Tahiti—We have only seen Papeete and only the area around the port. It is not impressive but may not indicative of other areas. The hills around us are all lush and green. All islands are lush and green. Our favorite is Moorea. We had a 20 minute tour from the tender to the Intercontinental hotel where the aqua walk took place. The properties along the coast were all pretty. As were the beaches and parks. All the islands are encircled with reefs, so the water is very calm. And amazing colors. The blue and turquoise are very rich. Every thing is expensive. Even at small cafes the prices start at $25. There are roadside stands selling pineapples for $9 each (they were 60 cents in the Philippines) The people are very friendly and nice. Tourism is way down – on Bora Bora several hotels have closed as did the Club Med. There is high unemployment but people do not have to work. Everything grows so you can pick fruits and veggies and throw a line in the water for a fish. We were told that one person working at a hotel can support 10 people with the earnings. The slender Tahitian girl is disappearing, being replaced by her overweight cousin. Baguettes are delivered to many houses and placed in the long mailboxes designed for this purpose.
We should also mention tons of land crabs everywhere. They can destroy any garden -- the holes are everywhere, and they eat flowers, too.
Quite a trip... I agree, don't let the inconvenience of the airport mar the memories.
ReplyDeleteAre you stateside/home for New Year's, or still in the islands?
In any case, thanks for sharing the trip. I'll look forward to seeing the many pictures that will undoubtedly migrate to Al's computer.
Welcome home; Happy New Year's/