NavList:

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