Our first of our three French Polynesia ports of call was Papeete, the capital. A gracious tropical city with tall palms and abundant flowers, Papeete lies on the northwest coast of Tahiti and is one of the largest urban centers in the South Pacific. Its excellent harbor made it, by the 1830s, a place of trade and a favorite port of call for whalers. After annexation by the French (1880), it was made the seat of the governor, and in 1890 it became a commune.
Today, it is a town in which to wander and discover.
The City Hall, also known as Hotel de Ville, is a faithful replica of the mansion of Queen Pomare IV. Queen Pomare ruled Tahiti when the island became a French Protectorate.Doesn't this image look like our cruise ship is in the middle of town? Crazy perspective.The heart of Papeete is it's Municipal Market. It has occupied the same location since 1869 and a meander through it introduced us to the local goods.The coffee out was extra special due to the café being filled with French speakers.Notre-Dame Cathedral was inaugurated in 1875. It is the oldest catholic church in Tahiti and one of the last standing structures of early colonialism. It is also my favorite color and difficult to miss.A stroll through Bougainville Park added an oasis of nature in the middle of the city. Originally named the Papeete Public Square (Place Publique de Papeete), the park has deep historical roots, serving as a venue for events and ceremonies, notably in 1880 when King Pomare V formally ceded the Society Islands to France. Throughout the 1840s, several colonial-era government offices and public baths stood on the grounds. However, a cyclone in 1906 devastated the area, leaving only the rebuilt post office as a reminder of its administrative past.
We were drawn to the waterfront.Unfortunately, the weather turned blustery and quite wet. Our day in Papeete wasn't as lengthy as we had planned.This is the end of the cruising season here. We're happy to have had at least a little introduction. Fingers crossed that the weather improves for our next two islands. We're eager to explore, drenched or not.The cruise ship has a theme each night for dinner. We were prepared for tonight's Tropical dress code. Steve is such a good sport.These are our nightly Aussie tablemates. Alec and Marnie, on my left, are originally New Zealanders, while Zhifco and Suzanna emigrated from Macedonia. What a culturally diverse bunch.Our day ended with an amazing folkloric performance by Tahitian Cultural Expressions. WOW.This included the vibrant art of dance, particularly \'Ori Tahiti, which narrates the islands' history and mythology through expressive gestures and rapid hip movement.
What a perfect conclusion for our Tahiti day.“Tahitians don’t chase happiness.
Happiness comes naturally to them.
Happiness is in the air: in every hibiscus flower
that opens early in the morning,
in the sweet aroma of the pineapple plantations,
in the smile of the people lolling around idly,
resting slothfully in the warm breeze
that ruffles the surface of the lagoon.”
― Carol Vorvain
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