Ever since French explorers landed on the island in the 18th century, Tahiti has almost singularly represented the tropical-paradise myth for Europeans. lt’s French Polynesia’s biggest, most famous and historically interesting, but the glossy pictures in travel agents’ windows are almost certainly of other unspoilt French Polynesian islands. People come to French Polynesia to live it up in stylish resorts, scuba dive in lagoons teeming with tropical fish, gorge on the unique mix of French and Polynesian cuisine and, basically, experience a little French chin mixed with South Pacific charm.
The drier, cooler months from June to October, or in July for the Heiva i Tahiti festivities
Approaching the impossibly beautiful, rugged coastline of the Marquesas under sail Gazing at the amazing tiki and other archaeological artifacts at Hiva Oa Snorkelling the gorgeous lagoon at bora Bora Partying in Pape’ete Daydreaming on Mo’orea, an accessible yet still traditional island Browsing and bargaining at Marche du Pape’ete on a busy Sunday
Read The Marriage of Loti, by Pierre Loti, a romance that reinforced the romantic myth of Tahiti.
Listen to Echo Des lles Tuamotu Et De Bora Bora, an authentic slice of Paumotu music by Marie Mariteragi.
Watch the 1962 remake of Mutiny on the Bounty, starring Marlon Brando as Christian-much of this film was shot in Tahiti.
Eat from les roulettes, the cheap roadside snack bars.
Drink a local Maitai, a distinctively Polynesian take on the cocktail (there’s a hefty wallop of coconut liqueur in every drink).
Aita pe’a (no problems)
Paul Gauguin’s of island beauty; green mountains leaping from sapphire lagoons; surfing championships; tiki ornaments hanging over every dashboard; colourful pareu (fabric) worn by men and women; lascivious dancing that outraged missionaries
Even the ‘always-smiling’ Tahitians get the ‘blues’ (a mood they call fiu), when they can seem distant or incommunicative
lt’s common to speak of Tahiti as if it were the whole colony; in fact it is merely the largest island, the site of the capital (Pape’ete) and the only international airport (Faa’a)