Europe visitors fall in love with destination Samoa

By Nefertiti Matatia 02 May 2018, 12:00AM

Nuria Broo’s experience of Samoa has left her wanting to make the islands her permanent home. 

She travelled to Samoa with a friend, Ingrid Izquiredo, searching for a perfect holiday in the islands.

They are staying at the Olivia Accommodation at Matautu. The Dear Tourist team found them in front of the Samoa Tourism Authority, together with their new friend, Lisa Flicker. 

They all happen to be from Europe.

Nuria arrived on 26 April and she has explored more than enough to fall in love with Samoa.

“We have highlights every day. We went to the ToSua Ocean Trench, the waterfall, even though it was pouring and raining a lot,” Nuria said. 

“Yesterday we went diving and saw 15 turtles. It was our first time seeing the turtles because we have never seen them before.”

“And also the fish, we have been to Palolo Deep as well on our first day and it was amazing. We live around the Mediterranean Sea; we don’t get to see those kinds of fishes.”

“We have been around Upolu and today we are going to Manu’a Island. Tomorrow we will be going to Lalomanu to get a fale at the beach. The weekend in Savaii and we want to go Manono as well because we have a lot of time and we have no plans. We just go with the flow.”

They have not witnessed a fiafia night, but nevertheless, they have enjoyed every bit of the sites they visit. 

“Driving around is also very nice even though the roads are not that good and meeting a lot of Samoan people.”

“We also went to the food market and ate a lot of mini bananas, we love them. We have tried taro and we are trying to get into the culture a bit.”

For Nuria, it was not just how colourful the buildings and the buses were, it was more than that.”

“I find it very interesting with the things about the churches and seeing how many churches there are, which is so important for the people here and Sundays as well.”

“I am not religious, but I am very respectful of that. It is a nice way to have such a strong belief. I have seen that when you go around the communities and the open spaces. The houses without walls and the people are just there chilling or talking. I think it is like living in a community.”

“Maybe when you come from Europe you won’t feel that as much anymore because people are always rushing, very focused on their career and work. Here you don’t get that feeling,” she adds.

Lisa added Samoa not being touristy is good.

“It is a bit more untouched and authentic. You get the feeling of the country itself and without the influence of a lot of tourists.”

Nuri shared: “We saw Samoa on the map and we booked the flights. A few days before, we didn’t know what it was about, we just saw some photos.”

“It has been great and very beautiful. The people here have been very kind.”

By Nefertiti Matatia 02 May 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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