Lautoka | R. Doug Wicker

Viti Levu, Fiji — First Stop Lautoku

Today I’m back to my normal Monday-Wednesday-Friday blog schedule, and I’ve returned to the topic of our Sydney-to-Seattle cruise earlier this year. But in keeping with this week’s holiday spirit I’m also running repeats on Tuesday and Thursday of my ever-popular holiday humor tales. Tuesday I’ll bring to you If Edgar Allan Poe had ‘Written A Christmas Carol.’ Thursday you’ll find here a repeat of the sequel to that tale with my follow-up A Spillane Christmas Carol.

Lautoka Sugar Mill

Our ship made two stops of the Fiji island of Viti Levu. The first was the sugar mill town of Lautoka, also known locally as “Sugar City.” The mill you see above was founded in 1903.

Lautoka

Ursula and I had been to Fiji before, but the previous time back in the 1990s we arrived into Nadi International Airport and spent most of our time at various resorts. The research on this previous trip formed the basis for the fictional island resort of Vai Kai in my mystery novel Decisions. But, I digress. Nearby our dock was this island, which I believe is Vio:

Vio Island . . . I think!

Once off the ship we made our way to the massive Lautoka Market. Here you can buy everything from fresh produce to souvenirs to local island crafts.

Lautoka Market

After the market it was time to snag a bus and head downtown. Lautoka is a very colorful little city with many neat little shops and other sights.