TERRY, DID YOU RECEIVE THE CD WITH PHOTOS OF CREW AND OF OUR TRANSIT THROUGH THE CANAL? WE SENT IT HOME WITH THE LAST CREW WHO LEFT ON APR. 2. YOU SHOULD HAVE IT BY NOW.
Note: As of 4/11/03 I have not received the photos.
April 11, 2003 From Jan To Carol Gratsos
TWO YEARS AGO LEE AND I FLEW FROM OUR BOAT IN VENEZUELA TO ECUADOR TO GO TO THE GALAPAGOS. WE WERE ONE A SMALL CRUISE SHIP OF 40 PEOPLE FOR A WEEK. YOU'RE RIGHT IT IS AN INCREDIBLE PLACE AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURNING.
March 28, 2003 From Barbara and Harold Egger to Jan and Lee
I am a winter '55 grad and, just for your information, you couldn't be going to a finer place! We own an overwater bungalow at the CLUB Bali Hai on Cook's Bay on Moorea (10 minutes from Papeete) and it is the most beautiful, safest and peaceful place in the world that we have yet to see. We have been there six or seven times, one time for about seven weeks...I just can't get enough of it, nor can my husband Harold, so feel confident that you know what's ahead of you. The island of Huahine is wonderful also, particularly the flowers....do rent a bike and enjoy. It also has a wonderful bakery wagon at the dock, open very early every morning. You will also find that most stores open very early and close early due to weather...and habit. Raitea and Tahaa are small and you shouldn't feel bad if you don't fit them it. Bora Bora is beautiful on approach but nothing to brag about so far as the island itself. If you do dock there, do take the time to see the old Hotel Bora Bora and go out on the walkway at the water and view the irridescant (sp.?) fish...they are to die for! If Bloody Mary's Restaurant is still open, be very careful if you eat there..it's the only place in my 65 years I ever got food poisoning and truly thought I was going to die due to the food being put out on ice and not refrigerated!!! Marlon Brando's isle will kill you as the mosquitos are so very thick it's unbearable. If you come into one of Moorea's Bays, come all the way into Cook's Bay as you would be near a car and bike rental across from the Bali Hai and at the center at the end is a fair size market with most everything you'll need for all supplies and the people at the Bali Hai office know us (Ask for Rose the mgr. or any of the girls at the pool bar or Tano'a, the young woman who works at their gift shop. She's a dear and we stay in touch. Do send our regards and tell the girls I still have hope that I'll one day be well enough to go back at least once more.) and they would be happy to direct you around the Isle! On the other side of the isle is a huge market and extremely large dock where all the tourist and local's boats dock (very busy)! On the Island of Tahiti, Papeete is a lot like Oahu, HI, typical tourist...keep your eyes on the traffic!
So much for now as this is probably costing you quite a bit. Hope it helps. Oh yes, as far as I know, most of the ships that dock in Cook's Bay always seemed to be safe enough....and you can get fuel near Bali Hai, if that's any help.
P, S, There never used to be any graffiti or crime and all the women wore their pareos and rubber thongs and the men, their pareos and rubber thongs but then......they were able to get TV and computers and the whole place changed!!!! Now the young guys have Adidas and the women have changed their attire. I have always found that even though the Polynesian men appeared to be very large and kind of scary, since I didn't know them, I could always walk to the market at 5:30 a.m. or take the outrigger alone across the Bay and I was always safe (and they were nice but just didn't initiate discussions)....I hope it's still that way as we haven't been there since before I was diagnosed with Amyloidosis and cancer about a year and a half ago.
Best wishes and happy sailing,
Barbara and Harold Egger
P. S. If we can answer any other questions before you get there, let us know. Do take in at least one sunset from the Bali Hai looking across the Bay. Incidentally they have crab races and numerous other things in the evenings for tourists and visitors and it's a lot of fun plus their outstanding pool bar which is open to anyone sailing in also!
March 22, 2003 From Jan to Jerry Carson
Jerry, I am glad that you have gotten your boat ready to go. I heard on day that you couldn't get down the marina drive way and the next, you are all ready to go sailing. You are a fast guy.
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