As I’m alone at the moment I spend most days below deck, working on my sofa-upholstery-renewal project, writing articles or making jewellery. After such a productive day I try to stretch my legs doing long walks around the yacht club area and up in the surrounding hills in the evenings. Arue is a suburb of Papeete (the city has long overgrown its borders and incorporated the former villages of Mamao, Pirae and Arue furthest north), too densely populated to count as a village, but too small to count as a real town.
Wherever I go friendly faces smile at me on the road, when I smile back a melodic “Ia orana” follows. When I wander into residential areas people wave out from their gardens and ask if I search for someone and need directions.
On a Sunday, like today, people gather around little streams for a picnic with friends, or they just sit on the back of a pick-up truck with some beers. Quite often someone has brought a ukulele and others join in singing.
The Polynesians are cheerful, friendly people and they certainly know how to have a good time. It’s easy to feel at home here.
