific Islands in ancient times, but later the Germans, British, and Americans challenged each other over these islands, thought important for trade and military purposes. In the early 1900’s, they...

Oct 4, 2011 - At sea to Samoa

Sunday, October 2 – At sea Our history lectures resumed with a discussion of the migration of peoples to this corner of the planet. We learned of the timing of the movement of the various groups west to east from Asia to these islands. Melanesians to first went to Australia, then Micronesians to Tonga, Somoa, and New Guinia and then the Polynesians to the other islands, including Hawaii relatively recently. We also had another destination lecture on the upcoming visit to Pago Pago, American Somoa. We attended the Captain’s circle party in...

Oct 17, 2009 - PAGO PAGO, is there an echo in here?

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if we only seek them with our eyes open." - Jawaharal Nehru Finally – back in the good old US of A. An American Territory. They all speak English here, good English. The streets are paved; they have curbstones. They also have a McDonald’s, a KFC, Pizza Hut, and Carl’s Jr.. They take American dollars here. The exchange rate is: one dollar equals one dollar…duty free, no sales tax. These poor people suffered a terrible...

Jul 23, 2008 - Western Samoa

21st-22 day 7. 8 & 9 days. On the Sun Princess As we crossed the International date we had two Monday’s the 21st one at sea and the other at Apia. Monday Western Samoa docked in at 8.am at Apia, very interesting arrival - Port area very small & the Captain did a 180deg turn at the entrance of the harbour- only had about 10m either end of ship to play with. Breakwater rocks at the stern & a huge steel buoy at the bow plus shallow water. We walked to the town - ½ an hour - very humid & hot. Had a look at the markets, had a couple of local...

Feb 1, 2006 - Posting from Pago Pago, American Samoa

Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Posting from Pago Pago, American Samoa We are not establishing a good track record for weather in our tropical ports. As you saw, Honolulu was quite damp, but the sun did come out in the afternoon. We arrived in Pago Pago this morning to a tropical storm, with high winds and torrential rains. I had an excursion booked so we were all waiting at 9am in the Theatre to get off when they made the announcement that they were cancelling all tours for the entire day. They said the forecast was for continued, and perhaps...