Raiatea

  We approach Raiatea as the sun was rising, passing through the barrier reef into the harbor at Uturoa.

  Once ashore, we got into a 4-wheel drive vehicle driven by our thickly French-accented guide Gerrard and drove down the east side of the island a few miles before turning inland, arriving at a coconut tree experimental station.

  While we were out of the vehicle what appeared to be an entire school of children on an hike overtook us and proceeded up the dirt road ahead of us, eventually turning off on a path.

  We continued inland and upward toward the crater of a long-extinct volcano.

  Passing through the crater, we paused at a small vanilla bean plantation.

  Vanilla beans grow to maturity in about eight months, but there is an additional labor-intensive processing period before the bean is ready to sell.

  Once back on paved road and down near sea level we continued south to the Marae Taputapuatea.

   Raiatea is considered by many inhabitants of Oceania to be the birthplace of their civilization. A "marae" is a sacred site for worship, burial and sometimes sacrifices. Marae Taputapuatea is the most sacred one on Raiatea. By extension, it is to early inhabitants of Oceania an extremely holy place. Representatives of other islands would leave gifts to the gods when visiting it.

 

  Leaving Marae Taputapuatea we drove straight back to Uturoa and bid Gerrard adieu. Attracted by drums, we discovered a display of Polynesian dancing. The dancers were of all ages and shapes.

 

  After wandering around Uturoa and having lunch of sandwiches on real French baguettes (tres bien!) we returned to ROTTERDAM in anticipation of a daylight passage for the first part of the transit to Bora Bora.

Location:Society Islands of French Polynesia