FRENCH POLYNESIA

 

French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France comprising of 121 islands and atolls stretching across more than 1200 miles, occupying 3.8 million EEZ square miles.  Thus FP has 84% of the French EEZ.  The USA has around 4 million square miles of EEZ.  France has 4.5 million square miles, where, with 0.45% of the world's land surface, their EEZ covers 9% of all the world EEZ area.  

FP has a total population of 278,786, and their land area is divided into five groups of islands:  Society Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, Gambier Islands, Marquesas Islands and Austral Islands.  75 of their islands and atolls are inhabitated.  The Society Islands group has 69% of the population.  The capital is Tahiti.  France took over those islands in 1842, but has called this area French Polynesia only since 1957.

About some earlier history.

• The Great Polynesian Migration commenced around 1500 BC.
• The Marquesas were settled around 200 BC.
• The Society Islands around AD 300.
• European encounters began in 1521 when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan on a Spanish expedition sighted Puka-Puka.
• Other explorers came from the Netherlands and Great Britain.
• 
  Finally came Louis Antoine de Bougainville of France, who visited Tahiti in 1768, followed by James Cook the following year.
• Interestingly enough the expulsion of French Catholic missionaries, which resulted in France sending a gunboat in 1838 eventually led to France annexing Tahiti in 1880.
• This led to a series of treaties and agreements, plus aggressive steps by France to expand their interest.
• After World War II Polynesians were granted French citizenship and these islands became an overseas territory, with the name French Polynesia in 1957.
• Partial internal autonomy came in 1984, extended, than in 2003 FP attained something called a full overseas collectivity.
• In 2013 FP was called by the United Nations as non-self governing territories.
• 
  FP has a parliamentary representative democratic  government with a president.
• Lot of insecurity and political instability from after Year 2000.
• There has been political stability since 2015.
• As a collectivity, France remains in control of justice, university education, security and defense.
• Edouard Fritch is president of French Polynesia.

Other facts:

• Total land area of 1359 square miles.  How large is that?  The Big Island of Hawaii alone has 4028 square miles.
• Ethnic mix:  83% Polynesian, and 12% European, 5% Asian.  However, various publications purport that the Chinese population is also around 12%, including the U.S. CIA.

• French is the only official language.
• Mostly Christian.
• GDP/capita of $21,615.  Hawaii's is around $60,000.
• Seabed mining could some day become important.
• There are 53 airports, with Fa'aa International Airport on Tahiti, which opened in 1960, is the only world hub.

Some fun facts:

• There are 13 letters in the Tahitian alphabet.
• The overwater bungalow was created in French Polynesia.
• Tahitian letterboxes are actually for bread deliveries.  No mail is delivered.  You need to go to the post office to collect your mail.

• 
  Bora Bora is said to be the most photographed island in the South Pacific.
• The word tattoo comes from Tahiti.
• Home to the world's only coral atoll vineyard. VinDu Tahiti by the Domaine Dominique Aurora Winery.   FP's only wine label.

• 
  There are no poisonous snakes.
• The Tiare Apetahi flower only grown on the island of Raiatea.  No one has successfully replanted it anywhere else in the world.

I could go on and on, but back to our cruise.  A full day with lot's of dancing on the ship in Cook's Bay.  The view from our veranda when we arrived.

Then went for lunch at the Colonnade, with more of the island.

Notice the hole at the top, just like the windward view toward the Koolaus.  A second hole.  See if you can find it.

My lunch, of perch, prime rib and large salad, with soup, champagne and rosé wine.

We finally went the The Restaurant for dinner.  We had avoided large indoor crowds, but our outbreak has lessened.  Two wines from Australia.

Dinner in The Restaurant was Coppa Ham with Asparagus plus Ricotta flan and Crisp and Soft Garden Vegetables Bouquet for the first course.

Second course was Mixed Lettuce with Mimosa Garnish, Angel Hair Pasta with both Bolognese and Peso Sauces and Lamb.

Dessert was a Hot Amaretto Soufflé, Passion Fruit Sorbet and Petit Fours.

Tonight was the Let's Dance Party around the pool, with entertainment by all the singers and dancers.

 

Danced with Nikki.

Had an Appleton Estate whisky.  They are from Jamaica and famous for rum.

After the dance, went to The Club.

We were the only ones in the audience.  The music stopped, so we went home.

A good day.  7183 steps.  Lot of dancing.

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