Raiterea
17 August 19 - 29 August 19
We move to the village where we can access the most famous Marea, the anchorage by the village is empty, we have a nice view on the reef and an abandoned pearls farm makes for pretty pictures.
Karma arrives next day and despite the terrible weather, rainy and gusty, we join them for a trip on shore. The Marae is spectacular, a huge area, with many remaining structure. Mercifully, there are plentynty of boards explaining what we are looking at, with helpful pictures. It sounds like this place was extremely important to the Maori. Shame the weather is so dreadful. The setting by the sea is beautiful, and those platforms and walls are made of coral turned black with age. It would have been stunning against a sea of turquoise. A quick walk to the village shop, takes us past the enormous church on the shore. The village is very small, it is a wonder that the church would be full on a Sunday, but I bet it is.
