Tuesday March 12, 2013
Papeete, Tahiti.
This is the first day of the second cruise and the last day of the first cruise.
We have a Princess shore excursion booked.
I am completely surprised when I look out of the balcony door and see Papeete. . This is a major bustling city. Intellectually I knew this was the capital city of French Polynesia but I was still expecting a beautiful tropical scene and not a bustling container port.
This is not a tendered port so we can just walk off to meet our tour.
Our guide is a very intelligent, articulate lady, quite English in appearance even though she is from the area. Our driver Angel looks typically Polynesian.
As soon as all 27 of us are on board we head out into traffic to begin the tour named “Undiscovered Tahiti”. Our tour begins at eight o’clock and it is supposed to last until 12:30. Right away our guide tells us we will be back at the ship a little past two. That causes a because one couple has another tour booked for the afternoon and it begins at 1:20.
Times are readjusted and we are assured that we will be back around one instead.
So away we go aboard our air conditioned bus, wending our way through the city toward the west coast of Tahiti through the district of Punaanla
Our first stop is the ancient “Marae Arathahu. This is considered to be one of the most significant archeological sacred stone temples of the island. It is here that the Tahitians of yesteryear performed all of their rituals. I am surprised to see that it s really open air. There are no walls and no roof. There are Tikis and other sacred relics.
We are soon back on the bus travelling through the countryside which is now more rural. After a short drive we arrive at the private home of Roger and Juliette Gowen. This home was built in the early 1920’s. and it now has meticulous gardens and grounds. Juliette guides us through the garden telling us about all of the plants and trees and their medicinal purposes.
. Her knowledge is amazing. At the end of the tour we are treated to juice and many fresh fruits right from her gardens. They are delicious and refreshing.
Next we head back to the ship and on the return trip short photo stops are made at Valpahi Gardens to view the picturesque waterfall.
This is more what Tahiti is in my minds eye.
Next we stop at the Fern Mara’s Grotto Caves to view the fresh water spring pool. This site was described by Captain Cook in his journal on his first trip around the island. And it was portrayed in Paul Gaugin’s novel “Noa Noa”. It is very similar to the grotto that we saw when we were in Hawaii. It is cool and refreshing and there are young people waiting for us to leave so they can go for a refreshing swim.
Our last stop is at the museum of Tahiti and her Islands at Fisherman’s Point. Set into a coconut grove grounds with a picturesque view of the lagoon and Moorea in the background. This ranks as one of the best museums of the South Pacific that focuses more on the Polynesians and their history, the people, their language and culture. Displays and exhibits range from the early European explorers ship anchors, ancient canoes, traditional weaving, early tools, etc. This is a beautiful place but time is closing in on us and we have to rush along because the ship and that second tour are waiting for us.
We head back and thanks to the magic of angel and her knowledge of how to handle a too small roundabout we arrive on time.
The air conditioned ship and lunch awaited us.
This is not a tendered port so we can just walk off to meet our tour.
Our guide is a very intelligent, articulate lady, quite English in appearance even though she is from the area. Our driver Angel looks typically Polynesian.
As soon as all 27 of us are on board we head out into traffic to begin the tour named “Undiscovered Tahiti”. Our tour begins at eight o’clock and it is supposed to last until 12:30. Right away our guide tells us we will be back at the ship a little past two. That causes a because one couple has another tour booked for the afternoon and it begins at 1:20.
Times are readjusted and we are assured that we will be back around one instead.
So away we go aboard our air conditioned bus, wending our way through the city toward the west coast of Tahiti through the district of Punaanla
Our first stop is the ancient “Marae Arathahu. This is considered to be one of the most significant archeological sacred stone temples of the island. It is here that the Tahitians of yesteryear performed all of their rituals. I am surprised to see that it s really open air. There are no walls and no roof. There are Tikis and other sacred relics.
We are soon back on the bus travelling through the countryside which is now more rural. After a short drive we arrive at the private home of Roger and Juliette Gowen. This home was built in the early 1920’s. and it now has meticulous gardens and grounds. Juliette guides us through the garden telling us about all of the plants and trees and their medicinal purposes.
. Her knowledge is amazing. At the end of the tour we are treated to juice and many fresh fruits right from her gardens. They are delicious and refreshing.
Next we head back to the ship and on the return trip short photo stops are made at Valpahi Gardens to view the picturesque waterfall.
This is more what Tahiti is in my minds eye.
Next we stop at the Fern Mara’s Grotto Caves to view the fresh water spring pool. This site was described by Captain Cook in his journal on his first trip around the island. And it was portrayed in Paul Gaugin’s novel “Noa Noa”. It is very similar to the grotto that we saw when we were in Hawaii. It is cool and refreshing and there are young people waiting for us to leave so they can go for a refreshing swim.
Our last stop is at the museum of Tahiti and her Islands at Fisherman’s Point. Set into a coconut grove grounds with a picturesque view of the lagoon and Moorea in the background. This ranks as one of the best museums of the South Pacific that focuses more on the Polynesians and their history, the people, their language and culture. Displays and exhibits range from the early European explorers ship anchors, ancient canoes, traditional weaving, early tools, etc. This is a beautiful place but time is closing in on us and we have to rush along because the ship and that second tour are waiting for us.
We head back and thanks to the magic of angel and her knowledge of how to handle a too small roundabout we arrive on time.
The air conditioned ship and lunch awaited us.
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