Samoa

Samoa includes two groups of islands : one is under American government, with the harbour of Pago Pago, the other, once under German domination, now bears the name of Western Samoa.
I once made a stop in Pago Pago, a long time ago, under pouring rain, in an anchorage swept by storms and stinking from the two fish canneries in the bay (the rest of the islands, to the contrary, must be wonderful).

On the other hand, Western Samoa appeared to me as beautiful as it did to R.L.Stevenson, author of ?Treasure Island? on the day he decided to spend there his remaining years.
For a long time fought over by several international powers, Western Samoa has managed to keep their authenticity ; one of the most fascinating sights is the morning?s salute to the colours, everyday in the harbour or Apia, very manly soldiers dressed in an amusing ladies suit with a straight skirt, the British version of the Polynesian pareo.

It was also in Samoa that I could see, lining up along the magnificent beaches of the southern shore, an infinite number of small huts for rent for a few dollars, huts on stilts driven in the sand, covered with woven palms and open to all winds, according to Samoan tradition, a few wooden blinds are unrolled for protection when, during a storm, rain flies horizontally; then the sun comes back fast, you roll up the blinds, and you?re once again the king of the world in your tiny castle of palms and coconut trunks, by a sparkling sea sprinkled with many coloured corals.

1. Samoa

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Tourist information office of Samoa : www.visitsamoa.ws
Lonely planet : www.lonelyplanet.com
For sailors : www.noonsite.com