PAPEETE, TAHITI

Departing Papeete, our tour will take us along the west coast of Tahiti.The highlight of our excursion is the visit to the Paul Gauguin Museum, set in a spacious tropical garden.

Departing Papeete, our tour will take us along the west coast of Tahiti. At La Pointe des Pecheurs (Fishermen’s Point), we stop to visit the interesting Museum of Tahiti & Her Islands, which displays not only a number of archaeological finds, but will help us to gain an impression of the island’s geology, its flora and fauna, and to learn about the culture and customs of ancient and modern Tahiti. The highlight of our excursion is the visit to the Paul Gauguin Museum, set in a tropical garden. Gauguin lived in Polynesia from June 1891 to August 1893, and again from August 1895 to May 1903 – the time of the artist’s death in the Marquesas Islands, where he is buried on Hiva Oa. The museum is a fascinating retrospective of his life on the islands. There is a display of Gauguin’s works in miniature showing where he found inspiration for his paintings (no major works of art are kept here, as they are prized possessions of galleries around the world). Our final stop will be at the Marae of Arahurahu – an open-air temple where Ma’ohi gods were worshipped – situated in a pretty valley. This tour involves walking within the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands where there are some steps; in the Paul Gauguin Museum and a walk of at least five minutes to and from the Marae Arahurahu, over uneven ground. Passengers are advised to wear practical shoes. Bring bottled water. Insect repellent is recommended. Itinerary and order of stops may vary dependent upon weather and traffic conditions.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2008 WORLD CRUISE