A Brand New Adventure

Papeete, Tahiti 11/8/13

CharliExplores2 Comments
Papeete Harbor
Papeete Harbor

Today 11/8 was a biggy on our bucket list – Tahiti!!!! Tahiti is the largest and most populated of the French Polynesian islands. Even then its total population is only about 180,000. We docked in Papeete (pah pay et ay) – the capital of Tahiti at 8:00 AM and our tour was not scheduled until 2:00 PM so we decided to do our own walking tour of the city which is small and quaint.

As we came ashore, we were greeted by this group singing native songs.
As we came ashore, we were greeted by this group singing native songs.
This market was two stories high and covered about a city block.
This market was two stories high and covered about a city block.
Papeete Market Place
Papeete Market Place
A picturesque little church in town.
A picturesque little church in town.

We walked through the farmers’ market,  wandered through the busy streets past a pretty little church and by Tahiti’s government building.

Tahiti's Government Building
Tahiti’s Government Building
We also happened upon The Muse’e de la Perel – in English the Pearl Museum. We’ve been told that it is the only pearl museum in existence. It was interesting, and we spent some time browsing and reading about the displays.
Pearl Museum
Pearl Museum
The displays were beautiful.
The displays were beautiful.
This area is known for its black pearls. They're beautiful and vary in hue from purple, green, blue to charcoal.
This area is known for its black pearls. They’re beautiful and vary in hue from purple, green, blue to charcoal.
The displays were very cool.
The displays were very cool.
Gorgeous but a bit out of my price range.
Gorgeous but a bit out of my price range.
We wandered around reading the informational signs and learning about pearls.
We wandered around reading the informational signs and learning about pearls.

Eventually, we headed back toward the ship through a lovely little park that meanders along next to the harbor.

This is a much better picture of our ship, the Millennium.
This is a much better picture of our ship, the Millennium, taken from the park.
Papeete Park - quiet and lovely.
Papeete Park – quiet and lovely.
Papeete Park - You can see Moorea in the distance.
Papeete Park – You can see the island of Moorea in the distance.

For the afternoon Tom and I signed up for the 4X4 Safari which was billed as “strenuous”.  It sounded fun to us.  At 2:00 we boarded our 4-wheel drive land rovers

The land rovers were fun for awhile, but by the time we got back we were pretty rattled.
The land rovers were fun for awhile, but by the time we got back we were pretty rattled.

and headed for Papenoo Valley. The scenery is beautiful with cascading waterfalls, lush vegetation and exotic flowers

Thome' was our driver and guide for the tour.
Thome’ was our driver and guide for the tour.
Elephant Ears
Elephant Ears
Another Waterfall
Lots of Waterfalls
This is the end of the dry season for the islands. Our guide explained that within a few weeks this area will be flooded and there will be waterfalls everywhere.
This is the end of the dry season for the islands. Our guide explained that within a few weeks this area will be flooded and there will be waterfalls everywhere.

Wild Coleus      The only strenuous part was riding over the very bumpy, dusty mountain roads for hours, but it was an adventure. We stopped at several places for photo ops one of which was a at an ancient Amrae – a sacred place.

Along our tour we stopped by an ancient amrae - 1500 years old.
Along our tour we stopped by an ancient amrae – 1500 years old.
This is the waterfall that cascaded into the pool where we swam.
This is the waterfall that cascaded into the pool where we swam.
Waterfall Pool
Waterfall Pool

The last stop gave us an opportunity to wash the dust off in a small mountain river with a waterfall splashing into the pool – cool and refreshing.

Then we headed back to the ship for dinner and early to bed.

Tomorrow we will be in Moorea  – another of the French Polynesian islands very near Tahiti.

2 thoughts on “Papeete, Tahiti 11/8/13”

  1. Omg, So amazing!!! I can’t wait till me and the hubby start our Bucket List…Keep having fun…and for us too.see you soon. Tell Tom hello, from The A Team…

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