Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Change of Scenery Needed

Even though the supermarkets have a decent amount of (expensive) stuff - one of them is even air conditioned – and there are a few nice walks in the area, it is time for a change of scenery. The traffic and buzzing cars are overwhelming and during the (long) weekends, it gets very loud. Local guys like to park their cars along the edge of the bay and turn their massive speakers on, faced towards the boats, blaring incessantly loud music into our cockpits. One car doing this is annoying, but when there are a few playing different disco tunes at the same time, it gets substantially worse.

Mark, Liesbet and Leili

Mark and I hiked to Baie Colette with the family on Iona and got a ride back to town with a friendly Marquesan fisherman. Along a rocky beach, protected from the sharks by a reef, local families enjoyed an afternoon of swimming and hanging out, some of them bathed their pretty horses in the seawater. We paid another visit to the main church, adorned with beautifully carved wooden structures and panels. One evening, together with some friends, we splurged on cocktails during happy hour at the fancy hotel, located on the opposite side of the bay.

Baie Colette

Stocked up on some fresh produce and fresh baguettes, Mark and I are off to Daniel’s Bay for a few days, to be away from the crowds and enjoy a peaceful anchorage.
 
The sharks are still circling and fighting for food scraps at the main dock

Expensive cocktails ($7), even during happy hour

The flags rise, to commemorate the end of WWI on November 11th

Tiny kittens along the road to Baie Colette

Taiohae Bay seen from the west

View from the bed of a rickety jeep, on the ride back to town

Local guys swimming with their horses

Arthur with one of his prized animals

Wooden preacher’s pulpit

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