Around the World Again

Moorea – January 23, 2018

What a difference the sun makes! When I was here in 2016 it rained off and on (more on than off) so I looked through the craft market and took a couple of pictures of the octagonal church and went back to the ship. This time I was determined to see something of the island so I signed up for the “Island Drive and Belvedere Drive” a three and a half hour HAL tour.

We met and were walked down the crew steps to be on one of the first tenders. Our tour guide/driver was Rico who was born on the island but descended from Swiss/Austrian grandparents who came to the island after World War I.

Some facts I learned on the tour…

· It is 38 miles around the island and it is almost twice the size of Bora Bora

· All of the utility lines are buried underground

· The Mel Gibson version of Mutiny on the Bounty was filmed on Moorea

· Almost 1000 people (out of a population of about 18,000) commute to Papeete for work each day

· Moorea means “yellow lizard” and Opunohu means “the stomach of the stone fish”

· There are no snakes in Polynesia

· The octagonal church was the first Protestant church built in Polynesia in 1822

Our drive started with a zig-zag drive up to the Belvedere. At Lookout Point you could see down into Cook Bay (where the Hapag-Lloyd ship Europa was anchored) and Opunohu Bay (where we were anchored although originally we were supposed to be in Cook Bay).

After coming part way down the mountain we stopped at a marae – an ancient sacred site. The actual structure was demolished by missionaries when they arrived.

At Ora viewpoint we saw spectacular views including one of the best beaches where the Sofitel Hotel has its bungalows ($800/night for the over-water ones).

The last stop was the Tiki Village on the west coast. They have a Polynesian themed show there most nights but were open for the tour buses.

After returning to the area of the tender dock I looked at the craft market but did not buy any jewelry (which was mostly what they were selling).

Once back on board I had a late lunch in the Lido and then worked on the blog.

Bonnie, Tom, Jeanette, and I played trivia with 11 correct. Three teams tied with 13 out of 15.

1)What is the capital of Australia?

2)What is the summer national sport of Canada?

3)Who starred opposite Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s?

4)Which landmass spawned the iceberg that sank Titanic?

5)Which European country claims the harp as their national symbol?

With another trivia at 5 pm, I continued on the blog. My first 1000 minutes ran out so I purchased another 1000 but my blog was not happy loading yesterday’s pictures so I quit until the internet is better late at night.

At 5 pm trivia we had just three of us – Marilyn, Rodney, and I. We had 12 and the winners had 16 out of 17.

1)What is the name for the human thigh bone?

2)In what building are the British Crown jewels kept?

3)In what year was the D-Day invasion?

4)Who said, “Houston, we have a problem”?

5)Rickets is a result of a deficiency of which vitamin?

After trivia I watched us sail from Moorea and then swam for 45 minutes.

Only five for dinner. I had fruit, a salad, bourbon glazed beef, and a caramel sundae. I skipped the show hoping to get my pictures loaded.

Bora Bora tomorrow (and another early morning!!!).

Scenes of Moorea