Port, Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia

After a 4-day-visit to Rapa Nui we have arrived in French Polynesia. Our goal here is to find the paradise-feeling that Tahiti and its neighbouring islands are supposed to create.

The first two days here (Papeete, Tahiti) were spent on arranging a week-long visit to three of the islands: Tahiti, Huahine, and Bora Bora. There are approx. 100 islands here, this choice was partly random, partly guided by tourist agencies, partly determined by our budget. This is the final plan:

• 2010-04-14 (Wed): Ferry: Tahiti → Huahine (0800–1210); check in to a pension; snorkel and/or relax on the beach
• 2010-04-15 (Thu): Visit a pearl farm
• 2010-04-16 (Fri): Snorkel and relax; ferry: Huahine → Bora Bora (1230–1640); check in to a pension
• 2010-04-17 (Sat): Bike around Bora Bora
  
• 2010-04-18 (Sun): Ferry: Bora Bora → Tahiti (1200–2040)
• 2010-04-19 (Mon): Hike up to Mount Orohena (2241m)
• 2010-04-20 (Tue): Visit the white sandy beaches and the Gauguin museum (on the South side of Tahiti)
• 2010-04-21 (Wed): Flight: Papeete → Auckland (with Air Tahiti Nui), 7000–1055 (arrives the following day because crosses the date line)

Making the required bookings has taken pretty much all of our time, only yesterday afternoon had finally a chance to go to a beach, a black sand beach at Pointe Venus. No paradise-feeling there: it looked like a mud field where children play and pigeons wrestle with a piece of half-eaten baguette. (The water was warm and super clear though.)