20 March - First Port of Call - Noumea, New Caledonia

Breaky at 7.30 this morning, so up and ready to leave the ship from breaky. Before breaky, we watched as we arrived into Noumea, sailing through some Islands, the first land we'd seen since leaving Sydney.  It was interesting to watch.

Some of the relics in the bay. 

Land ahoy.

Looking from our Balcony at Noumea, this morning.

A tug, coming our way. Hung around, but didn't seem to do anything much.

Another little tug nearby too.

We ate in the Empire Dining Room again, nice 'giant porthole' table, by the wharf, where we could see the containers etc on the docks.  I had the yummy Yoghurt Parfait and some toast and a sneaky danish also.

Then down to level A - to disembark the ship, onto a Shuttle bus to the City Centre of Noumea, from here, we walked up to the Central part of the city, through Place de Cocotiers (Coconut  Palm Square), we caught a cab with Dad to the Central Market, where we had a look at the various stalls and the fruits, vegies, pastries, etc.

From there, we had planned to try and arrange a maxi taxi to take us on a tour, but that didn't quite go as planned. So we took two cabs out to Lemon Bay, where we stopped at La Barca cafe for a drink.  Then we relented and joined the Hop - Hop Off bus, as we couldn't get a taxi. This took us around a bit of the town and then we hopped off at other end of Lemon Bay for some lunch, before arranging a shuttle bus back to the original drop off point to catch the shuttle bus back to the ship.

Lemon Bay

Waiting to catch the Shuttle bus or taxi that Mike the tour guide was arranging.

Sitting, waiting under the tropical coconut palms

Time for a cool drink at La Barca. 

A very space age cool boat in the Harbour at Noumea, Our cab driver said it's basically one person to one boat, and there were plenty of boats to prove his point. 

There it is again, I was taking these pics through a fast moving bus window.

and again, so sleek and low to the water.

Back to the boat,, no rest for crew onboard, they were painting the ship's sides, while we were off having a lovely time

Back to the ship.

Did a bit of looking around, while we were in dock still

Then back to room, where we quietly slipped away from the dock without us even realising it.

Our towel critter tonight, we reckon it's a crab today.

Tug watching us depart, he basically sat and watched closely, as the ship, backed out from the dock. 

Must be reasonably shallow, we stirred up the sand.

Bye, bye Noumea.

Bron enjoying a berry dacquiri with dinner. We have the same table allocated each night, our head waitress, Oleksandra is lovely, we have the same waiters too.

Time for some blogging and watching some of the various activities of the ship - Michael Jackson Thriller dance class and trivia, chatted to some other passengers, before returning to room to shower and visit Dad's balcony to watch the ship back out and slowly spin around to depart Noumea.  Dinner in the Empire Room - again at our table with Olexsandra, our key waiter. The food is pretty good and the service also, tonight was 80's/glow night them, with many dressed in some interesting attire, including the staff.

Sue, Dad and I caught the show again - tonight - it was an 80's theme, quite good again. Then home for an early night, as we have a big day out snorkelling at Mare tomorrow.