Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora
Trip Start
Jan 03, 2008
1
9
47
Trip End
Apr 27, 2008
Northwest of Bora Bora,
French Polynesia
Friday, January 25, 2008
I don't know where the time goes. We have another sea day today-and we have traveled about 700 miles from Nuku Hiva (not that we can take credit for that accomplishment, but we are moving forward!). The time seems to be flying by. Tomorrow morning, we will arrive at Papeete, Tahiti. There are, apparently, no paintings by Gauguin on Tahiti (though he lived and worked there for many years), but the bold colors on the island have inspired other artists as well, so we'll see what contemporary work we can find. Henri Matisse was also inspired by the colors of Tahiti.
January 21, Monday
We docked at Tahiti today. The port was a busy place filled with container ships, fishing boats, and ferries. We were able to dock at a pier, so getting off the ship was very easy, in contrast to the tender operations at many ports including Nuku Hiva
Tahiti
. The tourist center had lots of excellent information about Tahiti and the islands in the nearby archipelagos, as well as about Polynesian culture in general. Several handicraft tables were set up outside the information center with beautiful carvings and woven baskets and mats. The crafts were well done-with intricate braiding and full use of carved abalone shells and cowries. A few blocks away, we found the local market-a large two-story building filled with tables of produce and other foodstuff, handicrafts, cloth, clothing, and other goods. We were impressed by the variety of bananas (all carefully laid out on various tables) and found an abundance of taro root, ginger root, passion fruit, and many more fruits and vegetables that we could not name right off. Flower vendors, a meat market, and a fish market filled one end of the market. A few blocks away, we found the Church of the Immaculate Conception. It was very simply laid out, with white walls, a simple altar, and stained glass windows depicting saints among breadfruit and palms trees. The Stations of the Cross were painted on a long wooden panel in muted colors with flat, but rounded figures.We were disappointed to find the museums were closed on Mondays and were reminded of the major disadvantage of the cruise-we have only a little time on each port, so we don't have the luxury of exploring and really getting to know a place. In Tahiti, we were on the side of the island away from the luxury hotels and beautiful beaches and saw a lot of the local businesses and the tourist shops that catered to the cruise ships
Tahiti 2
. Tahiti is a very expensive place to visit, and, for tourists, there is a huge focus on the business of selling black pearls.January 22, Tuesday
We were very pleased today to be able to visit Moorea, a sister island of Tahiti-and a place deserving of a much longer visit. It's a lovely island, like Tahiti, formed by a volcano and surrounded by coral reefs-and very lush. Every one we met today was pleasant-very positive and happy. There are few tourist services for non-snorkelers, so we rented a car and drove partly around the island. We also were able to drive to the Belvedere Lookout, where we had a good view of the two bays on the north side of the island-Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay. On the road up to the lookout, we stopped at the Marae ("temple") Titiroa-the marae pyramidal structures with large stone slabs that were traditional meeting places for Polynesian communities. The Marae Titiroa had archery platforms that were likely places of human sacrifice as well. Only the stone supporting walls remain; they are about four feet in height, but they outline a huge area over 50 feet long and 20 feet wide, so the communities here must have been well-developed.
We drove down to Cook's Bay through the Opunohu Valley-which is essentially the bowl of the volcano that formed the island-and then drove along the coast
Tiki
. The water was crystal clear and the beaches were beautiful! Moorea is definitely on our "must return for a real visit" list!January 23, Wednesday
And, today, our third island in three days-Bora Bora! It, too, is fabulous-and very beautiful, with a string of islands around it on the reef that circles the island. We stayed ashore for only a few hours because of the heat but were able to visit Bloody Mary's (of South Pacific fame), ride on Le Truck (a local bus, of sorts), and sit on a pier, under a thatched roof, enjoying the sights of the lagoon and the cool breezes on the water. The idea of the thatched-hut-style resort originated in Bora Bora-and once you experience being able to sit in a shaded place over the water, you understand why the idea of being over the water is so popular here. It's the coolest place to be on the island.
Comments
Great Pics
The fruits & flowers look so beautiful. I like the picture of you two on the deck. I am glad you are enjoying your trip. Love, Eileen