Nuku Hiva ....

.... is the second largest island of French Polynesia after Tahiti and was our destination for the day.

The ARANUI 5 anchored in the bay of Taiohae and immediately the loading and unloading work began. Passing by fire trees, we visited the cathedral .... designed and built by the Marquesans themselves in the 1970s. At that time, the former Marquesan culture had de facto disappeared, or more precisely, been eradicated by the French - state and church. It is only since that time that there has been a revival and the gradual emergence of a new Marquesan culture.

We witnessed testimonies of both ancient and new Marquesan culture at the historic ceremonial site Tohua Kamuihei, seeing, hearing, and experiencing 🌸

We then continued on to the beautiful bay of Hatiheu, where we were welcomed with a traditional Marquesan lunch as well as Marquesan music 🌸

Through mountain passes and past wild horses, we then made our way back to Taiohae, where the ARANUI 5 was already waiting for us .... and with it, a Marquesan celebration on deck 7 .... more on that later 🌸