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Today we are back in Moorea. The ship anchored in Cook’s Bay and they started off -loading passengers around 9:00 am. Dale is still trying to get our Circle South America blog books uploaded so we can get it printed but the internet connection on the ship is VERY slow (we knew it would be slow, but it is really slow!).
So Dale had two objectives for our day in Moorea. First, he wanted to find an internet connection so he could upload the book files, and then he wanted to go back to a Pearl store we had visited on our first trip to Moorea three years ago. This is where he got a black pearl necklace that he loves and wears often, so often in fact that he wanted to get another one!
Luckily, we found the store’s shuttle driver in the parking lot by the port and we were off to the Pai Moana Pearl store. The store has a great history, it is owned by a family who runs the store and who also owns a pearl farm. The father, Peter Sr., arrived in Moorea in 1978 on his 70’ sail boat. He fell in love with the island, and in turn, fell in love with an island girl and decided to settle down here (this is a pretty common story in these parts – sailors visiting the islands are captivated by the beautiful scenery, easy life style and exotic women!). It’s fun to see a family business doing well – his oldest son Peter, Jr., and his daughter Vaea, work behind the counter and another son, Chris, helps bring customers into the store.
Dale immediately got his computer plugged into the store’s internet as I browsed the pearl collection. We picked out a nice pearl and decided to go to lunch while the computer was uploading the files. Just down the street was a great Japanese restaurant where we had some sushi. Next to the Poi Moana store was a car rental place and we decided to rent a small open-air off road vehicle and drive up to a spot toward the center of this dramatic mountainous island to get a better view.
Moorea was formed by a volcano and over the years, as the elements have worn away parts of the landscape, it is left looking very rugged. James Michener’s book “Tales of the South Pacific” which was later turned into a movie filmed here and made famous the mountain “Bali Ha!i” (that’s actually not the name of the mountain, but that is what they called it in the book so that is how it is referred to by tourists!). The ride was fun…although a bit too windy for me. With no windshield and no doors, it was a good thing we got back before the deluge came – which it did on our ride back to the port with Peter Sr.! Unfortunately, the internet connection had bombed a few times and Dale was not able to get his files uploaded…but at least he got his new pearl necklaces!
Back on the ship we quickly showered and went down to meet the Captain at his welcome aboard party. They had brought 6 freshly-caught yellow fin tunas onto the ship and we went up to the Terrace Café to try it out! It was delicious and we went to bed with full stomachs and island dreams.
Here is the Top Photo Gallery for Moorea:
Click here for the detailed Photo Gallery for Moorea.
Mabelle - Read all of your postings, really sounds great. The fire came within 100 yds. of Galena High school. The winds were shifting every which way, so never knew where they were going next. Felt very safe, however Jal’e insisted I go to the El Dorodo with them. So I packed up, & left at 8 P.M. The fire never came up to Callahan Ranch, It was all going east. Getting ready to go to La Quinta around the 29th. My I Phone still breaks off calls,they said I need a new one. I said this is new. I will take it down again Monday. Have a great trip.. Much Love, Mabelle
Trip Summary » Travel with Dale & Margaret - […] Moorea, French Polynesia […]