Papeete was actually the end of the first half of our cruise and while some people disembarked, we were able to take a bus tour around the sland of Tahiti.

After lunch, about 400 new guests embarked.

This was a group of "young" musicians on the wharf to welcome us

and this building was erected to take the exchange of luggage.

Venus Point was our first stop. This is the place where Captain Cook was to observe the passage of Venus across the Sun in 1769.

Our tour guide was from France, but he had been many years in Tahiti and did a very good job.

Venus Point

A description of the event.

Monument to the crew of the Bounty

Message tree. The guide struck the tree with a stone to demonstrate the noise it makes.

It was traditionally used as a drum.

Looking North North West from Venus Point to Moorea.

Looking inland, but unfortunately the mountains were schrouded in clouds.

Map of the main island of Tahiti. The small part of the island is to the lower right.

Looking inland from the bus as we drove clockwise arouind the island.

It reminded us very much of parts of Papua New Guinea.

Boarding the bus after visiting a restaurant and museum to Gauguin

Here we have just arrived at a very interesting botanical garden.

Our guide told us a lot about the various plants.

The Pagoda Flower

Wild Ginger

This is known as the walking tree.

Demonstrating the characteristics of the Pandanas palm.

The Polynesians even used the leaves to make sails for their sailing canoes. It is amazinly tough but flexible.

Another intriguing flower.

Waterfalls

Blue fern.

Heliconia

Alpinia Purpurata (double)

This one was endemic to Tahiti

One,

two,

three.

A good example of a bread fruit tree,

with a young shoot

and the fruit.

This was really exotic, like a Tiger's Claw

Sunday at the beach

and the locals are enjoying the surf.

Back at the Regatta

where a bottle of Champagne was welcoming us to the the next leg of our voyage.

We brought the frangipani flowers ourselves.

The local station

and the train!

We went for a walk along the harbour and had a look around the town of Papeete.

This box fish was swimming in the harbour

and this catamaran was a long way from home.

The harbour side park

and some more Polynesian canoes.

An interesting mural.

The local Catholic church.

A madonna with Polynesian features.