Viatape, Bora Bora is incredibly beautiful.


 Approaching this island of French Polynesia by sea, you get a glimpse of the past. It appears out of the mist, announced by land-based seabirds that we haven’t been seeing while at sea. It wants to claim South Pacific” fame, although that actually belongs to Vanuatu, located in the Coral Sea, much closer to WW II combat, where Michener was stationed while collecting his “Tales of the South Pacific.”

The waves breaking on the encircling reefs are beautiful from the deck of a modern vessel or a surfboard but must have been terrifying from the crows nest of as square rigger. 



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