Tahiti

Tahiti

28 January 2012   Moorea-Tahiti
                                                  We were up early for the bus with lots of goodbyes from Haari and his wife. It has been a lovely stay, just what you imagine a South Sea Island to be like.We breakfasted at the ferry terminal and soaked up the increasing level of bustle and noise. The crossing on the fast cat was lovely, and the mountains of Tahiti were cloud free for the 1st time since I arrived nearly a month ago.

Looking back to Moorea

The pick-up from the car hire was waiting for us and we were soon off looking for Pension Hiti Moana in Papara. -It is a nice series of studios and bugalows around a garden with pools of goldfish and terrapins. And it has a swimming pontoon extending over the lagoon.

 We shopped for the evening and then went off to explore the South coast. We stopped to investigate the springs at Bain de Viama but it was so crowded that we left rather than fight for a spot. Just along the road we came to the Jardain de Vaipahi, which is a wonderful botanical garden designed around a waterfall which in Tahitian belief is the 1st stage on a spirits' journey to heaven/valhalla/paradise. The legend was similar in idea to Catholic purgatory, Greek Styx, and Protestant redemption all rolled into one. The walks and viewpoints and flowers were just lovely, and if one does have to be 'tested' after death then this is as good a place to do it as any I can think of.

Ann considering the ascent to heaven

 We then went to find the Gaugin Museum but it was very close to closing so we moved on to Tautira which Robert Louis Stevenson described as Paradise. We thought it nice, but not in the paradise league.

Tautira looking to the interior of Tahiti Iti

29 January 2012 Tahiti
                                   It was Sunday so time for Ann's church. I dropped her off at 0915 and was told ' It will all be over by 1015'. So off I went to explore the valley inland from Papara. The road quickly turned into a track and then crossed a river at a ford. I left the hire car, forded the river and started to walk. The waterfall I had seen from the road turned into at least 3 falls streaming down a green cliff at least 1000ft high. The track kept crisscrossing the the river, and at one such ford I met a Tahitian family who were keen for me to accompany them up the valley. However it was a furthar 2 hrs to the falls and I needed to get back to Ann so I declined their offer. In the event the service lasted until nearly 1100hrs so I need not have hurried back.
The Gaugin Museum was interesting, such a confused and tortured man, and it was nicely done in spite of the rather sniffy write-up in the guide book.

Part of the Gaugin Museum

  From here we drove to the North coast, picnic'd in the rain and then visited Three Cascades, the blowhole and Point Venus.

The lighthouse at Point Venus

I have no idea how we got the last picture as the surfers were out in force and Point Venus was just a madhouse of jostling crowds. We headed for home and a swim in the lagoon.

30 January 2012  Tahiti
                                   I thought that Ann would like to see the Fautuna Falls behind Papette which so impressed me earlier. We were away quite early and I remembered the way to Titioro. The weather was much as it was on my last visit and we were soaked several times on the walk in and up. We were only going to go to the pools at the head of the falls to shorten the day, after all it is a holiday.

A breather and chance to drip dry on the way up

In the event I think the descent down the rope frightened Ann and the blackness of the pools, the coolness of the water and the knowledge of the 600ft drop at the end did little to reassure her. So the outing was not all I had hoped it would be.

 We ate our lunch and climbed back up the fixed rope with no problems and were back in the car tired and wet but no worse for wear by mid-afternoon.

31 January 2012 Tahiti
                                  We woke to steady and often heavy rain so decided to spend the day in Papette. The wiper blades on the car were 'shot' and the journey in was fraught. We left the car with Avis and headed into town. We wandered around the market which is colourful with fruit and veg, curios and pareos of every design and hue.

Dodging the rain in Papete Market

During the interval between the showers we walked along the front and into the Gardens of Paofai which are beautifully constructed and cared for. A visit to the Catholic Cathedral(surprise) and lunch. and then head for home. On the way back we stopped to nosey around the big marina and look at the boats anchored off (surprise, surprise).