First we found a geo-cache (this was the first one of two we found)
Then we went exploring along Nuie's rugged coast
Some climbing around...
...and a little cave exploration (there are a lot of caves on Nuie)
We spent today driving around the island. John and Lisa from Orcinius rented a car and Ann and I with John and Pat from The Rose all drove around the island, “checking it out”. We started at 0630 by going to the local Farmer’s Market. There is not much on this island in the way of fresh food at the regular markets. They only have tinned foods. The local Farmer’s Market has produce that people bring in from their gardens. It’s very small. Ann and I got some bananas, papayas and a few other miscellaneous things, but it’s pretty basic. Truthfully, there were more people than vegetables at this market.
Then we had to wait until after 0800 for someplace where we could get coffee to open. There’s also very few restaurants and coffee shops on this island. In fact, we dove around for hours at lunch time looking for a place to eat. We finally drove back to the wharf area where there was an Indian food place.
Niue is an independent country and aligned with New Zealand. It only has approximately 1600 people residing on the island. It’s not that small, but there are very few people here and equally few places where you can get food-either prepared or in a market.
Tomorrow we’re going to pack picnics and drive up the “other” side of the island that we didn’t see today and find a good spot to just snorkel and have a picnic.
We also signed up for a (hopefully) unique experience this coming Tuesday. We’re going on a whale watching tour. The unique part is that when you find whales you get to jump out and swim with them! Stay tuned on that one.
So, up at 0545 this morning and now it’s 2300 and we’re just back from a “pot luck” on Orcinius. Time for bed. See you later!
What? 1600 people and not one single Starbucks on the whole frickin island? No Golden Arches either? C’mon, this is the 21st century for cryin’ out loud! You are not in an island paradise. You are on an island inhabited by uncivilized, backward people. People stuck in the Dark Ages. No Enlightenment. No Age of Reason. You might as well be in Appalachia in the 1950s. You haven’t heard any banjo music, have you? Keep an eye out for bow and arrow wielding natives.
If you get to swim with the whales you can consider yourself lucky for meeting another enlightened species. Try asking them where you can get a good cup of coffee.