Taina anchorage
11.07.19 - 13.07.19
Taina is only a couple of hours away and the wind has picked up so we have a nice down wind sail to the passe just outside of Papeete. We have to wait for the ferry to Moorea before we can go in which gives us the opportunity to eyeball the intricate channel inside the reef. Papeete does not present a stunning view on arrival. The petrol tanks and the commercial port and its cranes obscure the view of the town. However the inside channel close to the reef is a symphony of blues and turquoise. We have to wait for a plane to land before we can proceed; the anchorage is on the other side of the airport. And it is packed... There are loads of boats tightly packed around the marina, most of them on buoys which restricts where we can anchor. We finally find a space, small but close to the visitor’s pontoon. The wind as predicted has increased dramatically, the surf on the reef is impressive, so is the noise. Beautiful background Moorea in the distance just where the sun sets. We spend 3 uncomfortable nights there, the wind is really blowing and where we had made sure we had enough room to swing, some boats have inserted themselves a bit close to us. Still we managed to do a bit of shopping, the supermarket is only 10mn away. The trip to Papeete on the bus is a bit of a trek, nearly an hour for less than 10 miles, traffic is horrendous. Fortunately we met with Sophie and Andre from Frimousse on the bus, they have been here for a while and they give us the lowdown on Papeete. The seafront will be nice when the finish building it. It is all closed up but palm trees are going up and new paving stones are going down. The place is awash with jewellers bursting with Tahitian pearls. The market is lovely as well as lively. Flowers and pearls, shells and grass skirts, pareos and spices, it is all fabulous and not at all tacky. We are a bit late for the fruits and vegetables, few stalls are still open. And everyone is so friendly. A few nice shops, expensive, and a nice cathedral. The adjacent streets behind are a bit run down with a few homeless people. But it has a good vibes.