Vanuatu — Port Vila and Luganville


Rainy Day in Port Vila

Rainy Day in Port Vila

The MS Oosterdam continued to make her way along the Vanuatu archipelago after we departed Mystery Island.  Our next stop was Port Vila on the island of Efate.  Port Vila is the capital of Republic of Vanuatu, and it was not named after Bob.  Unfortunately we were greeted with overcast skies and light rains throughout our brief stay there.  Ursula and I made it downtown, but I didn’t really want to take the camera out in those conditions.  So, the pictures you see here of Port Vila are taken mostly from the ship.

Port Vila

Port Vila

 Our port of call following Port Vila was another Vanuatu destination —Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo.  And while Efate is more populous, it is Espiritu Santo which holds the distinction as Vanuatu’s largest island.

MS Oosterdam in Luganville

MS Oosterdam in Luganville

On Espiritu Santo the clouds had given way, so there was much more to do, see, and photograph during our brief stay here.  Indeed Ursula and I spent little time in Luganville.  Instead we hired transportation and headed well into the island for some spectacular scenery.  We’ll take a look at these sights beginning Wednesday, but here’s a glimpse of the welcoming committee to Luganville:

The Luganville Ladies Welcome Wagon Committee

The Luganville Ladies Welcome Wagon Committee

Until Wednesday I’ll just leave you with this gallery of Port Vila shots:

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A Reminder of the Significance of Today’s Date


The Hawaiian Islands Campaign — December 7, 1941

Seventy-three years ago today the Greatest Generation confronted their own version of 9/11.  That was the day the Japanese attacked in two waves Pearl Harbor, Hickam Field, Ford Naval Air Station, Bellows Field, and Wheeler Field.  Alas that generation rose to the occasion far better than did we.  While there were missteps along the way during the aftermath of that attack — such as the abhorrent treatment of Americans of Japanese descent — almost the entire populace contributed to the war effort with honor and sacrifice, and 10 million men between the ages of 18 and 45 were conscripted into military service.  Today we ask far too much from far too few, and then renege on what little promises we do make to them when the battles end and the wars wind down.  But that’s a topic for another blog.

Today is for the remembrance of those who lost their lives December 7, 1941, and those who would lose their lives in the wake of that attack.

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

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Fun Photo Friday — Inyeug is still a Mystery


Lonely Windsock

Lonely Windsock

Here’s my favorite shots of our stop on Mystery Island, Vanuatu:

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