Tahiti: First Stop on Playbill's "Broadway on the High Seas" Cruise

Ia orana!  I wasn't expecting much at Papeete on Tahiti from what I'd read, but the InterContinental Hotel surprised me with its beautiful lagoonarium (you can see the fish just by looking down from the bridge -- no need to actually get IN the water), its authentic dance story about the life of Paul Gauguin (mostly in French -- je l'aimais beaucoup!), grandiose buffets (especially love the poisson cru -- raw tuna cooked with coconut milk), and overwater bungalows.

Opening night festivities for the cruise were on the resort's private motu where we were treated to "adaptive" versions of tunes by Brian Stokes Mitchell and Liz Callaway.  Other stars I've met so far: Tommy Tune, Lewis Black, Alice Ripley, Christine Pedi, Howard McGillin, Roger Bart.

The daytime marche (with its rows of vanilla, fruit, ukeles, and pearls) was a local scene.  Incredibly humid and hot, but so inviting.

Marche de Papeete

InterContinental Tahiti

Ukele display at the Market in Papeete

We sail at midnight on the Paul Gauguin to Huahine.  Nana!