If it’s Tuesday – we must be in Tahiti.

 

It’s very easy to know when you have arrived in Tahiti (and other places in French Poynesia)

I think this may be one major reason why many sailors in the olden days, mutinied and sailed back to Tahiti

If you were blindfolded – and the blindfold then removed – you would instantly know where you are.

Our 4 day visit to the ports of Papeete (on the island of Tahiti), Moorea and Bora Bora, have been the highlight of this cruise – and also the highlight of all other cruises that we have been on – an especially memorable event. Originally, we were supposed to have a port day in Apea, Samoa – but this was cancelled and replaced by an additional day in Papeete. This turned out to be very good – having two days and (almost) two nights there was excellent and I only wish that other cruises allowed this.

I have heard other passengers expressing their preferences regarding which of the three islands visited that they liked best. But, for me, it is like trying to choose between Diamonds, Emeralds and Rubies. All are beautiful and each has it’s devotees. They all have similarities – crystal clear warm water, coral reefs and tropical fish, steep mountains, tropical fruit growing wild in abundance, easy access to both French and Polynesian cultures - and all have their own somewhat unique features. Tahiti has a wider range of facilities and is the most populated and developed. It also has the most magnificent rainforested interior. Moorea has magnificent steep and soaring mountains – more spectacular than the others. Bora Bora has it’s also spectacular and very large lagoon – which sparkles in the sun like nothing that I have ever seen before.

We got the impression that French Polynesia is suffering some hard times at the moment. It is winter and should be peak tourist season – but our own observations told us that there were few tourists about (including in the big fancy hotels) – and our tour guides on all three islands confirmed this. Perhaps it has to do with the current (2011) economic situation in Europe and the US.