We finally reached land and I was pretty happy about that. So at 7:30 AM we hit the ground running and barged into Hiva Oa. A l of the most sacred spots in the Marquesas. We weren't allowed to even walk on the rocks surrounding the Tikis, because it was the sacrificial spot in ancient times. Marquesean people practice Catholicism since the missionaries came, but they still hold on to the old ways of Mana and other rituals. After hearing a lecture and getting bit by mosquitos...we went back to the dock where the fun was...unloading some of our cargo and loading their stuff on board. It was fun to watch these big strong Marquesean men huck up bags of copra and fill the containers. Our freighter has over 100 containers , including refrigerated units, and barrels of diesel, lumber, mail, and appliances. This is really the only way the residents of these isolated islands can get anything.
VAITAHU BAY
We barged back to a lunch of roast chicken and vegetables as our ship sailed to the smallest INHABITED island of the six populated ones, TAHUATA...and the village of Vaitahu. There we went to the artist fair where the specialties are carved bones. Steve bought a humpback whale necklace for himself. We wandered around the very small town and finally caught a barge back to the ship....and then jumped in the swimming pool to cool off.
At dinner tonight, we lucked out and got to sit with English speakers! Yea! Seems funny to say, but over half the people on board are French...and since we have don't speak French...it gets tedious trying to small talk when we sit with them. I am sure they feel the same.
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