Our Last Day in Paradise

Our ship returns to Pape'ete in the early morning and, as our flight back to San Francisco leaves just before midnight, we rent a "day room" at the Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort, just outside Pape'ete.  We have to be out of the room by 7pm and spend the day relaxing, swimming, and enjoying our final day in paradise.

 Arriving back in Pape'ete

Tahiti Pearl

We stroll the black sand beaches and swim in the warm water, with Moorea in the background.

 Black sand beaches

 We relax at the pool and Laura takes a water cycle class (in French) in the pool.

 Laura in watercycle class

The hotel is filled with the lush tropical vegetation of Tahiti.

Tropical plants everywhere

 Soon, the sun begins to set and it is time to head to the airport and home.

 Sunset coming

At the airport, Aéroport de Tahiti (ADT) wishes us all a Joyeuses Fêtes (Happy Holidays) and notes that we are 6,700 km (4,163 miles) from San Francisco and 16,734 km (10,398 miles) from Paris.

 Aéroport de Tahiti

Huahine, French Polynesia

Huahine, 16 km (10 miles) long and 13 km (8 miles) wide, consists of two main islands, Huahine Nui (Big Huahine) and Huanine Iti (Little Hauhine), surrounded by a coral reef and many small motu (islands).  With a total land area of 75 square km (29 square miles), the two islands are joined by a sand spit at low tide and a bridge at higher tides.  We anchor in Maroe Bay  and visit the sleepy town of Maroe.

Town of Maroe

Bridge between the islands

Anchored in the Bay

 Wharf and welcoming band

Captain Cook visited Huahine in 1769 and again in 1773.  We visit and wander down the road through lush tropical vegetation.

Town buildings

At the dock and down the road, small stands sell pearls and crafts to the few of us who have come ashore.

Island shops (for tourists)

We're fascinated by the small boats (in every conceivable condition) scattered everywhere along the shore.

 Island watercraft

Back at the wharf, we admire more of the beautiful tropical flowers and vegetation.

 Tropical vegetation

After a day of relaxation, we raise our anchor and head out the narrow channel from Maroe Bay, past small motus scattered around the entrance to the bay.

 Heading out the passage through the reef

 Past small motus

As we depart Huahine to return to Pape'ete, the sun sets spectacularly, rewarding us at the end of a lazy day

  

 Sunset