Pepeete, Tahiti
Considering none of us had ever visited Tahiti, we had no idea what we wanted to see. All of the ship tours went to a single location and then shopping… which really didn’t appeal to us. So, I rented a car to explore. We rented from Hertz, not too far from the Harbor… under normal conditions. Unfortunately, the entire area was under road construction, so we had to take a roundabout way. By the time we arrived, our car had been sent back to the airport. The employees were SO nice at this location, they gave us a ride to the airport and a few hints on getting around the island.
Our first stop was Point Venus on the North Shore. My mom enjoyed the greenery and whale sculpture! Had we known, we could have packed a picnic. This was the perfect place to spread a blanket under the trees, beside the water. There was also a small museum, Arts & Crafts gift shop.
Point Venus has quite a bit of historical significance. Captain Cook visited this peninsula in 1769 to view the very rare (every 243 years) sighting of the Transit of Venus.
Link to information on Transit of Venus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_of_Venus
The lighthouse tower stands tall. This structure with eight stories was the inspiration behind Robert Lewis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island”. This plaque shares information that Stevenson’s father designed the iconic piece of architecture. Translated into two other languages, the lighthouse remains closed to visitors, but the surrounding, grassy areas allow great photo opportunities.
Walking the grounds of this coastal park, we came upon a magnificent tree! The massive root system made for quite a picture!
Already hungry, we stopped into Mama’s. Located right on the grounds of the park, just past the tree, we enjoyed an outdoor table. With perfect weather, we ordered “Happy Hour” cocktails and lunch. I had ahi sashimi… fresh, fresh, fresh!
With full bellies, we headed to our next stop… Arahoho Blowhole. Our timing was off for the full “blow hole” experience, as the tides were lower than necessary to get a full rush of water. However, the coastline was amazing and powerful waters did surge with the tide. Smelling the fresh, salt air… listening to the waves crashing… heaven on earth!
On the edge of the rocky coastline, water pushed through many small blow holes. We spent quite a bit of time with our cameras focused on the waves. Though hopeful that we might catch the full experience of the blowhole, we never did. It was still beautiful to see the white, frothy waves crash against the seawall.
Knowing I would be making a photobook as a gift to my parents, I was focused on getting pictures of them in special places. With my Dad two months shy of 90 and my Mom well into her eighties, this was a bucket list trip they were able to fully enjoy! The black sand beach is unique… not often seen.
Though I quickly summarized the process of renting our car, there was no mention of the size… this teeny, tiny is a Kia Piconto. Considered a “city car”, we rented it for the day for $28. All four of us, including my 6’1” husband, fit comfortably. We drove around the entire island. To be honest, there was not all that much to see. It was beautiful but there was so much poverty. Shacks lined the coast. Our starting point of Pepeete was so crowded. Of course, construction caused additional delay, but we were told that weekdays (workdays) are always one big traffic jam.
Our last lengthy stop was Teahupoo. As soon as we got out of the car, the first things we saw were a phone booth (unusual these days), old buildings and this rat. The rest of what we saw erased the first impression immediately!
In the center of the parking lot was an area designed for photos. Being a good sport, my mom pretended to surf and then posed beside the board so we would remember the name of this area. Located on the southwestern side of Tahiti, this famous surf spot is considered the most dangerous break in the world!
Despite its danger, this park was by far the most stunning to photograph. The contrasting colors of the water and flowers with the blue skies… I probably took 100 pictures!
One last photo… this bridge was intriguing. If we didn’t have a deadline to return the car, I would have explored across. We weren’t in a hurry to get back to the ship because we would be in Tahiti all night. The following morning, next stop, Moorea… just across the channel. There were actually ship excursions to Moorea. Back to the airport to return the car and ready to board the ship for Happy Hour!
