I've spent entirely too much time listening to Douglas Pearson!!
Sadly, I could feel myself coming down with a cold two nights ago (Rangiroa) and was able to deny it until last night. It's ironic...I was just thinking about how we had carried with us this year an entire pharmacy's worth of medications in the event we suffered bronchitis or a tooth abcess while on Rapa Nui or Rarotonga. We spent 20 days away from the security blanket that is Dr. Tim on the Pacific Princess, but hadn't needed so much as a Sudafed. Until now.
I ate very lightly (soup and sorbet) at last night's formal night, and willed myself to get through the Captains Circle party and Motor City production show that followed. I slept well, but entered the dining room for breakfast today sounding very gravelly. As soon as the waiters heard my "Good morning", I was being showered with hot tea (they even knew to bring me decaf!) and honey and an entire sliced lemon and toasted six grain bread. Honestly, if Mom is not available to nurse me when I'm under the weather, the waiters on a cruise ship are the next best thing. They simply can't do enough for me. G can't do enough for me, either, but is too results oriented to be an entirely soothing caregiver. Instead, it's a bit like that "Can you hear me now?" commercial, but instead he asks every two minutes, "Are you better now? Now? Now?" ;-)
I returned to the cabin after breakfast and slept all morning while G, in accordance with the apparent mandates of his religion, took a tender to shore just to walk around. It was peaceful and quiet on the ship, and by the time he returned just before lunch, I was feeling considerably more rested. We went to the Panorama Buffet for lunch and I enjoyed chicken, rice and spinach soup and crackers on the back terrace with that gorgeous (!) view of Cooks Passage off the back of the ship.
Our plan was to go to shore and use the beach at the Hotel Taveka, right next to the tender pier. G had checked it out this morning, and, with the purchase of two Hinano beers, we were welcome to use their chairs and beach. It sounded great, but by the time we finished lunch, even G was saying he could be very content using the Pacific Princess hot tubs with the magnificent peaks surrounding Cooks Bay as our view. So layered with sunscreen and rash guards and Tilley hats, we spend some most enjoyable time in a hot hot tub (103F!) and I alternated with short bouts of water workouts in the pool while G enjoyed a longer session of napping poolside. All in all, it was a great way to spend the afternoon, and was just what I needed.
We were cleaned up for dinner and on the terrace behind the Panorama Buffet for the best views of our departure from Cooks Bay. Though the day had been so sunny, by sailaway at 5pm a light fog had rolled in, making this a pretty, but not the prettiest Moorea sailaway we've ever seen. We stayed on the terrace until it was time to go to dinner in the Club Restaurant where we sadly said goodbye to our great tablemates from this cruise: Peggy and David and their adult son Justin, all from Sydney and Kathy, Laura and Rita, three sisters-in-law from Chicago. We will miss them!
G and I watched from the Promenade Deck as the Pacific Princess entered Papeete harbor and spun, aft first, into the first berth. It's Friday night in Papeete, and things are definitely hopping along the waterfront and at Les Roulottes. The Windstar Wind Spirit is at Pier 2, all lit up, and makes a beautiful picture reflecting on the water. G may make it to the 8:30pm Cabaret Lounge performance, but I am well medicated will be asleep in minutes.
We spend two nights in Papeete, leaving at 5pm on November 8 for one last 10-night French Polynesia cruise before the ship begins a 16-night return to Los Angeles. Not even G can spin this differently...we are nearing the end and need to make the most of these last days in this beautiful part of the world.