Stan and Glenda visit Part 1

On March 7^th, Mike's best buddy from High School, Stan Bradshaw and his wife Glenda stopped in for a visit on their way home to Montana from New Zealand. They were here for 5 days and we had a great time. This year would have been Mike & Stan's 50^th high school reunion, so we had good reason to celebrate!

It started with flower lei's for them both at the airport.

These guys are big time canoer's back in Montana, but this was the first time they had slept on a sailboat.

They were very kind to bring us our delayed wedding gifts. Some of these gifts had been sent from Mexico to LA to Montana, then flown to New Zealand while they were on vacation and finally brought to us in French Polynesia. Thanks so much for all you sweet people who sent us these gifts!! It feels so good to be loved!

One of our small neighbors was motoring down the channel. This big dog boat is made of all carbon fiber (masts and hulls) according to the guy we spoke to from the boat. It weighs less than Avatar! And they had it up to 34 knots under sail on the way across the Pacific!! Yikes!

This was another one of those amazing, fantastic sunsets!!

The next morning we sailed them over to Moorea. It was a bit cloudy and rainy, but we made it to our favorite anchorage spot by the beach park in D'Openeau bay. We were treated to a show of kids paddling Va'a canoes, practicing for a big race coming up.

Mount Tautuapae peaking out of the clouds.

We hiked up to the Tropical Gardens and looked at their creek and waterfall.  Unfortunately there were no Vanilla plants in bloom.

A lovely little bird flew in and took a drink.

The view from up here is amazing!

Avatar resting at anchor.

The next morning early it was beautiful and sunny! So off to feed Stan and Glenda to the stingrays! They were covered in Mike's Lycra shirts to protect their very white Montana skin from the brutal South Pacific Sun.

Of course both Mike and I wear ours all the time.

I like to keep protected from the sun while snorkeling. Can you believe how clear that water is?!?!

Stan fed the rays while Glenda squealed a bit, but this shot shows the ray chasing them both hoping for more tuna.

Avatar was looking lovely in the turquoise lagoon waters by the beach park.

I showed them how to paddle board, but they did not take me up on the offer. Stan however did really help me with my paddle stroke being the long distance canoe paddler he is. I think he was impress with those Va'a paddlers too!

We headed back to Tahiti, with me at the helm.

There was quite a good breeze so we had a great sail!!

As we approached the reef pass near Marina Taina, this huge 3 masted mega yacht sailboat named “EOS” was waiting outside the pass for some guests to be shuttled out. Apparently their draft is too deep to enter the pass, so they sent in a very fancy launch.

It was another spectacular sunset behind Moorea.

We sailed back to Tahiti because Stan and Glenda had never seen a Polynesian dance show. I had made us reservations for the Intercontinental Resort show for dinner (big buffet) before we left for Moorea. Turned out to be a good idea as we got a front row table for the show. We had never been to this show, so it was new for us too. The gals start it off in their coconut bras.

Then the guys strut their stuff in green pareos.

Other girls came out in many colored outfits, swinging their hips so fast and waving their arms about.

The guys came back in new pareos.

Then the fire dancer tossed his burning baton high into the air several times.

The girls came back with lovely flowered bras and crowns.

Girls troupe number two came back on in their leaf and flower costumes.

This dance showed how the Tahitians climb up the mountain every June and pick oranges from 50 foot tall trees that no one knows who planted them. Love these fancy costumes!

As with most dance shows we have been to, they usually pick people out of the crowd to come up and dance with them. Who is that behind those studly male dancers?!?

OMG they picked me!! And I was to be the last guest on the stage, surrounded by hot sweaty muscular tattooed men in not very much clothes. Ya hoo!

I must have done OK because even our waiter came over and told me I did a great job. By the way the dress I am wearing, I bought in the Marquesas, so maybe that is why they picked me.

After each show people can come up and have their photos taken with the dancers. I seem a bit happy and excited don't you think?! Those earrings are carved Tiare flowers, which is the symbol of Tahiti. Same one on the tail of the big Air Tahiti Nui airplanes that bring the tourists.