NavList:

What a coincidence, the last time I was there was during  "La fete national", the period around Bastille day. During that period there are many celebrations and competitions. Everywhere you go you see crews practicing for the outrigger races and dance teams practicing for dance competitions. Walking along the harbor in Papeete you see racks holding the racing outrigger canoes and, during lunch time, you see the crews practicing in the harbor.

We picked up a mooring at the Bora Bora Yacht Club (another place that has been ruined, it used to be quiet and inexpensive, no longer, completely remodeled and expensive) in July 2005 and walked into Vaitape (about a mile) one evening. We chanced upon a soccer field where they were holding the local band and dance competition. The place was packed and each dance team and band had its own uniform costumes. We stayed and watched for quite a while, it was great, something authentic, not something staged for the tourists.

gl

James N Wilson wrote:

Gary:

 

Sorry to hear that about Bora Bora. It's ironic that my first visit there was on a cruise ship in 1963, the Monterey. There was a minimal Hotel Bora Bora and the village, and that was it. I've been back a few times on charters from Riatea, and have sadly watched it's growth. The last visit that Sibyl and I made was one of the best. It was on Bastille Day, and the local pageantry in Viatape was fantastic. A good last memory. Incidentally, it was on that cruise that Sibyl and I met. And I remember that I discovered that cruising was "The only way to fly." It was years before it really caught on. Matson had two 20,000 ton ships on the six week round trip from LA to Sydney.

 

Our last trip to French Polynesia was just a few years ago, sailing out of Papeete (another ruined place) on the Paul Gauguin, a five star ship. We went to see the total solar eclipse, and we'll go again in two years. I hope.

 

Ah, memories.

Jim Wilson--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~

Navigation List archive: www.fer3.com/arc
To post, email NavList@fer3.com
To , email NavList-@fer3.com
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---


____________________________________________________________
lawyers and save money.

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
Navigation List archive: www.fer3.com/arc
To post, email NavList@fer3.com
To , email NavList-@fer3.com
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---