Guam, USA (Micronesia)

Once again we came into port in the pouring rain. The officials didn't board the ship until 8:45.  We had arrived at 8. Every passenger had to go thru customs with our passports before we could disembark, so that took more time. By the time our group was together it was 9:30, then we had to find our bus which had been held at the gate by Homeland Security. It was a late start. I had imagined Guam to be a bit exotic but it was more like visiting an island in HI. Cars, stores, restaurants etc are the same as at home. 

Our first stop was a National Park that was closed but not barricaded so we could go in. There were several guns on the shore, American and Japanese. Mel is by a Japanese anti-aircraft gun. 

                                                                          

There were places dug out of the hill nearby which had been used as bunkers. It was pretty flooded from the rain so everyone's shoes were soaked by the time we returned to the bus. 

Next stop was an old Spanish fort. Guam was under Spanish control for 300 years before the Germans, Japanese and finally Americans. We also stopped at a lookout spot but it was so rainy and foggy that we couldn't see much. We headed back the way we had come and stopped at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park, which also was closed. But we were able to take pictures of a Japanese 2 man submarine which was out front. I had brought my National Parks Passport to get stamped on this trip. So much for that idea!

Next was the Pacific War Museum. It was started by a man who started collecting WWII items he found in the dump as a kid! It grew from that until he had all sorts of different military vehicles which he restored and are in working order. There were 2 wings of the museum made from airport boarding corridors, pretty narrow but full of artifacts and many pictures. One side was dedicated to the Americans, the other to the Japanese. The most interesting to me was the information about the Japanese solider who was discovered in 1972 after hiding in the jungle since the war! He thought it was still going on. 

We went into the capital, also the largest town on the island. Went to a park where they had some latte stones from ancient times. They were similar to the moa on Easter island but had been used as foundations for homes. Next we Stopped at an old Spanish fort next to the cathedral. Then it was the end of the tour. We got off the bus at the ship's shuttle stop rather than going back to the ship. The mall there had a grocery store, an inexpensive clothing store and several other small shops, not very exciting. We decided to take a taxi to a store I wanted to visit in a different mall. Should have asked the fare before we went. The meter kept going up and up! It was almost $40 by the time we reached our destination. We negotiated down to $30 ea way, very expensive. We walked around this area for a bit. It was near the hotels and tourist district. They get a lot of tourists from Japan so cater to them. There was every designer store you could think of there, and large ones! 

Our taxi driver was waiting for us when we had arranged to meet. Went back to the ship's shuttle bus then back to the ship. We boarded at about 4 so I had time to walk. I only did 2 miles, I had to get ready for dinner. It was an ok day but the closures were a disappointment and not an awful lot to see. Tomorrow we are in Saipan.