French Polynesia - Day One - Island of TAHITI

Well, we just finished our 3 days in French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea & Bora Bora).  All the islands are considered 'Tahiti' although Tahiti island is the main island with the most population & it is the least interesting & least beautiful out of the 3.  It has no 'real' beaches and the beaches they do have are all black sand or black rocks.  Still beautiful (looks a lot like Hawaii), but not what you would expect if you didn't do research ahead of time.  The island of Moorea is more like the Tahiti people think of & have been shown in photos.  

It was funny because we actually saw several Tahitians walking down the street with bags of french bread baguettes.  This is definitely a french speaking community.  Many of the locals we talked to, although super friendly, did not speak English.   There were lots of street-smart dogs everywhere and the island is very clean (although not as clean as Moorea & Bora Bora).  

The weather was overcast and rainy when we arrived in Tahiti.  The sky never cleared up and the rain was off and on (mostly off).  Super hot (35 C) and humid.  We were met at the cruise dock by Hertz and were taken to the airport to get our car.   We drove around the whole island (going up some side roads up residential areas).  The island is just over 100 kilometers in circumference.  Here are our pics from the Island of Tahiti & it's city Pape'ete.

That evening the ship put on a great Tahitian music & dance show with the local entertainers.  

Woke up a couple of hours before we docked and when I opened our curtains, this is what I saw.  This is actually the island of Moorea (which is very close to Tahiti Island).  There is a ferry service between the 2 islands.  Many of the Moorea residents work in Pape'ete on Tahiti.

Docking in Pape'ete.

Our rental car.

The rocks on this beach in the previous pic.

There are numerous churches on these islands.

Typical of all the coastline.

One road off the beaten track (the whole island is lush).  There is no dry side like the Hawaiian Islands.  Tahiti is pretty much the same distance from the equator as Hawaii, but of course it's in the southern hemisphere.

Not sure if this a memorial or just an opportunity to put a nice little garden beside the road. (That's a turquoise garbage bag on the right side of the picture).

Don't know the name of this fruit.  I couldn't understand what the ladies at the fruit stand were saying.  haha

We tried buying this papaya from the ladies at the fruit stand but they didn't have change for the denomination of Franc I had, so they insisted we take it for free.  What lovely people.  I gave them a Canadian 5 dollar bill and they thought that was great.  haha

We shared the papaya, eating it with our hands.  

Interesting flowers

Fern Grotto and cave

Pape'ete (from the ship)

Moorea in the distance

Tahitian show at poolside on the ship that night.  

Tahitian Musicians

Interesting without flash

 The next day we were in Moorea & the next day Bora Bora   The weather was perfect for the next 2 French Polynesia islands.  Will now prepare the next 2 posts.  Hope you enjoy.  Moorea & Bora Bora will blow your minds.  Stay tuned.