We met Steve and Tina in Los Angeles and a very comfortable flight on Air Tahiti Nui we arrived in Papeete late Thursday night where the only thing we wanted to do was put our heads on our pillows. After a good nights sleep we were ready to explore the island so we hired a guide and Vahiani spent a few hours showing us around his home island. He was quite the historian and though some of his personal stories seemed a little far fetched he was very entertaining and we learned a lot about the island and the people and their culture. We did a circumnavigation of the whole island with stops along the way. The Tahitians are religious people with the largest proportion being Protestant followed by Catholic then Buddhist. The churches are large and the best maintained buildings and almost all of them are yellow. We stopped at the point where Captain Cook landed. We saw a fresh water spring where large eels could be coaxed out of their hideouts with pieces of bread while local families swam nearby in the crystal clear water. We went to a grotto where Gaugin once had a small house and got inspiration for many of his paintings. Black beaches, blow holes, water falls, small local villages. Locals selling fruit and fresh caught fish along the road side as well as an archeological site where human sacrifices were once made added up to a very interesting day. After several hours of touring we spent some time in the pool before enjoying a delicious buffet and Tahitian dance show. A great start to our vacation.
View from the hotel lobby. The salt water lagoon was full of colourful tropical fish. A great place to snorkel.
The lighthouse at the point where Captain Cook landed in 1769
Traditional fishing boat sitting at anchor
Tahitian racing canoe
Black sand beach
Houses are built on blocks because when it rains the ground gets saturated
Interesting bridge leading up to a delightful waterfall
The flowers were colourful and plentiful as were the fruit trees
A grotto we stopped at along the way where Gaugin used to live
This rock was in Gaugin ‘s house and is in his famous painting of the vase of flowers
Stone statue of the fertility goddess at the archeological site
Archeological site where human sacrifices were carried out
First tropical drink of the trip but I am sure it will not be the last.
The very fast footed fire dancer
Definitely something for everyone!
