We arrived in Pago Pago, American Samoa, at about 7:25 a.m. It was already 81 degrees with 91% humidity and a light rain. All the ingredients for a memorable tropical day.
Once again, breakfast was our standard bowl of cold cereal in the cabin. I know—not exactly the classic cruise ship breakfast. Around 9:00 we grabbed our miniature AAA travel umbrellas and headed ashore.
Since we didn't have an excursion planned, our goal was simply to wander around town and soak up some local culture. We hadn't even made it off the pier before we were weaving through rows of vendors selling island clothing and souvenirs. By the time we reached the end of the stalls, the light rain had become a steady downpour. Out came the umbrellas as we made a dash toward the main street, running the gauntlet of tour operators and taxi drivers, all eager to take us somewhere "very scenic."
According to our map, there was supposed to be a shopping mall nearby. On the way we ducked into an outdoor market, partly to browse and partly to stay dry. When the rain eased a little, we continued on, only to discover there wasn't really a mall at all. Instead, we found a combination grocery and department store. It was small but surprisingly well stocked, carrying everything from peanuts and clothing to small appliances.
I was hoping to find a traditional Samoan lava lava, the wraparound garment many of the local men wear. I also needed to restock the Coke-and-rum department. I'd managed to sneak a few miniature bottles of rum through cruise security, but those were now history. The store had plenty of Coke but no rum, so we kept walking, convinced we'd find better luck somewhere else.
As it turned out, the grass wasn't greener anywhere else. It was hot, humid, and raining, and our little umbrellas were no match for the weather. By then we'd had enough and headed back to the ship.
After relaxing onboard for about an hour, the rain appeared to let up, so we decided to give Pago Pago another chance. Unfortunately, the break in the weather didn't last long. Had we walked just a little farther, we would have discovered free Wi-Fi at McDonald's. Timing is everything.
Back on the ship, we stopped at the Horizon Court for a light lunch and, more importantly, several glasses of water. Oh... and one Blue Moon.
A couple of hot showers and a ninety-minute nap later, everything seemed right with the world again.
By 4:55 p.m. we were preparing to leave Pago Pago and begin the two-day voyage to Bora Bora. After that, we'd have three stops in beautiful French Polynesia to look forward to.
One final observation before sailing away: Pago Pago is definitely Charlie Tuna country. The harbor was packed with tuna fishing boats. Surprisingly, many of them travel nearly a thousand miles from port before they even begin fishing. That's a long commute for a day's work.
______________________Aboard the Crown Princess
014° 16' South
170° 42' West
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