Thursday, 12 July to Monday,
16 July 2018
Our first day in Noumea was spent visiting the markets,
cleaning the boat and taking the laundry to be done. No laundromat at the
marina but they will wash and dry your clothes at the Fuel Dock -a long walk
from the visitors berths. By Friday afternoon we took a break and visited the
Museum of New Caledonia.
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| Pre-Bitcoin money |
This museum specialises in Kanak arts and traditions
as well as arts and culture of other South Pacific nations. Just as well they
are preserving it as I don’t remember any similar museums in Vanuatu.
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| Masks from Malakula, Vanuatu |
The displays are beautifully presented and there is an
English explanation of most exhibits.
On Friday evening we invited Dave and Sherrill from Seawindow for sundowners before heading
off for the lantern parade that celebrates Bastille Day. 5000 lanterns are
given out and the crowd walks to Coconut Square for the fireworks.
On Saturday, Bastille Day, there is a military parade down
the main street near the marina.
The National Servicemen’s Memorial Band from Australia led the parade with Waltzing Matilda and other Aussie favourites. Dave and Sherrill, who were moored at Port de Sud marina in the next bay had
been woken at 6am each morning by the bagpipes practising!
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| They were sorry Dave and Sherrill |
It rained
as the parade progressed but the crowd stayed to cheer on the armed forces
regiments, firemen and gendarmes along with the armoured vehicles, horses and
one small inflatable.
The band entertained the crowd at the markets later in the day with a range of tunes before finishing with the French National anthem to the cheers of the crowd. Rain all afternoon meant we didn’t venture far, but when it
finally cleared on Sunday we went for a walk to Saint Joseph’s Cathedral
overlooking the city.
It was built between 1887 and 1897 with convict labour to
the plans of a former prisoner. Over 50% of the population of New Caledonia are
Roman Catholic.
On Monday morning, I went for a bike ride around the
foreshore to Anse Vata for a final shop while Warren visited the bank and
hardware store. This stretch of shoreline is where the large hotels, boutiques
and restaurants can be found.
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| Now that is a crayfish! |
At midday we left the marina to head south to Isle of Pines
and the southern lagoon for a few weeks.
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