Big Town!!
10 April 2015 | Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva
Ange
We spent 2 days at Hanaiapa Bay before setting off for the island of Ua Pou about 60 miles north. An early start then a great sail with us arriving into the anchorage of Hakahau around 5pm. The silhouette of Ua Pou is very dramatic with large rock pillars stretching up into the sky. Unfortunately for most of the 2 days we were there cloud covered most of them & we weren't able to get a good look. We walked into the village to find the post office to access internet - it was very quiet due to Easter & we also had a wander around town. Not much here & then back to the boat.
Sunday we sailed across to Nuku Hiva, the largest & most populous of the Marquesas. Again as it was Easter we bypassed the town of Taiohae & anchored in the bay of Hakahaa further to the east. It is a lovely bay with the small village of Taipivai at its head. Monday we had a good walk after rowing ashore & taking a rough track along the hillside which lead us to the road to the village. Again another small slice of paradise with kids running & playing under an abundance of fruit trees & along a beautiful river which divided the town. We were advised that the famous tikis of Taipivai were only 1 ½ hours walk away, but seeing as though we didn't have walking shoes on or any money for water we decided not to do the 3 hour journey. We did spend 2 hours wandering though - so pretty & quiet. We had a nice afternoon on board playing dominoes & watching a local family fish & have fun on the small beach we were anchored off.
Tuesday morning we headed back around to the administrative capital of the Marquesas, Taiohae. There were plenty of boats here & number that we recognised from Hiva Oa. It was good to catch up with them & get the gossip on what the town provided. After checking with the gendarmerie we had a short wander through town which is pretty large (by Marquesan standards) with 2 -3 supermarkets, restaurants & such. Everyone has a horse tied up in the back yard & even some pigs camped out in the storm water drains! We've spent the last 4 days here catching up with other cruisers, eating way too many baguettes & generally having a good time!