Yesterday, we were forced to still stay on board sre to high swell.

This morning the swell was down, thus after breakfast we dinghied into the tiny harbor. It’s swell was sufficiently low to dock the dingy with a stern anchor.

We walked all the way through the village’s main road until we reached the it’s ends changing to dirt road leading into the jungle.

The gardens around the houses are pretty well maintained and full of fruit trees. Pampelmouse ( shaddocks), limes, papaya, breadfruit and few other which I don’t know. Unfortunately there was no chance to talk to someone and ask for few fruits. We walked too fast.

The people are very friendly and often greet first although I try, as a guest in the village, to always greet first. Either with the Polynesia “kaoha” or the simple French “Bonjour”.

Unfortunately Inge wanted to buy some food and we needed to return after reaching the jungle to go back to get the last minutes during which the shop was open.
Inge was bit surprised that the shop didn’t have any fresh fruits or vegetables beside garlic.

In front of the shop, a few ladies were sitting and chatting. The usual pattern in these villages. When I sat down on the same wall next to the ladies, one asked me if we want to see tapas. Here in Polynesia painting Polynesian patterns on sheets of tapa is a traditional art. I saw already many and bought some with my OBM in August. Inge was not interested, thus I had to decline the offer.

For local people art work is one of the few things which can bring them an income. Today I learned that tomorrow the “Paul Gauguin” cruise ship arrives. This means the village is flooded for a day with tourist. Like all cruise ships, they don’t leave much money at places where they stop over.

After being back on MaRe for a while, a local boat came and asked if we want fish. They, Jacque and Fabian, came the about 5 – 6 NM from Hanavave, the village at the Bay of Virgins, with plenty of fish and tried to sell them to the boats in the bay. We took two, same fish as last time and about the same size. They didn’t want money but asked for beer. As they didn’t ask for strong liquors, I agreed.

The fishes we got are, if I’m not mistaken, sea brasses; they taste excellent.

Tomorrow we plan to sail back into the Bay of Virgins.