We were looking forward to exploring Tauranga, particularly because it is the hometown of Cory, who will our in less than 2 months time! The weather, however, did not want to cooperate. We breakfasted and prepared as normal, but today there were no shuttles from the port. We walked down to the bottom of the gangway, and by then I was sopping wet in the rain and the wind, so Tom continued on his mission, and I returned to the ship. I thought Id go via tech guy to check his hours, but Ricardo was there, and assisting one person in front of me, so I waited. Ricardo found that the pics Id been taking for the last day and a half on the iPhone were all live shots, and my iPad is older than the iPhone and doesnt support this technology. So he turned off the live photo option and it worked!! I now have the airdrop again.
I returned to our stateroom to change the pics to still pics, and Tom returned, wet to the bone. After changing we went down to the Passport Bar on level 3 and gone him a nice warming rum
cocktail. I had a French 75, a nice champagne cocktail. When we went up to lunch I had a lovely Californian Pinot Noir with my pizza.
Dinner was a little sad tonight - the lovely Phoenicians are leaving tomorrow, they couldnt stand the idea of more sea days - theyd had quite a over from Hawaii. Gerry, whod had Covid just onboard, had shingles 9 months ago, after one of his booster vacs. He still has problems cutting his steak, Kuldeep cut it for him tonight. Apparently its health issue in the US, shingles after a booster. Janine came up with an Aussie Pinot Noir - 15 crimes is the brand? - to go with my beef tonight. It was lovely - they are still out of Sherry.
It continued raining all afternoon, so we stayed on board, and an early night tonight. The show at the theatre did not entice us.
Weve noticed how the nationalities making up ships staff has changed over the years, and now we are seeing more African people on board. There is a lovely staff member, Peace, who has been clearing the area we sit in at
breakfast every day. The other day she told me shed gone ashore just to talk to her son and when I asked about him today she said he was with her mother at home in Zimbabwe. When I told her how much wed enjoyed our time at Victoria Falls she was very excited - she lived in Victoria Falls for 3 years whilst getting her degree. Her little boy is 3 years old.
A couple sitting near us for breakfast were from Brazil. Theyve been living in Sydney and Melbourne for 3 years - him working in Sydney, and her studying for her PhD in Melbourne. Lockdowns and covid were very hard on them.
