Mega Post - Rangiroa, Moorea, Papeete, Raiatea, and Bora Bora

A small troupe of Polynesian dancers joined us on board for several days as we sailed through French Polynesia, providing us with entertainment between the various ports of call, a new port each day for 5 days.

The 2^nd largest atoll in the Pacific, Rangiroa, is entirely constructed out of coral and is said to resemble a string of pearls from the air.  Each island is, at most, the width of 3 city blocks so you can easily view and access the ocean on one side and the lagoon on the other.  Small buoys are used as exterior decoration throughout this and all the other island we visited. 

There was no public transportation on Rangiroa so we walked as far as a dive shop (about 2 km) where we went for a refreshing swim.  Any restaurant we passed was closed (Sunday) so the dive shop owner called a little French restaurateur down the road who picked us up and prepared lunch for us.  After lunch he drove us back to the small pier/harbor.  Such service!

   

Moorea, pronounced “Moo oo ray ah,” was our next stop.  Here we rented a car and drove around the island, stopping at will to snap photos and enjoy the scenery.

The view from the belvedere was spectacular.

As you all know we tend to eat our way through our travels and on Moorea we found a wonderful lunch stand owned by a vivacious French woman – we enjoyed every morsel.

After lunch we went to a beach mentioned on the Internet, Faimano Beach, and had it all to ourselves, except for the manta ray and the colorful fish that swam around our legs, of course!

 Of note was the smallest fish market we have ever seen.

 We set sail and reached Papeete within hours, arriving just as the sun set.

The major point of interest, perhaps the only point of interest, was the local market where everything from fish and produce to baskets and clothing is sold.  

We had an inkling that the town would not be very interesting and signed up for our first Silversea tour, which took us into the heart of Tahiti, the Papenoo Valley in a 4-wheel drive vehicle.  We traveled on dirt roads through the jungle, through rivers, and up (and down) steep inclines.  The flora was amazing, as was the multitude of waterfalls.

Next stop Raiatea, population 12,000.  We took it easy today, choosing to explore the small town of Uturoa,

have lunch, and hop on a water taxi, along with a number of young ship staff members, for a ride over to the sandy beaches of the closest motu (islet).

At the pier three ladies were busy all day long making flower crowns ($5 each), which many passengers bought in preparation for our upcoming French Polynesian themed dinner party to take place on our last night in French Polynesia, while anchored at Bora Bora harbor.

The once upon a time hot spot of French Polynesia (1970’s), Bora Bora, is quite lush, laid-back, and has some of the most beautiful verdant peaks and spectacular colors of water (almost striped in some places) we have seen so far.  We rented a Fiat and headed around the island.

We saw unique homes, some under construction using parts of abandoned containers, several abandoned resorts, including Club Med, and many fares (guest rooms built right in the water).

Attracted by a collection of colorful totems we accidentally ended up at a black pearl farm and received an in-depth tour, including a fairly strong (by island standards) sales pitch, which we easily resisted.

We stopped to swim at a public beach and then visited Bloody Mary’s, once the cocktail and dinner in-spot for the rich and famous.

Then back to the ship to clean up and dress for the Polynesian theme party that was still in full swing at we left Bora Bora at 10:30 pm, heading for Rarotonga, an independent nation under the protection of New Zealand and our last tropical island until we reach Bali.

Moruru ruru (thank you VERY much) French Polynesia for a wonderful visit . . .