January 31, 2023 – Tahiti

Papeete is French Polynesia’s capital city and is located on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia’s Society Islands.

Bob and I recall the first time we ever visited Tahiti.  It had always been a dream of mine to go to Tahiti but somehow seemed to be a dream far out of reach.  One day, in the mail, I received a travel brochure showing the islands of French Polynesia.  I set it aside and a few days later decided to call the number.  I talked to this very, nice agent and asked her to please write down my name and phone number and the next time they had a good sale on French Polynesia, to please call me.  She sounded very nice, but I wasn’t sure if she took me serious. 

A few months went by and one day I received a call from this very nice agent.  She sounded very excited and said ‘You’re going to Tahiti’!  I thought it was a joke but she proceeded to tell me she had a great sale that I could not pass up.  $995 for a 12-day cruise around the French Polynesia that included roundtrip air from LA to Papeete.  She then proceeds to tell me she would give me $100 shipboard credit for any others I get to book.  I was so excited!  We’re going to Tahiti!  Just so happens, the next day we were having a yard sale.  Good timing, I can raise money for our trip.  One of our friends stopped by our sale and I told him about Tahiti.  He was all in and said he and his wife would like to go too.  I called my Aunt Donna and she said the same.  We’re now up to a group of 6 and then our friends invited 2 of their friends and we’re up to 8.

In September that year, we all flew to LA and then from LA to Papeete.  We boarded a beautiful ship (Renaissance Cruiseline) that was only 500 passengers and visited 5 islands.  I coordinated tours on each island for our group of 8 and we had the times of our lives!  After 9/11, Renaissance went out of business and sold their small ships to various cruise lines.  Jump ahead to 2019 – I’m preparing to retire and wanted to do something very special for Bob and I to celebrate our retirement together.  Somehow our beautiful, little ship that we fell in love with 20 years ago, became our transportation for our World Cruise in 2020.  I told Bob we’d find her again someday.  The R3 became the Pacific Princess. ❤

(Sadly, after Covid, our Pacific Princess was sold to another cruise line).

January 31, 2023 – we arrived early in Papeete.  We’re docked right in town.  I have us booked on a tour this afternoon so we had time to take a walk around town this morning.  We disembarked and made our way to the large, open air market that I remember so well.  Downstairs were vendors selling all kinds of fruits, vegetables, fresh fish, colorful dresses and pareo’s, beautiful flower arrangements, baskets and other handmade crafts.  Upstairs were jewelry shops selling their famous black pearls and clothing shops with the brilliant colors of Tahiti worn by all the natives.  We picked up a few colorful gifts and also a bouquet of fresh gardenia’s for our stateroom.  The current exchange rate was 100 French Pacific Franc’s = $1 US.  My bouquet of fresh flowers was 500 francs or just $5 US.

Walked back to the ship and prepared for our tour.  At 12:30 pm, we met up with a group of 8 and got into the back of a pickup truck with long benches on each side.  It brought back good memories.  This is the same tour that I booked 24 years ago for our group of 8.  What a special memory and bitter sweet since 2 of the 8 are no longer with us physically but certainly in our hearts.  This 4WD excursion was a journey into the heart of the island.  We traveled an unpaved, very bumpy road up the Papenoo Valley crossing rivers and seeing numerous waterfalls.  Breathtaking waterfalls!  The vegetation was so lush and green.  The guide was excellent.  He stopped often to show us important points of interest, different trees, fruits, flowers, etc.  We stopped at a river and he opened a can of mackerel and threw into the water.  Immediately, a group of creatures appeared and started eating on it.  Not fish, but the famous, blue-eyed eels.  

The mountain tops cut through the clouds and it started to rain.  No wonder everything is so lush.  We were unable to visit the temple this time.  There was work being done there but I remember it from years ago.  We made our way back down some very steep roads, crossed the river and back to the main road that rounds the perimeter of the island.  We stopped at an overlook to get some pictures of the mighty waves and watched in a distance those brave enough to ride them.

We traveled back to the ship and met our friends for dinner, exchanging our adventures of the day.  We then went to the evening entertainment.  A group of Tahitian dancers.  Similar, yet different than hula dancers of Hawaii, each have their own unique dances.  We enjoyed watching these talented people sharing their culture with us.  The people of Tahiti are so welcoming and friendly.  We enjoyed our visit and another memory made.

We were told years ago that Tahiti gets visitors in 1-year equal to amount of visitors Hawaii gets in 10-days.  I’m not sure if that still holds true, but it would not be far fetched.  

Mauru’uru (‘thank you’ in Tahitian)!