SAILING IN TAHITIWhat a trip. The flight from C'ville to Tahiti (via Detroit and LA) is long, but well worth it. One arrives late at night in Papeete; we stayed in a gorgeous room at the Radisson (with a jacuzzi overlooking the Pacific), then hopped on a plane the next morning to the picture-postcard island of Raiatea.
A night at the Hawaiki Nui Resort and we went to meet our friends at the boat.
The boat is a 51.5' monohull that sleeps 10 (we were only 6).
After we bought some provisions, we sailed off to Taha'a island, where we moored at the Taha'a Yacht Club for the night.
This included a fire dancing show on the beach!
Next day we sailed to the Relais et Chateaux hotel at the other end of the island, had lunch and did some snorkling.
Tahiti is known for its black pearls, which are cultivated and harvested in pearl farms set out in the water; it's a fascinating and complicated enterprise, which we enjoyed learning about. They're expensive, but gorgeous.
Every day we sailed, snorkled, ate, laughed, visited pearl farms, and took in the astounding beauty of French Polynesia. From Taha'a we sailed over to Bora Bora, perhaps the best-known of the islands. Although it is frequently touristy, there was nobody around and it felt isolated. We spent some time at the Bora Bora Yacht Club.
Bora Bora was immortalized in "South Pacific," as was Bloody Mary (now a restaurant).
Random beauty everywhere; what a place. Here are dolphins, which love the sound of boat motors and come to play alongside when you're motoring.
This is a view from atop a mountain in Huahine.
Marty had fun at the Dollar Store, so we had "authentic" leis to enliven the 10-day party.
Marty showed us the new cat he bought, moored in the BVI. We're sitting by the phone.....
