Page 165 - Pacifia Paradises - 2020

— Tahiti —

PAPEETE

Papeete is the bustling capital of Tahiti and her islands, Papeete Public Market or Le Marché is the heart of the city, providing
and contains the government offices, gendarmerie, a central marketplace for local Tahitian families.
hospitals, clinics, banks, telecommunications centres, It is also a photographer’s delight, with colourful displays of ripe fruit,
airline, travel agencies, boutiques and black pearl shops. together with chinese vegetables, strings of brightly coloured fish,

With a distinct colonial feel, Papeete’s CBD is designed for walking farm fresh meats, squealing pigs and noisy ducks.
despite the city’s rapid growth in recent years. A stunning selection of tropical flowers is on sale year-round,
The city curves along the Boulevard Pomare waterfront and sprawls including orchids, anthuriums, marigolds and daisies, red ginger
several blocks inland. The sleepy ‘Papeete town’ of years gone by has and jasmine, as well as locally made shell necklaces, woven hats
been replaced with a modern municipality, which hums with business and baskets. Upstairs is reserved for artisans selling pareus, tifaifai
and trade activity, with a healthy dose of camaraderie. quilts, cushion covers and other handicrafts.
Cargo freighters, copra ships, luxury liners and sailing yachts share Papeete offers a wide range of activities for the traveller, spanning
the harbour where ‘people-watching’ for travellers and residents the larger island of Tahiti Nui as well as Tahiti Iti, joined to the main
alike from the many outdoor cafés and bars is still one of the most island by the isthmus of Taravao. Helicopter and plane tours offer a
popular pastimes. great way of seeing the two islands. The 4WD tours around the island
provide a more complete view of the islands. Explore the breathtaking
The social set like to linger at lunch, share the latest gossip and Papenoo Valley and enjoy a swim in one of its many waterfalls, visit
watch as gaily painted pareu and tifaifai bed covers are sold at the Vaihiria Lake and the many maraes (Polynesian temples). Take
sidewalk tables, amidst the laughing atmosphere of the Tahitian a leisurely bushwalk into tropical jungle featuring giant ferns at an
artisans. altitude of 1400 metres or climb Mount Marau for a spectacular view
Papeete comes alive at night when night-clubs swing into action and of Tahiti’s neighbouring islands.
the sounds of disco and jazz compete with the pulsating rhythm of Tahiti also has a wide range of activities to keep the most active
the tamure, Tahiti’s tantalising national dance. traveller entertained, with hang gliding, bowling and tennis, deep-sea
Renowned for their natural grace, innate pride, gentle beauty and fishing, sailing, surfing, and scuba diving, windsurfing, jet-skiing,
warm hospitality, the Tahitians know how to live. waterskiing and snorkelling. The island’s mountainous interior
provides challenging and unusual trekking tours into valleys and up
Music, flowers, dance and song make up an important part of their mountains, as well as discovering lava tubes, burial caves and hidden
lives and dominate the annual Heiva I Tahiti festival. This very popular grottoes.The islands of Moorea, Bora Bora and Tetiaroa are also all
celebration is also called the Tahiti Festival and is held each July. close enough for a day trip from Tahiti.
Traditional Polynesian competitions are held alongside European
sports and Asiatic arts so that a festive carnival atmosphere pervades
Papeete for the entire month.

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