Exploring Papeete, Tahiti

We fly into Papeete, Tahiti for a 14-day cruise around French Polynesia.  The ship will travel to three of the five archipelagos that make up French Polynesia (which covers an area larger than Europe).  We'll visit islands in the Tuamotus, the Marquesa Islands, and the Society Islands (which include Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea).  But first, we spend a few nights in Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, located on the island of Tahiti.

Our cruise route

We check into our hotel near the airport and walk the short distance into town, passing fun artwork on the walls along the street.

Welcome to Papeete

Art along the street

We cross the street to the Paofai Gardens (Jardin de Paofai) along the water and continue walking into town.

Pool and ocean

Walking through the gardens

Artwork in the gardens

Docks across the harbor

Outrigger canoes ready to go

Map of Tahiti

We cross the busy Blvd. de la Reine Pomare IV and enter the Robert Wan Musée de la Perle, with a comprehensive guide to the history and legend of pearls through the ages.  Robert Wan, along with his brothers, purchased the Tahith Pearls Company in 1973 and has expanded operation to farms on many of the islands, particularly focusing on black pearl production in the Gambier Islands.

Entrance to pearl museum

Pearl farming and harvesting

The pearl family tree

Famous wearers of pearls

After viewing the museum displays and some brief pearl shopping, we return across the boulevard to the Paofai Gardens and continue walking into town.

Continuing through the gardens

As we continue along the harbor, we start to find tiki, the sculpted statues that symbolize power, knowledge, wisdom, and wealth, representing the force of Polynesian art and the richness of its culture.  We will run across many in this trip

Tiki along the way

Reaching the ferry terminal, we turn inland to walk through some of the city on our return to the hotel.