Port Vila, Vanuatu: We got a new country today - Vanuatu! It is a pretty set of 83 islands with some protected interisland waterways that probably qualify as "the lagoon."
Vanuatu got independence from joint French-British colonial rule in 1980 and today seems to rely heavily on France and Australia, with China coming on strong in 3rd place. Definitely part of Melanesia, the people are a very dark brown and most closely resemble Australian Aborigines.
We took a lagoon tour today on a powered barge with a nice roof for shade and comfy chairs. It was both comfortable and interesting. The trades were blowing and the weather couldn't have been better.
It turns out many wealthy folk have vacay homes here, some in the half million dollar range. That much should get a waterfront lot and a sturdy home with a view.
We hear the unemployment rate is nearly 50% and a couple of years ago a cyclone (aka hurricane) tore this island up a lot. Two years later there are still people living in tents and shacks made of corrugated steel and plastic tarps - no power or running water, surrounded by mounds of trash.
Tomorrow we are in port in New Caledonia, I'm not certain we're going ashore. The following day we're in Noumea and we have an excursion there, something related to World War II in this region.
