The Society Islands, French Polynesia –

Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti – Our first stop in the Society Islands or French Polynesia was in Papeete, Tahiti Nui.  The two islands that make up Tahiti are Nui (large) and Iti (small).  They are actually one land mass connected by a small isthmus, referred to as two islands but actually one.

Papeete is the capital city of Tahiti and is located on the northwestern shore of Tahiti Nui.  It is the biggest city.  Just a big city with a port and an international airport.  We docked at the port and walked from the ship to the downtown in 5 minutes. 

The entire island is of volcanic origin as are the other Society Islands.  The interior of the island is lush and verdant.  There is a road around the island that connects each village to its neighboring village.  We did not go to Tahiti Iti.

Our tour on Tahiti Nui was quite eventful to say the least.  It started with a guide who spoke very little English and it went downhill fast.  Our touring partners were an excentric character who probably needs to be locked up in a psychiatric ward rather than be on a cruise ship.  His behavior so outraged the other couple on our tour that they were constantly requesting to be taken back to the ship.  The last member of the tour was a young French girl who flirted constantly with the driver/guide in French distracting him even more from his job of providing a tour.   All in all it was worth the price of admission to watch the dynamics in play on and off the van.  

Tahiti is a lovely island, but congested and most of the resorts have closed.  

Moorea – 

 

 

 

 

Moorea is a small island about 6 miles off the west coast of Tahiti Nui.  It is smaller than Tahiti Nui and much more beautiful and rural.  The circumference of the heart shaped island is about 60 miles.  We rented a “Moorea Roadster” and spent four hours driving around the island and up to Mt. Belvedere, the main viewpoint of most of the island.  We both agreed that Moorea is beautiful and needs to be explored more.

Bora Bora - 

Just incredible!  A volcanic island with a very predominant “Ship Rock” like plug in its center, surrounded almost completely by a reef.  Water is crystal clear.  We took a boat completely around the island in the lagoon.  We swam with black tipped reef sharks and sting rays.  Ann road an eight foot shark by grabbing its dorsal fin as it swam by.  Don’t know if that was on her bucket list but she enjoyed it.