Steve's Genealogy Blog

Just some views of Raiatea from the lagoon.

Raiatea 1

SOURCE: Raiatea 1 (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Raiatea 2

SOURCE: Raiatoa 1 (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Impending Storm 1

SOURCE: Impending Storm 1 (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Impending Storm 2

SOURCE: Impending Storm 2 (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

The Taputapuatea marae in Raiatea includes a number of distinct marae, all contructed in a similar fashion. They all include a paved courtyard, sometimes enclosed by a low wall. All include a number of upright stones that represent the position of the gods and the family members. Near the Marae were a number of educational plaques, one of which describes the history of the Marae.

History of the Marae

SOURCE: History of the Marae (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Marae 2

SOURCE: Marae 2 (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Marae Hauviri

SOURCE: Marae Hauviri (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis)

SOURCE: Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis) (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

Before coming to Raiatea, I had not heard of a marae. In Polynesian society, a marae was a sacred space, a rectangular area cleared and bordered with stones or wooden posts. Altars were constructed on which to place offerings to the gods. Human bones have been found in some marae, and these bones are thought to be the remains of human sacrifices.

Tahua-Marae Taputapuātea

SOURCE: Tahua-Marae Taputapuātea  (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Offerings to the Gods

SOURCE: Offerings to the Gods (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Detail of Offerings to the Gods

SOURCE: Detail of Offerings to the Gods (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Trees at the Marae

SOURCE: Trees at the Marae (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

The next island on my vacation was Raiatea. This island is home to the Faaroa River, the only navigable river in French Polynesia. Unwittingly, I had actually booked two excursions on the Faaroa River on the same day, one in a flat-bottom, motorized boat, and another in a canoe. The only real difference between the two vessels was that the canoe had an outrigger. There wasn’t much to do on these trips except look at the scenery. The boats put-putted along, as far up the river as they could go. Then, they put-putted back to the lagoon.

Faaroa River – 1

SOURCE: Faaroa River – 1 (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Faaroa River – 2

SOURCE: Faaroa River – 2 (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Faaroa River – 3

SOURCE: Faaroa River – 3 (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Faaroa River – 4

SOURCE: Faaroa River – 4 (Raiatea, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 09 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

So, I’ve wanted to ride a Jet Ski or WaveRunner for a long time now, and this visit to Bora Bora was my chance. The island of Bora Bora is surrounded by a lagoon which, in turn, is surrounded by a barrier reef. Each guide took a group of four riders with him, and each of us was on his own Yamaha WaveRunner. The ride through the lagoon around Bora Bora took about two hours. Part-way through the ride, we stopped to the guide’s private motu for some coconut water (drunk directly from green coconuts) and tropical fruit. Some hermit crabs tried to crash the party on the motu. I suppose I can chalk this one off my bucket list, but I really want to do this again!

Bora Bora Lagoon

SOURCE: Bora Bora Lagoon (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

Steve on Waverunner

SOURCE: Steve on Waverunner (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed for Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

Hermit Crab

SOURCE: Hermit Crab (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

Waverunner View of Bora Bora

SOURCE: Waverunner View of Bora Bora (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

Before heading back to the ship, we stopped for a photo opportunity. While taking pictures of the scenery, one of the almost daily showers approached.

Steve on Bora Bora

SOURCE: Steve on Bora Bora (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

View to the Peaks

SOURCE: View to the Peaks (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera)

SOURCE: Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera) (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

The Daily Cloudburst

SOURCE: The Daily Cloudburst (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

During a 4×4 excursion through Bora Bora, we stopped at the Paarara Mountain Artist Studio. I don’t have photos of the studio where hand-painted pareos (similar to sarongs) are decorated, but I do have photos from around the studio. Nestled in an impressive landscape, the studio was surrounded by flowers, bananas, papayas, and breadfruit. The owners of the studio offered samples of fruit and the opportunity to purchase one of their beautiful pareos. I would have bought one, but I discovered that I had left my wallet behind when I left the ship that morning!

View from the Paarara Mountain Artist Studio

SOURCE: View from the Paarara Mountain Artist Studio (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

Breadfruit Tree (Artocarpus altilis)

SOURCE: Breadfruit Tree (Artocarpus altilis) (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis)

SOURCE: Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

Papaya (Carica papaya)

SOURCE: Papaya (Carica papaya) (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

During World War II, the United States maintained a supply base on Bora Bora. After the war, eight cannons were left behind, two of which are located on Mont Poopooureroa. The view of Bora Bora’s lagoon from Mont Poopooureroa is spectacular.

Cannon on Mont Poopooureroa – 1

SOURCE: Cannon on Mont Poopooureroa – 1 (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

Cannon on Mont Poopooureroa – 2

SOURCE: Cannon on Mont Poopooureroa – 2 (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

The View from Mont Poopooureroa – 1

SOURCE: The View from Mont Poopooureroa – 1 (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

The View from Mont Poopooureroa – 2

SOURCE: The View from Mont Poopooureroa – 2 (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

A wonderful vacation in the South Pacific deserves a wonderful sunset.

Bora Bora Sunset 1

SOURCE: Bora Bora Sunset 1 (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Bora Bora Sunset 2

SOURCE: Bora Bora Sunset 2 (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Bora Bora Sunset 3

SOURCE: Bora Bora Sunset 3 (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Sunset from the Beach of Bora Bora

SOURCE: Sunset from the Beach of Bora Bora (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

I was able to get a seat aboard a sunset catamaran cruise on the first day in Bora Bora. The operators of the cruise took us to a site where we could swim with the stingrays and enjoy the Bora Bora sunset from the catamaran. The catamaran operators served “Tahiti Drink,” a cocktail distributed in what look like milk cartons that contain pineapple juice, passion fruit juice, orange juice, vanilla, and cane spirit. This drink, made in Moorea, contains about 8% alcohol. The catamaran operators also served non-alcoholic pineapple-peach juice and pineapple-coconut juice.

Catamaran Guide at Sunset

SOURCE: Catamaran Guide at Sunset (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Pink Whipray (Himantura fai)

SOURCE: Pink Whipray (Himantura fai) (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Motu Toopua at Sunset

SOURCE: Motu Toopua at Sunset (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Bora Bora Early Sunset

SOURCE: Bora Bora Early Sunset (Bora Bora, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko