Land At Last! And The Land of Paul Gauguin, no less!

Land Ho!

Many, many years ago - when I was probably in grade school, I learned that the Pacific Ocean is the largest body of water on Earth. Okay, so that means it's big. I have had the good fortune to fly over, cruise around the outer edges, cross the equator from both the North and South, cross the International Date Line therein twice, catch multiple eye-popping sunsets thereon, pictures of tranquil seas and skies and some not so tranquil seas/skies. I thought I pretty much "knew" the Pacific Ocean. Nothing in my previous experiences prepared me in ANY way for the VASTNESS of this body of water, The Vista, since leaving San Diego on March 7th, has been at sea with NO land in sight for 300 hours. During that time I spotted two cargo ships on two different days headed east, and one poor little lost bird hitched a ride on the forward deck railing for almost an entire day. He looked rather like a hood ornament, albeit a tiny hood ornament. No other signs of life other than that on board The Vista. However, aboard The Vista, if one has been bored, it is definitely their own fault. The Vista Staff has gone overboard (pun intended) to see that there was plenty to keep us all busy.

Just look at that BEAUTIFUL blue all around. You can imagine how wonderful to have this as far as the eye can see in any direction...

Our first land sighting after leaving poor storm ravaged Honolulu was a sight to behold. Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia was the home of Paul Gauguin for most of his productive years and it is no wonder why he stayed, not even returning home at the death of his ever tolerant wife. Another famous immigrant to this Paradise on Earth was Melville who also did some of his best work after coming here. According to our lovely guide, the Marquesas Islands, as they were called originally, are now a French Nation State, meaning they are their own Nation but also a part of France and also subject to French law and governance. As in many parts of the World, the early missionaries did their best to destroy all of the island's original culture. Only in the past 30 years or so has it been permitted to display their native dance and/or music. We were welcomed by dancers and musicians who were quite entertaining and even tolerated a member of our Trivia team joining them on the ukulele. Wish I had a picture of that.

While ashore we were transported up and down steep mountainsides in largely new four-wheel drive Toyotas (to the point that I began to wish I had stock in the local Toyota dealership) by ladies from the port community. Their were two or three pickup trucks with benches in the truck bed, a custom outlawed in the US decades ago! I saw no drawing of beans or straws to determine how those lucky persons were selected! Just thankful I was not one of them. My luck ran out, however, when it came to our driver as her English was only a tad better than my non-existent French, and I do love to pepper the driver if no other local is available with questions about their lives, economy, dreams, etc. Not possible this day! She was an excellent driver though, so that's what counts. The single "guide" for some eighty of us was our only source of information. Oh well, let the island speak for itself - and speak it did! Even to the point that I decided this island rivals the beauty of Seychelles, and you all know how very, very much I love Seychelles!

Today is Someday! Travel the Pacific!