08:54.931S 140:06.023W
We arrived safely in the Marquesas at the island of Nuku
Hiva after an unexpectedly swift trip from Galapagos which lasted just
16 days and 4 hours (thanks to the wind rather than any sudden improvement in
our sailing ability). Polynesia came over the horizon looking just as stunning
as we remembered and even checking in with the friendly Gendarmerie was a
pleasure after the irritations and frustrations of Latin American customs,
immigration and general bureaucracy. We spent a couple of days sleeping (a lot),
washing (both our clothes and Bamboozle) and settling back into the rhythm of
South Pacific life and since then have been exploring this fascinating island.
Even the Tahitians seem to think of it as a long way
away!
The hairy skipper on passage. I have to promise
to remove this growth before we get to land.
Polynesia comes over the
horizon
The view from above the Taiohae Bay in which we
are anchored
Visiting one of the extraordinary
old village sites. This rock was apparently used for
excections.
It seems they were quite keen on bashing people over the head and eating them
right up until the
start of the 20th century. They now seem
quite friendly!
Lucy and our guide
Richard standing next to a 500 year old Banyan tree at another
ceremonial site. There is
apparently a picture of this tree
taken in about 1870 at which time it was covered in
human skulls!
The less visited north side of Nuku
Hiva
