Coming into Auckland

Well it's Friday,  and we have come down the Rangitoto channel

 The last lift photo

 The trip

 Coming back to Auckland

 The Christmas tree

Oozing up 9 floors from the centrum

 Decks 5 and 6

 The only time you will see the centrum empty

 The tug coming to guide us in

Past the container wharf

Into queen's wharf.  It is still only just first light, 5.22am so pictures are difficult.

Docked at 5.30am,  off the ship at 6 am,  into work by 06.30am. 

Day 13, getting closer to Auckland

Well the lift says Thursday today, so it is the last day at sea. I can see how people can lose the days! I stayed up until the small hours last night listening to the Rosario strings,  as they will not be performing tonight. They were playing in the Schooner bar (it's really a piano bar), although most of the patrons were there to listen to the stunning music. I asked Raoul what his instrument was called, he just gave me a make name, and said they don't make them anymore. Is it a violin with a C string? Or a viola with an E string, I don't know, but you get the idea. It is a 5 string instrument.  That's the thing about the Radiance of the seas,  it's live music is absolutely stunning. I never would have paired a violin with an accoustic guitar, but the effect is amazing. For the show, Tango Buenos Aires,  he played a real violin, or was it a viola, I was too far away to see. Anyway on that occasion, there was a Grand Piano, a double bass, Raoul with his violin/viola, a real one this time, an accordion,  and guitar and drums. AGAIN  a very unusual combination, and very technically difficult music, irregular, time, irregular rhythms,  and irregular key. Of course there were singers and dancers, but Raouls playing stole the show and really made it authentic.
 So when I heard that tonight they get a night off, I decided to stay on until late and enjoy the music. I asked him to play O holy night for me and he did with stunning results. The range was everything you can imagine. Worth missing sleep for. I met up with Phillip and Janette who were also there listening.

 Didn't mean to get the feet but the lift was full.

 05.50am,  the first hint of a sunrise

 A few minutes later
                                      
The sun fully up. However after my very late night I didn't feel like getting up so early , but I was in the spa soon after 7, and the solarium pool straight after, the water felt quite cold. I think it is taken directly from the sea, it is very salty. The sea has gone quite calm again, I think we have been very lucky with the weather, and the lack of swell.
Found a photo of myself that got taken outside the Windjammer cafe with a fluffy dolphin,  they just photo bombed me. Such is cruise ship life. Went off to buy some stuff, normally I avoid the shops,  but then met Colleen , and then Janette and Philip,  and there was Frank sitting there also, it's a small world.  Have paid my bill and come in under budget,  so I am happy. So time now to relax!

Where we have been

 Where we are headed

 Our waiter, Laurenco

The sun sitting on the cruise, the weather has turned and reality awaits tomorrow.

Day 12, At sea, heading south down the Tongan trench

Well the lift says Wednesday,  so it must be.

 Woke up first light around 5 am,  it was clearly going to be a stunner sunrise

 First light

 About 10 mins later, this tablet doesn't quite get the colours

 Another 10 mins, first hint of the sun

 Sun's well up. I get ready to go swimming, first the spa, and the because it is hot in the spa, I will swim as many laps of the pool as I can, but with the water sloshing a bit it's swimming against quite a current. Because it is a sea day there are a few people even at this time

I have given up on them ever cleaning this window.

The sea is now not as benign as it has been the waves are over 2m now, not flat calm anymore, but it really does feel like you are at sea. 

 Part of our table on formal night

 Another part

 And the rest

 Looking down the whole table, but the light isn't good

 A huge full moon arising,  taken from the stern

Tonight's toy, a monkey!

Heading down the Tongan trench. It is interesting. When we were in Lautoka we were half way between Paihia and the equator,  in Nuku'alofa we were half way between Auckland and the equator, and at 29 degrees it sure felt like it!

Day 11 Nuku'alofa

Well it's Tuesday in Nuku'alofa,  and watching the sunrise,  then docking at the main port in Nuku'alofa was an absolute delight.  The ship's ropes are so heavy they had to be taken ashore by two men in a motorboat! Much manouvering to get it right.

THIS IS A LITTLE JUMBLED, THE PHOTOS REFUSED TO SIT WHERE THEY SHOULD, so the sail away is mixed with the arrival.

According to the lifts,  it is Tuesday.

X

More of the coral

 Most of the police band arrived by bus, they were the band playing at the wharf. L

 The sail away,  the band played Christmas songs, Paloma Blanca,  and now is the hour,  and walking Matilda,  we aren't all aussies!

 The sunset from the back of the boat

                                   
A rather lovely pre dawn from out of the dirty window

The sunrise, around 5.45am.

Approaching the wharf at Nuku'alofa. The Kings palace is clearly visible

Being brought in by tug

The pilot boat.

 Getting closer

 And closer still

 The people are gathering

 That small boat between us and the wharf is necessary to help the ship to tie up

 The coral clearly visible in the water

 Still trying to tie up

 This boat appears to have difficulty

 Finally docked

 More of the coral in the clear water

 The band plays some very English music, typical of bands

 The welcoming dancers

 The money changers

 The old wharf

 The duty free

 The treasury building

 The sign outside the palace

 The Royal palace

The Catholic church.

 The Methodist church

 The burial site of Kings

 Flying foxes (bats) in the trees

 More of the flying foxes, hanging upside down.

 The blow holes on the northern side of Tongatapu

 More of the blow holes

 And some more

 A village church(catholic)

 City I act church, I wonder how related they are to the nz version. Appears like a warehouse,  so likely.

 Land use, paw paw and taro. They also grow Cassiva  and peanuts

The Tongan flag flying on the ship