We pulled into Moorea early this morning, and let’s just say the commute was a breeze. It’s such a short “hop” from Papeete that the ship didn’t even bother leaving until midnight. I suspect the captain just let the current drift us over while he grabbed a snack.
Waking up to the scent of Tahiti was an instant sensory flashback; that heavy, sweet floral perfume reminded me exactly of Hawaii. It’s nature’s way of saying, “Good morning, you’re in paradise—stop worrying about your credit card statement.”
Because our ship has the “footprint” of a small skyscraper, we had to tender to shore. This is essentially the cruise version of being dropped off at the curb by a tiny, bobbing shuttle bus.
Why the extra step? Well, Moorea is surrounded by a shallow lagoon and a very protective coral reef. If our captain tried to park this giant at the local pier, he’d essentially be trying to fit a semi-truck into a bicycle rack. Tendering keeps the reef happy and the fish from having a very large, metallic ceiling installed over their homes. Plus, it gives us a chance to feel like explorers, even if we are just exploring the best way to not spill our coffee on the way down the ladder.
Once on land, we hopped a bus to the “shopping district.” In our heads, we were picturing a sprawling mall with an Orange Julius; in reality, we keep forgetting we’re on a volcanic rock in the middle of the Pacific.
Moorea is affectionately known as the “Yellow Lizard” (Mo’o = lizard, re’a = yellow). Legend says a giant lizard once bit off the fins of the island to create the bays. But the history isn’t just legends; this island was a major player in the South Pacific. Back in the early 1800s, it was the headquarters for the London Missionary Society. In fact, the very first Tahitian Bible was printed right here on Moorea.
If the island looked like a movie set to you, you aren’t wrong. It was the primary inspiration for the mythical island of Bali Ha’i from James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific. Walking around, you can really feel that old-world Polynesian soul that has survived through centuries of explorers and traders.
The shops were quaint, colorful, and packed with handmade clothing and jewelry. We spent a good chunk of time admiring the craftsmanship (and wondering how many pearls we could realistically fit in our luggage). Eventually, we wandered down to the beach. Heaven. The water is so impossibly clear you can basically see what the fish are thinking. We spent an hour people-watching and soaking in the beauty before realizing we had a bus to catch.
The evening was the “cherry on top.” We grabbed a spot near the bow and watched the sun put on a world-class light show. It was the kind of sunset that makes you want to write poetry, or at least take 400 identical photos on your phone. We followed that with a stand-up comedy show (the guy was actually funny, which is a relief when you’re stuck on a boat with him) and a fantastic dinner.
Now, we are officially en route to Hawaii. We have five full days of sea life ahead of us, which means five days of finding creative ways to do absolutely nothing.
Our current routine involves a lot of card games. It’s a very balanced system: we play a few rounds, and then, right around the time Chuck decides the deck is “rigged” because he keeps losing, we call it a night and retreat to the cabin.
Five days of blue water, sea breezes, and me winning at Gin Rummy. Sorry, Chuck—the “Yellow Lizard” might be gone, but the card sharks are still circling!
Next stop: Hawaii!
May God bless you always!
Chuck & Lea Ann
WorldTravelReynolds 