Friday, July 15, 2005

geography lesson

If you listen very long to a group of cruisers, you will quickly see if your geography is up to snuff. Cruisers name drop like members of the united nations. I've heard teenagers on the ham radio talking about the friends they met in Panama. I've participated in conversations where the Galapagos, the Marquesas, Bonaire, and the Tuamotus are referred to as casually as most Americans say they went to the mall. "Did you go around the horn or through the Med?" Did you go to Fatu Hiva or Ua Pu? "We liked PV, how did it compare to Zihuat?" We drop names to each other and forget that just a year or two ago we didn't know where Papeete was, let alone that it's pronounced "pa pay e tay."

There are many island nations between Central America and Australia. Mainly, cruisers go from North or Central America to the Marquesas. It's a 3,000 mile trip usually with no stops. If you look on a world map, they may not even show up. The next two island groups west, as well as two more to the south are all part of French Polynesia. The Marquesas, the Tuamotus, the Societies, the Gambiers and the Australs are all Polynesian nations that are governed by France. With the exception of the Societies, most tourists do not visit these islands because facilities are limited. You won't find many hotels, banks, restaurants or public transportation. Cruisers love the unspoiled beauty and the remoteness. The Societies are where we are now. Most people have heard of Tahiti and Bora Bora. Four other islands make up the chain, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, and Tahaa. We're working our way through them slowly but surely. Look at a world map and draw a line straight west from the top of Chile and straight south from Hawaii and you will have roughly our location.

That's where we are. Hope that answers all the questions that have come in on the e-mail recently. Come and visit us, we'd love to show you someplace that your friends have never heard of. Then you too can name drop like a cruiser.

-Kellie

"Tourists know where they are going. Travelers know where they have been." Unknown

1 Comments:

At 6:57 AM, linellen said...

I really enjoy reading all your postings. Such detail! Wow! Pete you did a wonderful job on the video of the Fosters. What kind of camera did you buy? Great music too.... take care and maybe I'll see you in Fiji or Tonga!
Linda
(Wyndeavor crew 04)

 

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