Celebrity Solstice - day 11 - Pago Pago, American Samoa - part 1

On day 11, it was still Friday, April 18, and we were still at a "Samoan Island", but this was American Samoa.

Our daily "newspaper" told us that it was "Friday April 18th - Day 2" - and we would have a port day in Pago Pago, American Samoa

I woke up early and could see one of the tourists sights outside our balcony - Fatu Rock or the Flowerpot, just off Fatumafuti.

Pilot boat guiding us in -- it is quite a ways in to the pier in the harbor (map showing the harbor: https://www.google.com/maps/@-14.2880205,-170.6960444,13z?entry=ttu).

From Wikipedia(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pago_Pago,_American_Samoa):

Pago Pago is home to one of the deepest natural harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered from wind and rough seas, and strategically located. The harbor is also one of the best protected in the South Pacific, which gives American Samoa a natural advantage because it makes landing fish for processing easier. Tourism, entertainment, food, and tuna canning are its main industries. As of 1993, Pago Pago was the world's fourth-largest tuna processor. In 2009, the total value of fish landed in Pago Pago — about $200,000,000 annually — is higher than in any other port in any U.S. state or territory. It is home to the largest tuna cannery in the world.

Note that the pronunciation of the town is "pango-pango" even though there is no "n" in the name. 

We heard music outside so went out on our balcony to see what was going on... a group of local dancers were there to welcome us to American Samoa (video: https://youtu.be/RfLIlcGEZSg)

They had prepared the "performance floor" by putting up signs of welcome and greenery on the containers that separated the area where we would get off from other parts of the container area (from above, we could still see the containers beyond).

There were also little ones dancing (video: https://youtu.be/RZRheKMKm-4)

We (along with many of our fellow travelers) had a bird's-eye-view from our balcony!

There was a lady narrating, and we could hear some of what was said, but not complete (https://youtu.be/UzYY_TNLfGA).

Some of the very lushly covered hills beyond the containers at the port.

We think this was Miss American Samoa who also came and danced (https://youtu.be/ygi6SLKPFkU)

https://www.americansamoa.travel/missamericansamoa

At the end, they all gathered for a group picture, and Miss American Samoa just joined in on the back row...

... when the others realized that she was not in a spot of recognition, they had her move to the center back -- it appeared to me that she just considered herself part of the group, and had not pushed herself to the front or place of priority.

They did a performance for over 30 minutes! What a beautiful way to welcome us to the island!

More about our American Samoa visit to come in another post!