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| Nuku Hiva |
We anchored in Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva enjoying the biggest city of the Marquesas Islands. The people are friendly and cater to tourists needs with a variety of guided tours, restaurants and crafts for sale. Fishing and farming are their big industries. We are surprised to see so many cruisers we know who crossed on the Pacific Paddle Jump, like us, from Mexico. Our uneventful passage of 22 days seems easy compared to the s/v SlowRide whose passage took 36 days and without a transmission! One day they slipped backwards in the current! We hear the record slow is 37 days!
This port is an easy last stop for provisions and repairs before leaving the Marquesas Island group to go to the next, the Tuamotu Islands.
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| Many cruisers make this their last stop before the Tuamotu Islands |
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| Scenic Taihoe Bay |
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| Shopper at the local farmers market. Many fresh fruits and vegetables with an Asian influence are available.. The freight ship delivers other necessities every three weeks. |
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| Tikis |
We land and do the immediate...Internet, food and laundry. Then a little exploring. We met up with s/v Breeze and get reacquainted with Per, Sabina and Ella on board. They have been here a week and know all the sites to see. We plan a horseback ride for the next day to get a different view of the island.
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| The crew of s/v Breeze; Sabina, Per and Ella |
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| A 3,000 acre horse ranch atop Taihoe Bay. We rented horses for a tour of the high plateau. |
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| Looks like any horse ranch in Montana |
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| Helmets required! |
What a different view it was! I thought I was at a Montana "dude"ranch. Beautiful, wide open grass pastures planted with special imported New Zealand grass for the New Zealand beef cattle who can't digest the native grasses!
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| A grandma on a horse in the Marquesas! |
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| Getting to know their "rides"- Per, Ella and Sabina |
Our guide took us through forest of sustainable pines planted by the government for inexpensive wood. The other trees are imports from other countries. The grounds were covered in ferns and the wild horses and cattle graze on the fern shoots.
It was interesting to see a working ranch; the rustic cabin and minimum necessities. Lots of animals; dogs, puppies, pigs, cats and horses. Our tour guide even stopped in the middle of the road when a wild goat family crossed and she captured two kids to take home for pets! We held two squeeling baby goats for the ride down the mountain.
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| Rustic bunk cabin and bare necessities |
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| Puppy can't get enough from momma! |
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| Is this really the Marquesas? |
The next night we go to the community show where we get a glimpse of local talents and ancient dancing.
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| Marquesan dancers perform at the community center. |
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| Ancient hunter's dance |
Before we leave to explore other bays around the island, Mark decides to have a real Marquesan tatoo. The local artists are supposed to be the best!
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| Mark has a Tiki design tatoo |
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| s/v Bravo chooses a "fair winds" tatoo from same artist |
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| A local waitress shows off her tatoos |
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