Mo'orea, French Polynesia

Located 10 nautical miles (19 km) from Tahiti , Mo'orea is one of the most spectacularly scenic islands in French Polynesia.  Mo'orea is said to have inspired the mythical Bali Hai from South Pacific, with a relaxed atmosphere and welcoming spirit.  Moorea is another place to which we have to return.

Our ship anchors in Cook's Bay (which, oddly enough, was never visited by Captain Cook), a spectacular, picture-perfect spot, with beautiful sea and beaches and a lush landscape surrounded rocky needles and peaks..

 Anchored in Cook's Bay

 We go ashore and walk along the Pineapple Road to the small village of Pao Pao and Opunohu Bay.

 Walking along the Pineapple Road

Fruit and flower stands along the road

As we enter Pao Pao, one of the first buildings we encounter is a Veuve Clicquot bar (we are in France!).

 Veuve Cliquot bar

We walk through town to the Hotel Mavana Beach Resort and Spa.  We spent our first two nights in Tahiti at the Mavana in Pape'ete and thought we would check out the Mo'orea version.  We add the hotel to our list of places to which we should return to stay someday.

 Hotel Mavana, Mo'orea

After poking around a bit, we walk back to Cook's Bay, admiring the tropical plants along the Pineapple Road.

 Tropical plants everywhere

  Back along the Pineapple Highway

At the Cook's Bay pier, we catch a ride back to our ship and soon sail away toward our next island stop, Raiatea, 190 km (118 miles) away.

Returning to the ship

 Leaving Mo'orea

 As we depart, the sun sets over the Pacific

Sunset

Exploring Pape'ete

Pape'ete is one of the largest urban centers in the South Pacific and its location and great harbor have made it a major stop for transpacific ships and airlines, starting the whale trade in the 1830s.  Originally settled by Polynesians between 300 and 800 AD, the Kingdom of Tahiti was proclaimed a colony of France in 1880 and its inhabitants became French citizens.  Tahiti is now an autonomous overseas country of the French Republic.

We head into Pap'ete for a little lunch and to find our ship.

 Pape'ete waterfront park and art

We settle in at 3 Brasseurs Bar-Restaurant-Microbrewery, across from the port, for some good fresh-brewed island beer and some great french food:  croque monsieur, assorted sliders, and ahi tacos.

 3 Brasseurs

After lunch, its a quick wander through town, stopping at an ATM to get Pacific francs and a drugstore for aloe-based lotion and serious heavy-duty reef-safe sunscreen (even through we wore the sunscreen we brought for our morning swim, we still have some serious sunburn developing and we are seeking the local best of class sunscreen).

We find our ship, the Wind Spirit docked across the street from 3 Brasseurs, alongside a yacht-carrying ship.  We have to take a picture, not previously understanding how a yacht owner might trailer his/her ship around the world.

 Ships in port, yacht transport on the left, Wind Spirit on the right

After boarding, we spot more of the harbor on the other side of the ship, the ferry terminal and the French Navy ships, which we hear are quite busy escorting unauthorized foreign fishing vessels out of French Polynesian waters.

 Ferry terminal, French Navy

Looking out over the town of Pape'ete, we see lush tropical mountains towering over the city and the harbor.

 View across Pape'ete

Soon it is time to depart for Moorea, which we can see in the distance, and we stand on deck as Pape'ete fades away in the distance.

 Leaving Pape'ete

The sun slowly dips into the sea on the other side of Moorea as the Wind Spirit raises her sails and we head into a new adventure.

Raising the sails

 Into the sunset

 Moorea in the distance

 Moon rising over the mast

We're on our way!