Seeing the Sights of Noumea

After a good night's sleep, Alex and I were looking forward to school this morning and seeing everyone. After a hiccup at the start when I headed off down the little road from our apartment on the left instead of the right hand side of the road!! (luckily no on-coming traffic and luckily I had my trusty co-driver who said " shall we maybe get onto the right hand side?"),  we made it to a favourite boulangerie for the obligatory pain au chocolate for an after brekky snack! Alex had made a lovely fresh fruit salad for brekky earlier but he's been told the rules - a visit to the boulangerie was essential at the start of the day!
It was great catching up with the kids and hearing what they'd done and what they'd eaten. All were happy although some admitted to feeling homesick the night before. Sarah was sick this morning and was looking a little wan. She went to the infirmary where a registered nurse is employed all day and she just slept and was feeling fine after a while. Classes proved interesting and already I think they realise how lucky they are with our education system! Alex was with the PE teachers all morning and quite fancies a stint working here as a PE teacher!

Waiting for the gates to open at school.

 

 

The next experience was the canteen lunch. Fish was on the menu which put some off, but with the inevitable baguette and yoghurt for dessert, there was something for everyone and all were encouraged to eat even if they didn't like fish.

 

                                                                                               Group pic before train tour

 

The train tour around the city was great as the commentary provides a detailed history of the beginnings of Noumea and the influence of the USA on the culture since the city became their base in the Pacific during the war. The view from the top of the hill over the city was beautiful and gave a fantastic view of the large nickel smelter belching its fumes into the atmosphere! Our greenies would have had it shut down years ago!  New Caledonia is the third largest producer of nickel in the world after Russia and Canada - amazing considering how small the country is.



On the cannon left by the Americans after the war.

 

Exciting plans have been laid for the weekend - sleepovers, visiting the markets, swimming, shopping. Sophie Svensen is off to a wedding soon so she's shopping for an outfit to wear apparently!!  Did you say she has your credit card Karen??

The wind came up a bit this afternoon and the windsurfers and particularly the kitesurfers have provided a spectacular display from the beach. The trade winds come into Anse Vata Bay and create perfect conditions for these sports.

We have been invited out to dinner tomorrow night and also to Mont Dore on Sunday for a family gathering, so we also have plans to look forward to as well.

Thinking of you all!

Au revoir!



 







At Last!

We are an hour behind NZ in time so it's 7.30pm here and Alex and I have just got to our apartment! It feels like midnight! We had a reasonable trip up in the bus with a couple of stops for queasy tummies. The weather got worse the closer we got to Auckland.

Excitement was palpable on arrival at the airport but departure proceedings went smoothly. Holly was thrilled when a Frenchman checking in at the counter next to us said "pardon Mademoiselle!" to her when he accidentally cut across in front of her!  The airport wasn't too busy and we had half an hour to spare before boarding while the shops got the once over from everybody. It's amazing how shopping appeals so much to girls though, no matter what the age!
  The flight was fairly smooth and everyone engrossed themselves in movies, games etc until that beautiful ocean was sighted from the windows. "We're actually here at last" they said. 
The airport is a much finer building these days and we didn't have to walk off the plane over the tarmac - very flash! It's been a work in   for about 6 years but the airport is now a beautiful building and not a makeshift-looking one.  The temperature was the best part though!  It is wonderful!

                                               Baggage Carousel in Noumea - do they look hyped??

 The bus was waiting for us outside the airport as usual and it took one back (well....one of us back!) to the good old psychedelic hippy days.... what a paint job!

 

Le Bus!

 

The male contingent

 

 The French kids were out on the street waiting for us as the bus pulled up. Our kids were remarkably OK and we got no "why did I get myself into this?" backward looks as they went off with their families. Lily positively bolted with no goodbye - just couldn't wait to leap into the car with her new 'sister'! The families were lovely and greeted our kids with warmth and friendliness.  I have had no desperate phone calls as yet so all must be well!  They will all be tired so I'm sure they will sleep well tonight.  We look forward to seeing them all in the morning and hearing all the first impression stories.