Moorea

Moorea

French Polynesian Islands

March 26, 2019

Mount Orohena, Tahiti, off in distance as we approached Moorea.

Sailing into Opunohu Bay. Time to get up.

Shot of Mount Tohivea our primary destination of the upcoming tour.

Mo'orea means "yellow lizard". It takes its name from a legend about a lizard ("om'o") yellow ("rea") which is said to have created 2 bays with its tail. At least that is what our guide told us when we went on the Island Drive and Belvedere tour. More later, but the above left bay is Opunohu Bay and the one on the right is Cook's Bay where we were moored. 

One more map for background setting. There is one road that goes around the island and it is about 21.7 miles long. It circles the island except for the road a little into the interior which is Belvedere--meaning beautiful view.

 Getting to Belvedere lookout was fun. The straight looking road on the above map was actually a one lane series of switchbacks.

We were in a large touring bus. Meeting another vehicle was easy if it were a car. The car would pull over and let us pass. If we were on a curve, several times the driver would have to back up to allow the car to pass. No accidents so the driver gets an extra tip.

Main attraction: MountTohivea. 

 To the left of Mount Tohivea is Opunohu Bay.

 

"It's so pretty, what to shoot next?" 

Just down the road from Belvedere is Titiroa--a marae.

A marae is a communal or sacred place that serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies. Titiroa consists of a rectangular enclosure with a platform. The platform was not a place for sacrifices--rather a seating for the gods. 

Since the marae was not a place of sacrifice, wild chickens feel safe to roam through the area even with tourists surrounding them.

 In the Polynesian language, marae also means "cleared, free of weeds, trees, etc." However, the jungle has taken over and big trees and vines have made a strong foothold.

 Always take time to smell the flowers.

Time to leave and get on the bus for the next stop. 

 On the way to

Belvedere de Toatea was the next stop. The following pictures will speak for themselves. What could be said other than gorgeous. 

Had to break silence. In the background of this and the next few pictures is the outline of Tahiti.  Tahiti is about 23 miles from Moorea and many of the islanders take the daily ferry to Papeete to work in the big city.

Mo'orea has over the water suites, too.

 

Next and last stop--Tiki Village.

Man preparing for the night's luau.


Mannequins depicting island performance dress.

And a tour of the grounds.

Did Christine like the Mo'orea tour? Face tells everything.

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