Incredible! That is the only word I can use to describe Moorea.

Incredibly beautiful Moorea

Moorea is a “sister” island to Tahiti. We are moored here for most of the day and this evening we sail for Tahiti, about an hour away.

Moorea - we are moored in Cook's Bay. The island is sinking about 10" a year and in about 10,000 years will look like Rangiroa...

This morning, shortly after mooring in Cook’s Bay, Moorea, we took a 4X4 excursion to several places renowned in Moorea: Tropical Garden, Magic Mountain, and Belvedere Point Lookout.

Our 4X4 -holds eight (assuming normal size people...) with plenty of grab bars. These are needed due to the very rough mountain trails.

The Tropical Garden was located at an elevation of about 1200 feet and is dedicated to the growing of vanilla. Vanilla is Moorea’s third largest cash crop, after pineapples and tourism. The locals have a saying: Moorea grows vanilla, Raiatea grows watermelons, and Bora Bora grows hotels…

Vanilla is the world’s second-most expensive spice after saffron. The vanilla orchid is a hermaphrodite and self-pollinates. After pollination, it takes about none months for the vanilla bean to form and the flower to drop off. Once harvested, vanilla beans will last for a very long time – especially if kept moist in a bottle of Mount Gay Rum.

Vanilla orchid. Notice the little "stems" under the orchid. Each one will become a vanilla bean after the orchid blooms and fall off.

Vanilla beans. These are immature beans. They take about nine months to mature for harvesting. Each one was propagated from a single orchid.

mv Paul Gauguin view from the Tropical Garden overlooking Opohonu Bay. 

Magic Mountain was truly magic. The lookout is about 1500 feet above sea level and the views of Opohonu Bay are spectacular.

B & E on Magic Mountain overlooking Opohonu Bay

Belvedere Lookout is over 2700 feet above sea level and affords views of both Cook’s Bay and Opohonu Bay.

Belvedere Lookout. Cook's Bay is to the right and you can just about make out our ship. Opohonu Bay is just to the right edge of the picture.

More to follow on Papeete…stay tuned.