When we first began planning our trip to New Zealand we knew that we wanted to go somewhere else when it was over before scattering to our next destinations.  Mind you, this was before I realized how beautiful 90 Mile Beach in the north of New Zealand is.  Had I known that I may just have suggested we chill there for a week.  But I didn’t and that’s just as well in a way because it gave us a reason to try a new country.  To head back to North America, which Brenda, Jo and Lloyd will be doing, from New Zealand is a long enough trip without adding a lengthy leg to it.  So for example, if we had wanted to go to Tonga or Samoa the flights there and then back to either NZ or Australia en route to North America really would have added to the return journey time.  I took a look at a South Pacific map, found the islands of New Caledonia, did my usual minimum of research, pitched it to the others et voila!  Just like that it became the last ten days of our Down Under explore- a chance to chill a little (tho chill a little would not be the exact right term given the 30-degree daytime temperatures) from all our action time and get ready for the next chapter, a chapter that involves returning home for the others, and more wandering for me. 

Yesterday’s 3-hour flight from Auckland was just as you would want a flight to be.  Smooth and uneventful and on time.  (The latter is a little unusual in this day and age of air travel so it is a delight when a plane boards and leaves as scheduled.  Even a little bit of a pleasant surprise.)  We were all slightly overdressed, needing the luggage space as we did to actually get everything in, opting to wear our heavier clothes.  My jeans and hiking boots ensemble was perfect for the air conditioned airport and flight but wow, the mid-morning heat of New Caledonia assailed me upon arrival.  We cleared passport and customs and walked outside to our car rental booth, only to discover that I had booked it for arriving a day later.  There are times when my supreme lack of attention to detail can really be an issue and whatever I was doing when I booked the car way those many months ago did not serve me well!  Anyway, we eventually were assigned a car- a little purple Mitsubishi (the clown car I am calling it.  It is so small that only two suitcases fit into the trunk so poor Lloyd and Brenda had to sit with the other two stacked between them in the back seat.  And yes, we could have gone back in and asked for a larger car (which we had to do In Auckland) but we knew that here we won’t be doing many miles actually carrying luggage, we were hot and wanted to get moving, and the rental lady had already been so helpful with finding us a vehicle that none of us were inclined to do anything except stuff ourselves in and go.  Oh.  And the representative only spoke French so trying to swap cars was something I just didn’t feel I had the skill or the energy to tackle at that point!

This is a very hilly part of the world (littered with volcanic mountains I assume) so the airport is quite far removed from everything else, including anything that could be called a village.  We made it to the town of Paita, expecting something sort of seaside community with cute shops and a vibrant vibe.  It is not.  Not in the slightest.  It more resembles a poor looking community in the Caribbean, with lots of people, young men in particular, lolling about, socializing on the streets and for some reason, congregating outside the post office.  (Interestingly enough, the individual boxes are on the outside of the building, which I guess makes sense when you realize how hot the climate is here.  No need to build a room with interior mailboxes when heat is the main weather issue most of the time.)  It was midday, and did I mention yet it was feverishly hot (!!) and that we were still in our too warm travel clothes (!!!) but we found a place to park, got local currency from the ATM (8000 of their currency is $107 Canadian.  In our short time here I don’t think I will have long enough to easily do conversions when buying groceries where seeing items for thousands throws me for a loop.), and located a little café where we were able to get some food to satisfy the hot hangry that was threatening to overtake us all. 

Jo and I went into the supermarket to get some starter groceries, after all, whatever we were buying had to fit in the clown car with us so we weren’t buying much!, while Lloyd and Brenda opted to stay vegging in the car.  When we returned to our little purple beast there was a pickup truck parked beside us facing in the opposite direction and as I approached the car, I heard my travel mates saying to him- ’There’s who you have to talk to!’  Turns out this lovely local man had been trying to engage Brenda and Lloyd in some friendly ‘you must be visitors’ chat but given their lack of French and his lack of English I gather the conversation was minimal.  However he did tell me to tell them he had enjoyed talking to them so he must have appreciated their back seat through the open window efforts.  

Apart from the language there is a strong French influence here; no surprise given that it is a French overseas territory.  There are 2 boulangeries/patisseries in town- yes of course we had to stop and get a baguette!  I recognized brands in the grocery store and certainly the selection was much like what you would find in France.  And although our local interactions have been minimal, it is safe to say that at least rurally no one is speaking any amount, if any English, so it is a great opportunity to haul out my French skills and give it a whirl.  And so far everyone I have had to interact with (the café guy, the bakery lady, the nice man at the door of a little grocery store who directed me to the larger supermarket, the store clerks who helped me find a couple of items) has been patient and kind and willing to work to bridge the language gap.  Maybe once we get into the capital (Noumea) it will be different but here, 45 minutes outside the City, it is very much a patient with me French speaking world. 

Believe it or not I already have much more I want to write about being here but given that this is already a lot for you to read I will sign off now with the intention of writing again tomorrow.

A Bientot!   xo