Moorea is starting to feel like at least a vacation home. Bella Donna has moved into the neighborhood; we are surrounded by our swimming pool. We have a 360 degree view that changes out of every window as Bella Donna swings around her anchor guided by the winds and currents. Friends come and go to other anchorages on a daily basis. They have been neighbors before and may be neighbors again in anchorages in our future. The VHF radio is always on channel 16. Familiar voices call each other and switch to a different channel to talk. Alternatively neighbors show up in their dinghies and hang off our stern to visit. Neighbors are visiting with and helping neighbors; someone always needs something and someone is always giving what someone needs. Yesterday a man's wife was very sick and needed to see a doctor. Neighbors helped her to get ashore and to a doctor. It turns out she probably has appendicitis and ended up in the emergency room in Papeete. Another neighbor has a sick child that needs a doctor as well, again neighbors help. Nathan from Nakatcha drops by to say goodbye they are leaving for Huahine and Bora Bora. His navigation computer has failed and he needs help with maps and navigation for Huahine. John and Susan from Silky stop by just to visit.
Today we drive around the island with Donna. We start with a dinghy ride to the Sheraton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa over the flat lagoon water to rent a car. The only problem is the lagoon is shallow within 200 yards of shore and there are coral heads everywhere. Ant does an expert job of getting us to the resort's dinghy dock. As you walk off the large dinghy dock you notice the resort has a great beach which fronts the swimming pool, bars, shops, office and restaurants, all Polynesian open structures with thatched roofs. The resort guest rooms are standalone thatched roof bungalows on stilts over the water. We think of all the resorts on the island, this is the best one. The Sofitel is a close second between the ferry dock and the Jack Nicolas golf course near the airport. This lagoon offers views of sunrise, views of Big Tahiti and the peaks of Moorea will block the heat of the afternoon sun that sometimes occurs. The only official off road view point on the island is above this resort. On the other hand, Opunohu Bay and coast on the other end of the island's north coast is the most left natural stretch on Moorea. The local Polynesians have refused all development of it. Here you get to experience the natural beauty of the island the way Captain James Cook experienced it in 1769. The sunsets over the ocean are breathtaking; you at least have a chance to witness the rare, some claim a sundowner illusion, green flash. I think the world class cruising yachts at anchor, like Bella Donna, in the bay, offers a great view from the resort.
Remember in a previous blog I mentioned Moorea is triangular shaped. This true but because the corners are soft and very rounded, Moorea is also heart shaped. I think the island's shape has a lot to do with its laid back loving attitude. The French attitude here is definitely overcome with Polynesian warmth and love. I think many of the resort guests are newlyweds who realize this.
Donna loves her little Moorea adventure. We stop at Maria's Mexican Food for lunch; we are now looking forward to exercising in the beautiful lagoon water. John and Deborah drop off Donna and me at the beach across from where Bella Donna is anchored. We sit on the beach under a very large mature tree with twisted branches and trunk that provides big shade from the hot sun. The breeze is cool and immediately I feel like a nap; however, Ant shows up in the dinghy and off we go to put on swim suits. Donna and I exercise together in the water on the shady side of Bella Donna. The current is just strong enough that you can not just float as you would end up far from Bella Donna in minutes, so you get continuous exercise just managing to stay in the shade of Bella Donna. We have one of our dinghy bumpers on the end of a ski rope off the stern for those that forget. After an hour or more Donna and I sit together on the sun pad with a glass of wine and watch the sunset; it sure is good to have her here. We are in bed by 8:30.
God Bless Bella Donna.
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