American Samoa - Pago Pago, and Tisa's Barefoot Bar

My Dad had fond memories of Pago Pago during his time in the Navy and he pronounce it Paygo Paygo. I learned now that it is properly pronounced Pahngo Pahngo. It sounds weird, but I am determined to adjust. We had to cross the International Date Line to get here. Instead of a missing day like we had when crossing east to west, this time we had 2 Mondays because we crossed west to east. When putting something on our calendar for Monday Dec 15, we had to put in the title whether it was the first Monday or the second Monday! Our shipmate friend, Randy Cassingham said, if we're going to get 2 of one day, why does it have to be a Monday! 🤣

We were greeted at the dock by enthusiastic dancers and even Miss American Samoa!

There is no doubt that this is a South Pacific tropical paradise of an island, but it also is the United States. I could live here! (But, I'd rather live where I do 😊) I spoke with one shipmate that got some testing done at the local hospital and the cost was covered by Medicare. 

Since we had just produced our recent YouTube show, we felt we deserved some tourist time and were ready to play in this port. We previously signed up for a group event at a place called Tisa's Barefoot Bar. According to the website, Tisa's is World Famous!! Well, it has certainly earned a famous spot in my world memories. We spent the afternoon snorkeling on their beach, and the evening eating the most delicious food prepared in a traditional method. 

What a gorgeous place! It was equally pretty underwater. We didn't need to go far at all to see a drop off and canyon with large schools of tropical fish.

The food was cooked in a traditional method. They build a fire, then pile it with rocks, add the food wrapped in aluminum foil and covered with banana leaves, then Taro leaves. It cooked all afternoon then, as soon as it came out of the fire/oven we ate. The tenderest ribs ever. And, you haven't lived till you've eaten a papaya that has been cooked this way! It's called an Umu feast. 

Here's our shipmate, Viv, helping to build the oven. 

A view during our bus ride to Tisa's

After a full day of snorkeling, sightseeing, food, friends, and pina coladas - we caught a taxi back home.