SOUTH PACIFIC CRUISE: RAIATEA, SOCIETY ISLANDS, FRENCH POLYNESIA

Raiatea turned out to be one of our favorite places in French Polynesia.  It is a deep water port with a lush mountainous backdrop.  One of these mountains is Mt. Temehani which thousands of years ago had a similar status to Mt. Olympus.  Raiatea is considered even today the spiritual center of Polynesia.  The island's name translates to "far-away heaven."

Typical scenery

We stepped off the ship right in the heart of downtown Uturoa, with many palapa craft markets and an indoor fruit and vegetable market which also served crepes and Nutella, a reminder that this is FRENCH Polynesia.

Craft market right at ship-side

Crepes

Taro root

One of the real niceties of French Polynesia is these floral-wrapped posts.  We saw them everywhere. Of course being in the tropics these "exotic" flowers are ubiquitous.  I never got tired of seeing them.

 In the middle of town was a square where local performers were dancing, surrounded by tourists from the ship.  The really fun part was that they roped in the observers. 

 
This one guy from the ship was "chosen" and was stripped of his shirt and wrapped in native garb.  He was a really good sport about it and got into the spirit!

 And there was much booty shaking!

In Uturoa I got to indulge in one of my favorite things to do when traveling - shop in the local grocery store.  I love seeing all the different and odd things and I was not disappointed.

White sandwich bread

Rabbit pate, anyone?

Not on my menu anytime soon

I was very pleased with my purchases - Maille mustard (cheaper than a trip to Dijon, France), a tube of harissa from Tunsia (at home we can only find this at Whole Foods, which doesn't exist in my county) and a bag of shrimp chips, "enjoyed by Japanese for 40 years!"

I also found a wonderful variety store where locals shop - everything from hardware to fabric.  At this fabulous place I bought soap made with the local gardenia, "Tiare Apetahi" which grows on Mt. Temehani and nowhere else in the world. 

Our impressions of Raiatea:  a very pleasant, civilized place; everyone speaks French and looks happy.

Sailing to Taha'a

As we sailed away from Raiatea our captain took us on a lengthy scenic tour of the sister island Taha'a, known as "The Vanilla Island."  Millennia ago the two were one island and still share a common reef.   

Inside the reef

Picnic, anyone?

Taha'a is sparsely populated and we were easily able to see the locals waving to us on shore as we sailed by.  We also had three guys speed by in a boat and as they passed us one guy held up a huge fish.  We all cheered.

Beautiful Taha'a Island

 

Sailing past Taha'a

 As we sailed into the sunset we were treated to a view of Bora Bora in the distance behind Taha'a Island.

Bora Bora in distance

Another gorgeous South Seas sunset.

Our final look at Taha'a

Lovely day, magical islands.  Next up, Papeete, Tahiti, and disappointment.

Audrey

SOUTH PACIFIC CRUISE: BORA BORA, ENTRANCE TO FRENCH POLYNESIA

Our captain told us that the approach to Bora Bora is quite beautiful as its volcanic peaks stick up well above sea level.  We were due to arrive in the early evening so Jim and I hightailed it to the Crow's Nest bar, which is situated in the bow on deck 12 and has great forward views.  This was our first sighting of Bora Bora, meaning "First Born," shortly before sunset.

French Polynesia!  I had to pinch myself to see if I were really here.

 We were rewarded with one of the best sunsets on the whole cruise that night.

In the morning Jim and I met Theda, our new friend, and we set out for Bloody Mary's.  She was determined to get a T-shirt there and we didn't have anything else planned.  Here we are waiting to get on our $5 "shuttle" to the restaurant.   These shuttles were run by entrepreneurial locals who had any sort of vehicle which could take several passengers.  Our ride out to Bloody Mary's was in a small van and the return was in the back of a Land Rover with plank bench seats.

Outside the craft shops in Vaiatape

This was the stunning view across the road from Bloody Mary's.  Gorgeous, but hot (85F) and sticky (85% humidity).

Jim and Theda at Bloody Mary's

 Bloody Mary's is a restaurant and bar which tons of famous people go to and get their names on the board out front.  I figured we were in good company with Racquel Welch.

 


 It's set up as a tiki bar with fun carvings, a palapa roof and sand floor.  The seats are up-ended logs, not too comfortable!

seen in the Ladies Room

Inside Bloody Mary's

 

 Besides having a good signature drink, the food was amazing!

Seared Ahi

 While we were there an incredible deafening deluge began.  By the time we were ready to leave the rain had stopped.

After the downpour it was back to beautiful...

 and lush tropical paradise.

Bora Bora is an interesting mix of rustic (dirt roads) and expensive (these Four Season's palapa rooms reportedly cost $1,000 a night!)

















Our sail away -
another romantic South Seas evening.

Next, on-board amusements

Audrey