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∙ WHAT WE DID/SAW/ EXPERIENCED ∙ Our day began with an early (7 am) immigration call, since we’re (temporarily) disembarking here in French Polynesia.
∙ After a quick breakfast, we set out for a leisurely walk around town and all its shops. After a while, I decided it was time to hitch a ride for a morning tour. It was only 9:30 am. I couldn’t believe it! (Anyone who knows me understands that I do not “do” mornings. However, we’ve turned the clocks back every night for the last three nights – thus giving us 25-hour days, and making it eerily easy to arise early in the day.)
∙ We grabbed a cab and drove along the island’s East Coast. Its roads were full of round-abouts, and our cabbie believed neither in slowing for these repeated turns in the road, nor for the many speed bumps along the way. We first stopped at “Les 3 Cascades” (a waterfall about an hour away), near a town called Tiarei.
∙ We were next taken to a spot called “Trou du Souffleur” (a “blow hole” created by an underwater cavern at the sea’s edge). It spewed at me and got me wet! Bye bye straight hair – not that it stood much of a chance in this hot, humid weather anyway!
∙ Our driver then took us to “Pointe Venus” (or Venus Point) before returning us to the pier.
∙ In the afternoon, we went on a HAL snorkeling trip and boat tour of the Harbor of Papeete.
∙ A deluge of rain hit as we were returning to the pier, and we took our soaked (everything) back to the room to scoop up our belongings for our 8-day solo sojourn away from the ship.
∙ Our “side-trip” began with a 30-minute ferry ride to the nearby island of Moorea. It was full of “locals”, who work in Papeete and live on Moorea. Some Polynesian men were singing and playing their drums and other instruments on the back of the ferry boat. When we arrived on Moorea, there were no cabs, and the rental car agency just closed 30 minutes before we arrived at about 6:10 pm. We were stuck there, and our hotel was on the other side of the island! This very nice (and beautiful) woman named Vava and her husband, Tom (from San Diego, as it turns out – small world) gave us a lift! Whew! Then, we learn there’s nothing to do here at night. Oh, and I wanted to buy a bottle of rum, but the store closed 20 minutes before we got here! Geeeeez. The hotel bar wanted to charge $112 for a small bottle of Bacardi, so I settled for a Mai Tai and a small bottle of local coconut rum and pineapple juice. Oh, and all the TV stations except CNN are in French. The DVD “boutique” is already closed for the night! … Someone’s playing a cruel joke on me! Why didn’t I go to Bora Bora instead? Aye. More on Moorea later . . .
∙ THOUGHTS/IMPRESSIONS
∙ Papeete is “the” city of French Polynesia – there are no others. Its natural beauty has been spoiled – but not ruined – by overdevelopment. Its mountains and beaches have an innate and exotic charm, but they are concealed by roads, buildings and structures having no apparent business there. In short, the humans are showing it little love.
∙ Our snorkeling tour was the worst in my experience, but great so far as the boat tour was concerned. The tour operators took us to a spot with a strong current, but gave us no fins to wear so that we could combat the current. I am a strong swimmer, but found the location daunting and the experience unpleasant. My mask was cutting into my forehead, and the guides offered no assistance (one was more interested in swimming himself). Most people simply gave up after a few minutes.
∙ Its redeeming feature was the boat ride back and its amazing views of the city and its unique features, such as the bungalows over the water, the flying fish that ascended from the water, flew through the air and then dove back down again, and the waterfront homes encased by grand palms. Oh, and I luuuv all things tropical. Can I be Polynesian, please?
PAPEETE
THE WATERFALL
“BLOW HOLE” AND SHORELINE
POINT VENUS
BOAT TRIP
FROM OUR ROOM
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