Guests nationalities were posted the other day and the UK tops the charts with 945, followed by 385 Americans, 150 Australians, 149 Germans, 82 Canadians, 39 New Zealanders, 21  Netherlanders, 19 French, 17 Switzerlanders and a smattering of Austria, Chile, Czech Republic, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Venezuela.  (oh, and two from Arkansas, ha, ha)  Total passengers - 1,861.  These numbers will change once we hit Sydney and again in Hong Kong and Dubai.

Crew members are easily outnumbered by the Philippines weighing in at 545, followed by 96 UK, and 75 India.  The rest of the crew is too numerous to list. Altogether there are 978 crew members. 

Speaking of numbers, our Australian companions posed the question last night at the dinner table if we thought 'ate-dean' people could fit in the liiifffft.  Candice and I understood the question but Neil, who grew up in NY, had a hard time understanding anything that was said.  After a good laugh and translating the question for Neil we all decided that there was no way 18 people could fit in these ship elevators.  Upon leaving the restaurant, we got into the elevator with Leona and Gail and started to discuss just how big this box was and guessing how many people it could actually accommodate.  This poor chap standing in the corner of the elevator got drug into the conversation by none other than me.  I asked him how many he thought could fit 'in here' and we pointed out to him that the sign inside stated 18.  I'm sure all the guy could think of was 'get me out of here.'  You really must be careful as to who you get in an elevator with.  Or in this guy's case, who you let on the elevator.  Did I mention that  we had champagne at dinner that night?

We crossed the international dateline last night at 11:06 p.m. and it suddenly became February 8th.  Then 54 minutes later it became February 9th.  There were 9 passengers on board that missed their birthday.  Boo-who, but they had a small celebration for them.   

So, technically you guys are now behind us by 19 hours.  We will continue to close the gap the further west we travel.  Seems that Magellan's expedition of 1519-1522 returned to a Spanish stopover sure of the day it was due to various carefully maintained sailing records.  A great debate and arguing ensued when the landlubbers argued the date.  This phenomenon generated so much excitement back in the day that a special delegation was sent to the Pope to explain this temporal oddity to him.   Thank God Magellan got this all figured out.  Needless to say Cunard thought this event was certificate-worthy!  (I do consider it monumental when you lose a day and can't find it!)

Now, who goes to Pago Pago and finds a New Zealand half dollar?  Sandy Miller, that's who!  Candice and I were walking out to the Flower Pot Rock and I found it along the roadside.  Must have been some Samoan that pitched it out the window thinking it was useless.  Just so happens that I'm going to New Zealand!  

We stopped off at a little beach during our walk back to the ship and jumped in the water to cool off.  We thought we'd be gritty from the salt water but believe it or not, our skin felt like we had been in fresh water.  Candice found some sea glass on the beach and we later rested in the shade at a park and split an orange.  It would be very easy to get use to this island lifestyle!

The people of Pago Pago were just as friendly as can be.  Very delightful!  We stopped by this ice cream bar/cafe to use their internet and purchased a six pack of Coke to take back to the ship.  While we were surfing the internet the lady asked us if we wanted to try a coconut milk.  I didn't have the heart to tell her that we didn't like coconut but I did decline the offer.  But, she went ahead and prepared one for us any way.  It was different to say the least.  Candice drank most of it and reminded me that it would have been our main diet if we were ever on Survivor.

Note that I did find the Rainmaker Hotel and believe it or not it is right across the street from the governor's palace, which sits up on a hill.  No wonder the politicians hung out there.  Yes, that's right, hung out, past tense.  The hotel has been closed for good but I got some great pictures of the holes in the roofs and the dilapidated structures.  But it does appear that 'Sadie's by the Sea' bought a couple of the buildings and the property around the pool and the liquor store.  I guess they made a good choice to give it a new name but for all technical purposes, let's just say that I surfed the internet and watched the Super Bowl at the Rainmaker Hotel.  PS:   I didn't see or recognize any seedy politicians hanging around but the alcohol was being served.    

Sandy