Tahiti

Beautiful, stunning, magnificent, spectacular! That is Tahiti. Tahiti is actually made up of two islands: Tahiti Nui (Big Tahiti) and Tahiti Iti (Little Tahiti). Most of the modern-day urbanization has been limited to the larger island, centering inPapeete, the capital. Outside of the town, you find high cliffs and cascading waterfalls, dark lava rock, dense forests and breathtaking flora. That is the Tahiti that we experienced today.

But first off, as soon as Terry saw a park along the waterfront where the ship was docked, we knew that the morning workout was not going to be going around the jogging track in small circles. We left the ship in our workout clothes and headed to the waterfront park. It was beautiful and clean and Terry couldn't wait to take off running!

Our excursion today was drive to the Papenoo Valley by 4WD. We first traveled along the scenic coastline for a fabulous view of Matavai Bay where the island was first discovered by English explorers in 1767. After the short coastal drive we turned inland at the mouth of the Papenoo River and began the ascent up the largest valley on the island. The view of the surrounding mountainsides carved by centuries of erosion and covered with rich, thick, multi-green rain forest was spectacular. Today was the first day in 3 weeks that it did not rain on this island! We benefited from that in that the cliffs were

dotted with waterfalls all along the valley's walls. We must have seen at least 100 of
them. It was a wonderful day.

Next stop...Bora Bora, the last stop in French Polynesia!