Day 97 - Apia, Upolu Western Samoa
Western Samoa is made up of two main Islands and several smaller ones. The total land is 1137 square miles which is a little bit smaller then Rhode Island. The population is 217,083. Language is Samoan and English. We were on Upolu, it is the smaller of the two main islands and you can drive around it in one hour. On the south end of the Island are beautiful beaches. We walked into town hoping to find a local tour. We went to the Aggie Gray Hotel (Aggie Gray is famous for starting the restaurant selling Hamburg's during WWII) We found out that the only tour available was to an outer small island and would not be back in time. So we decided to continue walking downtown and found a Beauty Salon and could not pass up the massages. While I was getting my massage Randy talked with another couple and decided that we would share a Taxi to the Valima, the home Robert Louis Stevenson from 1889 until his death in 1894. He wrote, Treasure Island, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and many other books. He was a native of Scotland and due to bad health he needed to move to a warmer climate. He built the mansion and lived there with his American wife. He is buried just below the summit of Mount Vaea overlooking his home. The Samoan people loved him and called him Tusitala "Teller of Tales". Robert Louis Stevenson was a champion of the people and wrote letters about the corruption of the government and did get some officials removed. The house is lovey and was restored by an American, Rick Maughan after a hurricane damaged it and the government could not afford to restore it. Mr. Maughan was fan of Robert Louis Stevenson and had spent time in Apia, as a missionary in his youth. The house now services as a museum full of books, letters, and authentic period furniture. It was well worth the visit. We had the Taxi driver drop us downtown were there was the Teuila Festival being held. This is a weeklong festival to honor the culture of Western Somoa. There was a parade with the Police Band and a Honor Guard of police man in what we would describe as Hawaiian shirts. They had booths with local food and crafts. After checking it out and enjoying the local celebration, we walked back to the ship. Next Port Auckland, New Zealand.
