Island hopping from Bora Bora to Tahiti – May 28th

Tahiti is the largest and most populous island in French Polynesia and the largest city, Papeete, is the capital. Tahiti was settled about 1500 years ago by Polynesians in outrigger canoes as long as 100 feet propelled by sail and oar. The national sport is still Va'a, outrigger canoe racing. The best time to visit is July around Bastille Day for the week-long Heivā Festival celebrating Polynesian culture. But we are happy to be here now.

Before leaving the hotel in Bora Bora, Joani wanted to walk over to the ocean side of the atoll to see the surf on the reef.

 We caught a little turbo-prop island hopper from Bora Bora to Tahiti around noon.

Good-bye Bora Bora!!! Until now, when people on shorter legs of the cruise (the "leggers" as they're called by "the 180s") asked, what has been your single best experience, we always said, well how can you choose between experiences like Kilimanjaro, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, Hong Kong and Singapore? But now the answer is different: Bora Bora stands alone.

Rejoining the ship, we saw a huge ocean-sailing yacht docked next to the Insignia. Beautiful lines. It cost somebody a few pennies.

There are lots of tropical flowers here. Maybe that’s what inspired Paul Gaugin to come and paint in Tahiti. Or maybe it was the women who wear the flowers in their hair.

Pacific Islanders remember.

We also saw the French Polynesia Independence Monument on the waterfront.

The sun is beginning to set over the nearby island of Moorea, just to the west.

Shopping baskets this big are for serious shoppers. We have world champions among the 180s.

The sun fell below the yardarm, so it was time for liquid refreshment.

The local beer of choice in Tahiti is Hinano. We gave it a big thumbs-up.

Next: two days of SCUBA and snorkeling on the islands of Huahine and Rangiroa, our fourth and fifth stops in French Polynesia.