The most picturesque island we visited on the way back from Hawaii is Moorea. The name means Island of Yellow Lizards. I have visited another island with a similar name, Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef. Moorea is much bigger and higher than the Australian one. Our ship anchored in Opunohu Bay, the closer of the two large bays to the small harbour at Papetoai. The other large bay is named after my hero, Captain James Cook. The most obvious features you see as the ship arrives are the high, jagged mountain peaks. The island is an extinct volcano and these peaks are the eroded remnants of the lava plugs of the original craters. The harbour is tiny and far too small and shallow for a cruise ship, so the ship's tenders run a shuttle service from ship to shore. There were great views of the ship from the beach where local kids were swimming and fishing. We were greeted by a group of local dancers, all of whom were very glad to welcome this small bear to their island. I was invited to join the next dance, but had to decline because there were crab holes in the dance area and I hate those critters.
Labels: Captain Cook, crabs, cruising, South Pacific, Tahiti
# posted by Bart Bear @ 3:39 pm
