We passed the international date line as we entered Samoa.....for us and for Sandy (in Hong Kong), we entered Samoa on Saturday, February 16.....for the rest of you, we entered on Friday, February 15.....we spent a lot of time in total confusion with all the time changes on the ship.....THEN we have to change a WHOLE day!!!! Over the past several years, and we are not sure how many "several" are, the location of the international date line has changed.....back and forth between American Samoa and Western Samoa, which is now independent and known as simply Samoa (yet more confusion). Currently, the line is between these two sets of islands....and the final decision came down to, as usual, economics.....American Samoa trades primarily with Hawaii and the U. S. Mainland......Samoa trades with Australia and New Zealand....makes sense to us!!!!! So, for the next 2 months, we are a whole day AHEAD of you......and we are WITH you, Sandy!!!
For both islands, the primary religion is Congregationalist, Methodist and Mormon.....a spattering of Catholic and non-denominational.
BY FAR, the prettiest hotel on the island......Samoa was hit by a recent typhoon and this is one of the few unaffected properties.
This is all we have for pictures from Samoa.....we spent two hours looking for a wifi.....different directions from 3 different people.....finally found it and enjoyed??? blogging all of you....with two of our favorite casino dealers....and then were greeted with the fourth downpour (we are talking HORIZONTAL rainfall and wind) and took a taxi back to the ship!
