JAN. 18th --NUKU HIVA (MARQUESAS)

At 5:30 AM Barry went on to our balcony and it was already light out.
5:30 AM and it's already light out!  YEAH!!
At 6:30 Barry goes back out and it is 80 degrees F. and he sees a big mountain in the horizon.
We have just arrived at Nuka Hiva, the largest island of the Marquesas Islands.
We call our butler, Laxmi, and order coffee to be brought to our room.  We go sit on our balcony and have coffee while the ship anchors.  We are in a small bay with a lot of boats "on the hook".

We have to tender into shore for any excursions today.
We decide to not go ashore as there is not much to see...post office, local crafts for sale, a general store & restaurant.

First sighting of Nuku Hiva

Coffee is being served

The habour dotted with sail boats

As we are sitting on our balcony we see 4 giant Manta Rays swimming and playing right along side the boat.  Priceless.
We sit on our balcony until 10:00 AM,
We then walk the track -- 11 times around is one mile.

The ship created a Caviar Bar in one of the lounges from 6:00 - 7:00 PM.  There were 3 types of Russian Sturgeon roe and one type of U.S. Paddlefish roe.  Barry & I hadn't had real Sturgeon caviar in years so we decided to go.  We ordered 1 oz. of "Caspian Sea Osetra Caviar" (the best one they had available) with all the traditional condiments.  We had it with champagne and frozen vodka.

Our caviar with all the trimmings

It was fabulous!
Just the aura of the event was top notch and the caviar was delicious.
We will probably do it again as they offer it every 2 or 3 weeks.

We had dinner with Sarah Jane & Gavin Laws from Blue Mountain, Ontario (they know Doug McPhail).  We then went to see the show "The Great American Song Factory".  It was a full song & dance production of songs from the 50's & 60's.  It was very good.

We went to our room and watched the first half of the movie "Peppermint" with Jennifer Garner.  We'll watch the other half tonight.
Great day....we're bursting with happy!!!!