WE SPENT EASTER AT SEA. CRUISING AT A STEADY 15 knots (about 20 mph) Maasdam covers roughly 500 NM on a cruising day, which brought us to the Society Islands. Once again we anchored off shore, relying on the orange and white tenders to take us ashore. The passengers and crew haven’t quite gotten the system down but that hasn’t curbed their enthusiasm in the least. There have been some words and a little shoving but no fights have broken out.
Fishermen's Floats High and Dry
The lagoon at Bora Bora is spectacular. The big draw today would normally be diving and snorkeling but the weather was less than spectacular. Connie and I got ashore ahead of the horde, hoping to get in a nice walk around Viatape before it got too hot. And humid.
Sunset, Viatape Gauguin (internet photo)
One of the on-board experts who lectured on Paul Gauguin’s years in the Islands touted the film about him that would be presented this afternoon. The film focused on his personal life during his first stint in Polynesia, not his art. Surprisingly, to us at least, he did most of his painting after returning from France, and the subjects for much of that was derivative. Oh, yeah, the film was in French with English subtitles. At least the popcorn was good.
Paupers not welcome!
Bora Bora is one of those places that would be fabulous to visit for a few days, maybe a week if you could afford it. The cottages, raised above the water on stilts, go for $1000 a night — and up, way up! We could afford it but there is no way we could justify the cost.
