December 6- Bora Bora

We have sailed into the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The water is this incredible blue, the green vegetation is bright and the mountain peaks around tie it all together in amazing ways. Dolphins were jumping joyously beside the ship, a couple sail boats went by as well as a power boat with an outrigger. The Paul Gauguin cruise ship is also docked here. Sailboats, glass bottom boats, kayaks zip by our ship. A group of about 6 kayakers hang out and try to catch the wake behind our tenders. Must be a great ride!

We are in Bora Bora, an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The island, located about 143 miles northwest of Papeete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 2,385 feet.

Bora Bora is a major international tourist destination, famous for its aqua-centric luxury resorts. The major settlement, Vaitape, is on the western side of the main island, opposite the main channel into the lagoon. Produce of the island is mostly limited to what can be obtained from the sea and the plentiful coconut trees, which were historically of economic importance for copra. According to a 2008 census, Bora Bora has a permanent population of 8,880 with 5000 of the population living in the town of Vaitape.

The island was inhabited by Polynesian settlers around the 4th century AD. The first European sighting was made by Jakob Roggeveen in 1722. James Cook sighted the island in 1770 and landed that same year. The London Missionary Society arrived in 1820 and founded a Protestant church in 1890. Bora Bora was an independent kingdom until 1888 when its last queen Teriimaevarua III was forced to abdicate by the French who annexed the island as a colony.

In World War II the United States chose Bora Bora as a South Pacific military supply base, and an oil depot, airstrip, seaplane base, and defensive fortifications were constructed. Known as "Operation Bobcat", it maintained a supply force of nine ships, 20,000 tons of equipment and nearly 7,000 men. Seven artillery guns were set up at strategic points around the island to protect it against potential military attack.

However, the island saw no combat as the American presence on Bora Bora went uncontested over the course of the war. The base was officially closed on June 2, 1946. Only one former US serviceman, Fred Giles, returned to the island.The World War II airstrip, which was never able to accommodate large aircraft, was French Polynesia's only international airport until Faa'a International Airport was opened in Papeete, Tahiti, in 1960.

Bloody Mary’s Bar is a popular tourist destination. This island was Bali Hi and the setting of much of the musical “South Pacific.” You can look around and imagine the mansion on the hill where the Frenchman lived and see the hut where Lieutenant Cable and his native love were together. Since we have had so much happening in the US about prejudice and racism I keep wanting to sing “You’ve Got to be Taught to Hate” from the musical. How true that is! It seems fear of differences has been “drummed in their dear little ears.”

Late this afternoon there was a Folkloric show filled with lots of music and dancing. We

always enjoy those so much and this one was no disappointment. Great way to end this cruise.

Our bags are packed and ready to be closed and placed outside the door by 11:00. We are shipping two bags via Luggage Free. Hope they get home at the promised December 17^th date. They asked us to remove Jim’s camera and our MacBook Air because of the Lithium batteries. Might be a good thing for other reasons too.

Once again Regent has taken great care of us and provided 18 days of terrific food, good entertainment, lively dinner companions, and amazing sights. Can’t wait to see what we book next!

We’ve traveled 5844 nautical miles from Los Angeles and we have 152 to go to Papeete, Tahiti tomorrow. Tahiti for one day, then fly to Los Angeles, fly to Oakland to visit Rich and Arta Wilbanks- our cousins- and then home.  What a life!

The chocolate on the pillow at night is in an envelop with a different quote about travel. One says something about how wonderful travel is but it is always good to get home to your own pillow…and that is so true!