Tahiti - Day 2

Nothing wrong with a second day in Tahiti! Carol lives by the beach so doesn't want to take a cab and go to a beach. After all, we are in the 'big city.' We don't really shop so we just wandered around. Didn't want to to go to the pearl museum, been there done that. Lots of the ladies will be delighted to have bought black pearls. 

Just wandered. Carol was looking for a souvenir for the friends who drive her to the airport. But then remembered that this time she used a car service as the friends were off on a trip of their own! we enjoyed the people watching. The children are on a school break so would be running all about. People seem to be doing ordinary things and not in extraordinary ways. You do not see many plastic bags, however, coming and going from the shops. Most shoppers carry woven baskets, mostly from Ti leaves, which are extremely strong. On closer examination, thought, many baskets were of plastic although some locals had taken care to make them look like Ti leaves!

Again, not my photo. 

You may have a plant that looks like this in your home.

 

We walked up to the Cathedral Notre Dame. Homeless people abound in this city and the steps to the church are no exception. The church is kept locked. Luckily we were able to be inside last time.

The plain stuccoed interior is enhanced with beautiful stained glass windows. The dark wooden pews, many built from ship wood, are mostly original from 1875. The Island, having been claimed by the French, is predominantly Roman Catholic in faith.

We sat on a bench near the mall (Yes, everywhere has a mall and Papeete is no exception!) I couldn't get the top off my bottle of water although I had managed Carol's. Asking for help led to a pleasant conversation with a young, but retired, everything is relative, couple, who have their children settled in college and come for the winter to Tahiti.

We continued to enjoy the city, this time moving out of the center to walk along the 'main drag' in front of the shore. The traffic might as well be in in Atlanta! The four lanes are separated by a cement barrier about two and a half feet high. Interestingly to me, there are not really crossroads. when the side street meets the main road it can only go one way, to the right. If you wish to go left or change directions and make a left turn at any point you make a curving swing around, go underground a short distance and reemerge in the left lane of the road going the other direction!

There are very few, and I do mean minimal places that there are actually intersections that have traffic lights that then also provide crosswalks for pedestrians! If you wish to cross elsewhere, meaning not walk an extra mile, you simple step off at a corner, bravely not turning your head to look left or right, pray, and go!

We made one of these brave crossings and walked through the very pretty shore side park back to where the ship was dock. The tile sidewalk makes it easy to identify where you are. ..plus we could spot our ship in the distance.

After dinner tonight we had quite a lovely Destination Performance, the second of our trip. The costumes were quite colorful and the troop was much larger than the solo family we had on board in Hawaii. The dances were explained. The final one was the story of how the men puffed themselves up, showed off their hunting and dancing skills to attract the woman they wanted but the woman made the choice.

 

It was a day of contrasts and learning. Something I always enjoy.