French Polynesia

OUR TRIP TO FRENCH POLYNESIA IN MARCH 2007

Discovery

Seattle to Fr. Polynesia

Pitcairn, Easter & Rob. Crusoe

Machu Picchu

Galapagos

We drove to Seattle, left the car, flew to LA then Papeete and the MV Discovery

We arrived at the Boeing factory for the last tour at 3 pm. Our tour bus raced a freshly finished Emirate Airline jet.		The Executive Pacific Hotel was across from the dramatic architecture of the Seattle Library.		We took a 3 hour bus tour around the city. Only 5 customers so sevice was very personal.		In LA, Discovery took over, providing rooms at the Sheraton. Rick and Annie joined us in the huge lounge.

Air Tahiti Nui carried us to Papeete.The flight crew was elegantly dressed and changed outfits several times during the 5 hour flight.		The heat overwhelmed us almost immediately but the welcome in Tahiti was warm and comforting. All the "leis" were hand made from many tiere.		We spent our day on the isle of Moorea, a rival for the world's most beautiful setting with it's neighbour Bora Bora. The temp was in the 30s.		We chased down a cache at a waterfall high above the coastal road. The hiking track crossed a stream several times and passed through jungle.

The falls were several stories high and well worth the sweaty climb. Joan slipped on the way down and smeared her yellow slacks.		Rick posed by the pool where a few minutes earlier several bathers cooled down.		Four of us drove around Moorea in an A/C rental car. It was always a relief to return to the car. The beauty of the place didn't disappoint.		Flowers were everywhere Coconuts hung in clusters and husks and leaves had been raked into piles along the shore.

Joan had a mission to get a picture with a carved tiki.		In the Papeete city park near the dock, we found this distinguished likeness.		The Discovery's tender vessel carried us across to Bora Bora. Tenders were available about every fifteen minutes.		MV Discovery lies waiting with air-conditioned lounges, cold drinks and endless food.

The ladies flashed through this tiny shop before we jumped in a rental car to loop the 17 miles of road.		All over the island we saw outrigger canoes, often with a simple bamboo pole as an outrigger.		Resorts abound along the shores of Bora Bora.		Many of these rooms reportedly have glass floors for watching fish.

A brief stop for a wade is welcome. Every view is an idyllic South Pacific scene.		At a famous bar called "Bloody Mary's" we can't resist posing with this wild tiki.		Rangiroa is a beach. One of the world's biggest atolls, it makes for incredible swimming and diving.		We were lucky to stumble on some locals spear-fishing and barbecuing their catch for lunch.