Taiohae, Nuku Hiva Part 2, Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral

Taiohae, Nuku Hiva

March 30, 2019

The entrance to the Cathedral looks like a fairy tale castle. The entrance was salvaged from the original structure built circa 1848. 

The new structure, built in the same location as the original, was completed in the mid 1970's.

Our solitary guide for the tour was a retired French-speaking teacher of English who comes out of retirement when a cruise ship arrives. He said he encourages others to become proficient in English to conduct tours as this one is the only tour offered on Nuku Hiva. He told us the cathedral was built atop old pagan ceremonial grounds as the missionary priests tried to stamp out all pagan rites. What he didn't tell us was the rumored pagan rite of cannibalism. Stories continue today as illustrated by the sensationalism of the disappearance of  German tourist Stefan Ramin in 2011. Human bones were found by a fire pit so rumors of cannibalism were sparked again. (Was debunked by French officials).

The entrance to a meeting hall is flanked by carvings in rosewood of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Beautifully carved doors.

The colorful stones were given by each of the six inhabited islands of the Marquesas. We did not go into the church as they were holding rehearsals.

Statue of Moses holding the Ten Commandments tablet.

Tribute to one of their bishops.

Our Lady of the Marquesas

Outside the cathedral grounds were still "pagan" symbols. I thought this was "man and elephant" until I found out the "trunk" was the back of the hair of a tiki statue. 

One of the few remaining pre-colonial meeting sites.

Sleeping quarters for ritual officials. 

Two little girls were close to the cathedral just sitting with their dog. They were so cute that people would stop and take their picture.

Christine also took their picture so I handed each of them $1.00. They were not asking nor expecting anything. If you think their smiles were pretty in the photo above, you should have seen them when I handed them the dollars. You would think that Santa Claus just came down their chimney. 

Tiki watching over our ship?

Time to go to our next tour stop, Taipivai valley.