Writing from Papeete

[PAA] + [PEE] + [AY] + [TEE] or [PAPETT]? the capital of French Polynesia, which belongs to Oceania and lies roughly between Australia and South America, latitude -15°, longitude -150° and is 12 hours behind Central European Time. (by comparison Berlin is on latitude +52°, longitude +13°, kind of antipodal)

I will write about my arrival there and my feelings.

Bus to Papeete, sightseeing tour. It’s warm, humid and for how small this capital may be, it’s confusing at first. A French couple show me how to take the bus and where to get on and off and on again. Merci beaucoup!

Hôtel de Ville (don’t try to check in there!) with mural “égalité”; market: the pearl and other items part, food is around the corner

The cathedral Notre-Dame,19 th century, a blend of European and Polynesian imagery: the Madonna and child (holding bread fruit in his hands), wood carving from the Marquesas, the Passion depicted with Polynesian features, Polynesian style church window

Paofai Gardens: a big recreational park with playground, shady meeting places and beautiful vegetation from the other islands. Here:

1. traditional pirogue “Marama Nui I Te Ra – Te Ra Nui Marama” means “Joins its loacation on place Tu Marama in Papeete”;

2. Memorial sight for nuclear testings between 1966 and 1996, on Moruroa and Fangataufa Atolls. The land and people of Maòhi Nui’s five atolls faced significant upheaval as the nuclear tests were imposed on them. The thousands of peoples of the Pacific still live with the memory of these weapons which today still continue to affect their health and environment. And why would one want to risk the health and wellbeing of these gentle, peaceful people? I stuck around the memorial for a while to watch the other tourists pass by, overlooking it graciously. https://disclose.ngo/en/article/french-nuclear-tests-in-the-pacific-the-hidden-fallout-that-hit-tahiti

3. 30th anniversary of Tahitian Autonomie 1984 – 2014

1. The turtle or honu is another important creature throughout all Polynesian cultures. Turtles symbolise health, fertility, longevity in life, foundation, peace and rest. Also the dolphin is a protective symbol.
2. Little stylised figure , still trying to find out what it means but I like it.
3. The turtle or honu is important creature throughout all Polynesian cultures. Turtles symbolise health, fertility, longevity in life, foundation, peace, and rest. Its symbolism includes longevity, perseverance, steadfastness, protection, retreat, healing, tranquillity, the Earth, and transformation. For as long as humans have walked the Earth, there have been turtles.

Pafoi Gardens and Robert Wan Pearl Museum

Not only oysters, also other mollusks defend themselves against foreign substances and produce pearls, a pearl bikini, and a connection to Asia.

End of the day and going home, walking up a 30% gradient (cars hardly make, me neither!)

I really don’t know why some pictures come out big and others small.