day 22 – papeete, tahiti

land ho!  i didn’t get to leave the ship today, but it was nice to see land again… there’s a couple of pics here from the deck.  the weather was fair to cloudy with a few light rain showers in the late afternoon… very pretty scenery here… in 2009 i did a lagoon tour in tahiti, so i did get to see some cool stuff the last time i was here.  i know the guests are glad to be able to get off the ship for a bit!

it was very sad, however, to say goodbye to one of my guests who lost her husband a couple of days ago… they had been hearty participants singing along and having fun, and she came in to tell me he had passed away and asked me to sing a song for him… that was pretty tough, but it does happen out here from time to time – i’ve never lost a piano bar regular before, tho…. she will be taking him back to the states and not continuing the trip… it’s a reminder how fleeting things are and how you have to enjoy every moment and be grateful for your loved ones… i am a bit emotionally hung over, and will be keeping her in my thoughts for a hassle free trip home – i can only imagine how challenging that would be…

the day was a busy one, up early, a general abandon ship drill at 10am, working on songs for the roundup (i got 20 this week!  go, me!), writing a port song, no nap today, and work…

on a cheerier note, i met one of our guest entertainers, and i am thrilled that she is the great jazz stride pianist, judy carmichael!  i have listened to her radio show on kplu before, and she is pretty amazing – think art tatum, fats waller, joann castle, that boom chuck boom chuck stride left hand… i asked if i could cop a lesson whle she’s here, and she was so nice – she came by the piano bar and hung out and, while a bit nervewracking, i was glad she stopped by… we also embarked a new lecturer who is an astronomer… her name tag said 'star lady,' and i thought either she had hippie parents or she’s here to teach us southern constellations… it was, indeed, the latter… good times!  i am an astronomy nerd since high school (didn't want to take biology where i might have to cut up frogs or fetal pigs...), so i'll be happy to stargaze with a pro.

my theme tonight was “la vie en rose” since we are in french polynesia… made me think of bob’s and my outrageous and wonderful wedding and trip to paris!  ooh la la!  can't wait to go back there someday!  here is the tahiitian port song… hope you are well!  xo, df

waterfront in papeete

more waterfront

moody skies today over the mountains

port song for papeete, tahiti

(to the tune of “let’s call the whole thing off”)

you say papeete, and i say papiti, you say tahyetye  and i say tahiti

papeete, papiti, tahyetye, tahiti, let’s call the whole thing off

you say group tour and i say wing it, you say leave the umbrella, and i say bring it

group tour, wing it, leave it, bring it, let’s call the whole thing off

Ooooo if we call the whole thing off, then we must part       

Ooooo who knew i was married to, such a grumpy old fart

you say snorkeling and i say shopping, you say beaches and i say bar hopping

snorkeling, shopping, beaches, bar hopping, let’s call the whole thing off

you say, hey there, and i say bonjour! you say, no thanks, and i say, oui bien sur!

hey there, bonjour, no thanks, oui bien sur, let’s call the whole thing off

you say postcards and i say black pearls, i say big ones!, and you say, down girl!

postcards, black pearls, big ones, down girl!  let’s call the whole thing off

Ooooo if we call the whole thing off, then we must part

Ooooo and if you took your wallet with you that might break my heart

you’ve had enough, but i want some more-a, and tomorrow we’ll be in old bora bora

enough!  some more-a! two days in bora bora, let’s call this calling off off

we’ll split bora bora, and one day, i promise - we’ll go and play golf!