Cooks and Samoa

The Cook Island and Samoa!!!
French Polynesia, August '07

**The Cook Islands: Roratonga and Aitutaki**
The challenging part in the Cooks was getting into the anchorages or tying to the dock "med style" by dropping anchor, backing down, and using long lines to tie off to land. The dock area in Roratonga was small and the weather strong and risky. We were ready to love it there but were a bit disappointed. It was as expensive as French Polynesia and about as touristy and we were ready for a change from that. There were wonderful places of great beauty and terrific folks. We attended a polynesian dinner at the best resort and it was more like "high school amateur night" with cafeteria food!!! We ate better at the church dinner after services on Sunday and the price couldn't be beat! Free! Religion is a priority and the service was a cultural experience that was quite special. I tried to capture all the magnificient handmade hats that each lady wore and had usually made herself.	The exciting part at Aitutaki harbor was finding the small open space in the reef in 6-8' seas and motor 1/2 mile in a narrow, shallow passage to a tiny anchorage. We were starting to get "iffy" weather with the La Nina effect and often had to cancel hikes due to mud conditions. This weather brings stronger than average trade winds and much more rain. We did enjoy a nice walk around an amateur botanical garden in Bill's back yard. It was nice to learn about all the plants we were seeing on the islands but who could remember their names. Also see the most remote Starbucks Coffee Shope we have ever seen!!! The small boat below is Valkurian, a 22 foot sailboat, sailed by Odin [age 22], and friend, all the way from Norway.

Aitutaki Anchorage	Protestant Church	Hats at Church	Cooks Dinner	Frangiapani
Flowered Headress	Remote Starbucks	Valkurian	Exotic Flowers	Blue Flowers

**Samoa**
Many cruisers went to American Samoa but we sailed a bit farther to what used to be Western Samoa but is now called just "Samoa". They were having the week long "South Pacific Games" and the atmosphere was festive. We attended music festivals and a nice local craft exhibit.	Samoans have retained their own cultural identity and certain behaviors were not "their way". It was especially interesting learning about their communal style of living. The men ALL wore lavalavas....that's the wrap around cover for coolness. It's quite warm there. Even the police wear them as part of their uniform.

Downtown Crossroads

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"Tonga Tales"

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