Author: Carlo

Retired systems engineer and management consultant turned aspiring travel and technology writer.

Cruising French Polynesia

Tahitian Treasures and the Marquesas Islands

First Stop — Papeete, Tahiti

Last Tuesday, we departed from Denver International Airport to San Francisco International Airport, first stop en route to Papeete, Tahiti, the capital of French Polynesia.

Summit County Ski Resorts

We spent the day, last Wednesday, walking downtown Papeete, its boulevards, plazas, and waterfront parks. It was not as hot or humid as we expected and we had a good lunch and rest stop at Tribeca Bar & Restaurant. The staff were delightful and the roast chicken, local beer, and mocktails were very good.

Hills above Papeete
Church on the plaza, downtown Papeete
Memorial to Tahitians who rebelled against the French
Hilton Hotel Tahiti with sculpted statue in tribute to ancestors

That evening, we had dinner at the hotel’s fine Italian restaurant—over the water.

Bruschetti
Prawns e fruti di mare over macaroni
Lasagna al forno
Tiramisu table side
Aboard the Windstar Cruiselines Star Breeze, we left Papeete for…
…Fakarava, Tuamotu Islands

We went for a bicycle ride around the island.

Old lighthouse
Oldest lighthouse—1860s
Drying coconuts
Catholic Church
Inside the church

Then, onto the Marquesas Islands—following a day at sea and overnight.

Off Atuona on Fatu Iva
The small harbor at Atuona

It turned out that the seas, even in port, were too rough for the tender to safely carry passengers to and from the island so Captain Nick decided we should press on to our next port of call—Omoa on the Marquesan island of Fatu Hiva.

Leaving Atuona
Evening at sea
View of our yacht from the port at Omoa
The tender heads for Omoa
Welcome committee—with singing, strumming, and drumming
The local Catholic Church, of course
Beautiful handcrafted woodwork
Here’s something we have seen in a while!
We walked up through the village and into the mountain valley beyond.

We stopped at a local arts and crafts market then returned to the ship.

So long Omoa and Fatu Iva. Onto Nuku Hiva—our last stop in the Marquesas Islands.

I will add more photos later after I am able to upload them from my camera.