Tahiti
CONTACT ME HERE -- POLYNESIAN WEATHER AND LIVE CAMS -- HOME PAGE -- DRENNON's POLYNESIAN JUKEBOX
Return to Feb 17 - Mar 2 French Polynesian Excursion
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You hear a lot of negative comments about Tahiti. Well, we, too, tend to like the more isolated locals and islands... but that did not take away our appreciation of Tahiti. We loved Tahiti! I suppose if you think "nature" and your first taste of French Polynesia is the city of Papeete, you might be disappointed that it is not picture-postcard polynesia. Yet, Tahiti is more than Papeete, and even that city has its charms. Tahiti, after all, is the largest island of French Polynesia. There is plenty of wild and unspoiled Tahiti, much nice water, and plenty of fish. Do your homework! We loved ending our polynesian stay in an overwater bungalow at the Intercontental... with a view of Moorea, outrigger races going on outside our doorstep, snorkling with fish and coral off our doorstep, throwing bread to mullet at night, saving food scraps for our fish friends, and enjoying very tropical landscaping. Thre was great food in Tahiti, too.. both on and off ship... from the crepe trucks in Papeete to the 5-star food at the hotel. Be prepared for high prices, but Papeete, Tahiti has the best prices for Tahitian goods.
We booked Patrick's adventure to explore the interior of Tahiti. Patrick is a knowledgeable botanist and gives a great excursion. You can not beat the cost and quality of his trips into the center of Tahiti. His contact info is patrickaventure@mail.pf. (He will meet you at the dock with his 4X4 truck with "Patick's Adventures" on the side.) It rained our first two days there, so it was a wonderful time to go through the interior cloud and rain forests, view the many waterfalls, and swim in the streams and inland pools with Patrick. If you book an overwater bungalow, request one far out into the lagoon. We had booked a motu over-water bungalow, but later learned that the lagoon bungalows were nicer. However, two things were in our favor: we were coming in the off season, and Intercontinental is owned by Holiday Inn. Holiday Inn offers a free Priority Card online. I showed my Priority card at the check-in desk and asked for an upgrade to a lagoon over-water at the end of the dock.. and got it! It pays to ask. We saw many people that we had met on the Tahitian Princess, also ending their stay at the Intercontinental. On the front end of our visit, we stayed downtown at the Manderine Hotel.. which was fine for the front end.. but you want to stay somewhere nice for the last taste of Tahiti.
With the likes of Cook and Bligh and the London Missionary society, the British had a strong presence in Tahiti.. but when the protestant queen of Tahiti kicked out some French priests, the French Navy came with force in the 1800s and the British failed to heed the cry of help... perhaps trying to live at peace with new France after Napolean's defeat. Thus, the Society Islands, though still strongly protestant, belongs to France. English is not widely spoken, so it pays to learn some traveller's French. Try Rick Steve's book. A few key phrases will go a long way. For example, learn how to ask for and understand directions. Learn to ask about prices, to make greetings, etc. At the resorts and on the ship, English is no problem.
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CONTACT ME HERE -- POLYNESIAN WEATHER AND LIVE CAMS -- HOME PAGE -- DRENNON's POLYNESIAN JUKEBOX
Return to Feb 17 - Mar 2 French Polynesian Excursion