January 20, 2016 - Day 16 - Nuku Hiva

This morning we saw land for the fist time in 8 days. We have netted the Marquesas, our first group of islands in French Polynesia. We will anchor this morning at Nuku Hiva. Five years ago we stopped here as we left the South Pacific. Then I pushed Alice around n a wheelchair as she recovered from a broken ankle. This time we toured on foot.

The tender ride was efficient. We tried to use the Internet at the pier. Logging in went well, but the speed was poorer than onboard. We abandoned this. After shopping the craft tables set up around the pier, we set off on the main road. This followed the waterfront. Our goal was the cathedral. Last time we turned off the road too soon. I ended up pushing the chair up a steep road that led to a closed church. This time we learned that the airport was out this road. The cathedral was up the next crossroad.

Eureka! We found it. The wood carvings were beautiful. The openness was pure Polynesia. The stone work was intricate and complex. We were so happy to see it. Outside there was a shrine up a hillside. We went up carefully to get some pictures. On the way we commented on the slippery and steep footing. We chose to walk down another way that seemed less treacherous. In doing so, we passed a large Banyan tree. It was beautiful. Nobody else had come our way. We had the sights to ourselves and it was safer.

After a long, leisurely walk along the shore, we returned to the tender pier for the ride back home. Amsterdam welcomed us with her air conditioning. We were soaked. The heat and humidity had taken their toll. The cruise director commented that people getting off the tenders looked like they had swum back. We were that wet. Nuku Hiva had been a successful port for us.

THIS IS NUKU HIVA