Onward toward the French Polynesian Islands. – First stop Papeete, Tahiti –a part of French Polynesia and the Society Islands.
We were able to dock directly at the pier in Papeete. Walked over to the tourist information, picked up a map which included a walking tour of the town. I also looked for an ATM to get some of the local currency the Pacific French Franc. The map was typical for the local area – the streets are on the map, but the points of interest identified by numbers are stuck on the map haphazardly as if by someone throwing a dart – some place were on the spot while others were a few hundred feet away. I guess you have to work to find what you are looking for, with or without a map.I found the Post Office, bought stamps and mailed some cards. I then found a place to have a local beer and stopped for a beer break! Then went out again and finally found all the places on the walking tour. I stopped off at a place called the Star Studio Restaurant and tried their ceviche platter along with another beer. I then did some souvenir shopping and headed back to the ship and prepared for the next stop -Moorea, French Polynesia!
Papeete Photo Gallery:
Photos to follow as internet permits!
Moorea
We anchored in the bay and had to take a tender to Moorea. I picked a tour guide who took 6 of us around the island. We rode around in a pickup truck with a canopy top.We passed an agricultural school where the students were taught how to better grow the farm product son the island and hopefully remain on the island instead of leaving. We drove to a view spot called Bellvedere lookout point. The white ship Amedea could be seen in Cooks Bay from this location. We went to taste some pineapple liqueurs at a processing plant. But there was no use purchasing any since it would be locked up on the ship until we arrived back in Ft. Lauderdale. After this tour I went on an afternoon photo tour that wound up covering some of the same places. One of the better places on this tour was the steep twisting climb to Magic Mountain for a great view of the island and the barrier reefs. I was able to see some of the thatched hotel rooms on extended piers. They are not accessible unless you are a guest of the hotel that provides them. We zig-zagged down the mountain just in time to catch the last tender to the ship at 4:30 PM.
Moorea Photo Gallery:
Photos to follow
Bora Bora
In Bora Bora, we gain anchored in the bay and had to take the tender to the village. I got on a bus to take a tour of the island. The drives said he needed 5 people before we could depart. I was the 4th on the bus. We waited for about 15 minutes with no other passengers. the others decided to find other transportation. I got off too and found a island tour that needed one more person in a 4WD LandRover. There 6 of use in the back of the SUV and had a great time touring the island. We stopped at a shop that made tie died pareos are made and tasted the locally grown fruits including the famous bread fruit – which to me tasted like bread. We passed Matira Beach one of the best beaches on the island. Then we stopped at Bloody Mary’s Restaurant where I had a local brew. The restaurant has white sand for the floor. A little pricey though. As a matter of fact, thois whole island was pricey and the merchants wanted only American dollars and not the local Polynesian French Franc. It was hard to get the price of anything in Francs. We finally got back to the port area and i bought some souvenirs and sent off some cards, then took the tender back to the ship.
Bora Bora Photo Gallery:
Photos to follow!