Friday 28th March
THE GRAND TOUR
Went across this spectacular island with Pifa O'Connor as our driver and guide.
Pifa (second name Robert) and about 100 of his relatives are descended from needless to say a gentleman from Ireland! A very personable young man, who had been to college in Hawaii and spoke perfect English, he drove us expertly on mainly dirt track roads sometimes with shear drops either side amid some amazingly rugged coastline and mountains! JB thought it was the most beautiful island she had ever been to!
The drive across the Island took over one and a half hours and inevitably at a restaurant, belonging to one of his cousins, we had a lunch of pork, goat and raw fish not to mention bananas cooked in the ground, various coconut dishes and bread-fruit. Not really my taste and I didn't eat too much!
On then to the Me'ae Iopona where one Takii stands 7 foot high, the largest in the Marquesas! The chilling part was when the chief died so that he had a trusted companion in the afterlife a human sacrifice was made keep him company! It was considered a great honour to be chosen!
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