A Little More on Tahiti and its Suburb, Moorea

A good traveler has no fixed plans 

And is not intent on arriving.

Lao Tzu 

Beautiful pirogue at rest

We circle the island by car taking along two ladies from the pension.  They are twins, one retired, one not.  One lived mostly in Europe while the other in North America (guess which one still works – yes the one who lived in NA).  They are trying to decide their next move and a day of sightseeing may be the ticket to turning their minds off thinking about work, moving, finding a new place to live, etc.

Mexico vs. French Polynesia

A traveler without observation

Is a bird without wings.

Moslih Eddin Saadi

Either Mexico or French Polynesia - Ready, Set, Go...

From the continual road, sidewalk, or porch sweeping of Mexico, everyone handy with a broom; we are now in the land of rakes.  Everywhere you look you find people raking leaves, needles or trash off roadways and yards, keeping the islands quite pristine.  Gathered materials are burnt in metal drums under mango or breadfruit trees helping to keep some tree pests or bugs away.

Tahiti - The Hub of French Polynesia Becomes the Hub of Our Trip

And if travel is like love, it is, in the end, mostly because 
It's a heightened state of awareness, in which we are 
Mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity 
And ready to be transformed. 
That is why the best trips, like the best 

Love affairs, never really end.

Pico Iyer 

One of the immaculate parks in Papeete

Arriving in Tahiti we go to our first pension and, by happenstance, we meet a fellow sailor and his wife.  He is from Turkey, she is from Thailand.  He was on his second circumnavigation, it was her first.  She was fit and only 37 years old when she had 2 heart attacks in the Marquesas.  She was lucky they weren’t in the middle of the ocean when it happened.  She was treated in Tahiti and recovering at the pension.  They still have plans to follow through to Thailand once she gets better.  This, once again, reminded us why we have to do what we are doing now - - - life is so unpredictable.

Nuku Hiva - Back On Our Own... The Intimacy of Living in a Pension

Do not follow where the path may lead.

Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

First tiki to welcome us to Nuku Hiva - Located at the market near dock

A full day sail brings us to the administrative center and the largest island of the Marquesas, Nuku Hiva.  We anchor in Taiohae Bay, a large bay that can easily accommodate many boats.  It is flanked by small islands on each side called The Sentinels by the locals.  We can see why several boaters choose to come here first.  It is an easy, safe, quiet anchorage, deep enough for larger boats, less roily than Hiva Oa and not necessitating a stern anchor.   It is blessed with cleaner water although still filled with sharks.