safe & sound in Port Vila

Barraveigh is in calm flat waters. I've showered, devoured an amazing burger & chips, slept for 12 hours solid, been in awe at the French supermarket, marveled at the 24 hour fruit & veg market & attempted to learn Bislama English
Here begins the adventures of Barraveigh's 3rd leg of her world trip & my 2nd year of exploring wild & exotic islands. I can feel a change in myself. I'm ready to get off the beaten track & tread the road (or seas) less traveled.
Port Vila is the main town in Vanuatu & has many of the conveniences that we Westerners require but it has kept its rougher, less polished edges. It gives us hope that as we sail further north, to the other islands, we will experience primitive villages & communities. I'm absorbing everything around me & noting the huge differences between here & Fiji. The people look the same, its hard not to greet them with a huge Fijian "Bula" but pay enough attention & you'll notice they are smaller in size & have a more reserved personality that feels very English. Many braid their hair in cornrows & the women wear plainer dresses than neighboring Fiji but their personalities are just as warm & friendly. At times it feels like I've landed in Mars, watching the locals with their beautiful dark skin & afro hair play boules in the park just as the old French men do in France, walking through the market that never sleeps, reading the signs written in Bislama & buying fresh croissants.
The English & French have both left their mark on the country. Vanuatu was previously called the New Hebrides. It was governed by both the French & the English. The dual administration caused huge rivalry & much confusion. There were 2 education systems, 2 police forces & 2 currencies. When colonial rule came to an end in 1980 it was given the name Vanuatu.
Vanuatu has much history from World War 2. Due to its position in the South Pacific & the joint English & French presence, the New Hebrides was the ideal location for the American army & navy. They arrived in 1942 & pushed north into territories occupied by the Japanese. The Americans have also left their mark on this country with many wrecks making excellent dive sites & also on the older generation who remember the Americans arriving in their huge ships. A young boy of 6 or 7 asked Bobby where he was from. When he replied "America", the young boy said "America (pause). You like to fight"!!!
P.S Does anyone know where Bobby went? He seems to have been replaced by a romantic twin! I've been treated like a princess. I awoke from a lie in (8am!) to find a breakfast of croissants, pamplemousse & a bunch of huge tropical flowers awaiting me. Wow!

well done to anyone who noticed I'm holding the flag upside down!!