New Zealand

Just checked the date of my last posting. May 19, 2010! Lots has happened since
then. I'll try and catch you up! We are now in New Zealand and it is a beautiful
country with lovely people. But wait, I need to tell you about Tahiti!
Tahiti is fabulous! Gorgeous scenery and even more gorgeous people!!!! The
surprising thing about Tahiti is that it was NOT very touristy! We tied up to the
quay in downtown Papette (the capitol) and it was very pleasant. We could take the
bus to the big box store Carrefoul in a matter of minutes right from the marina.
How great to once again buy the meats and fresh veggies we were longing
for since Panama City. Our first meal was lamb chops from New Zealand. A taste as
to what awaited us in a few months time in that wonderful country.
The main reason we had left the Marquesas when we did, as we hated to leave, is that we had joined a rally hosted by a magazine out of California "Lattitude 38" the
previous year. It was going to be held in Tahiti and Moorea the end of June so we
had to be there and we were. Our arrival was planned for June 20 into Papeete. But first we had to visit the Tuomotus. These are atolls that lie between the Marquesas
and Tahiti. We had some wonderful snorkel trips there. We swam with black tip
sharks who were docile but big. Still made you pucker up when they swam towards you.
One of the atolls had a resort on it owned by a Frenchman. He invited we cruisers
over for a potluck one night and gave a few of us a tour of his resort. Awesome!
I told Stu I want to go back there and stay when I am 80. He fed the sharks from
his dock as children waded thru the water. More later......