Day 39 The capital of Isles Marquises

Nuka Hiva
Dolphins - It is not unusual to have a dolphin escort at night. I suspect that as our boat goes through the water it creates a disturbance that either attracts or repels small fish. I get the sense that the dolphins are not just visiting to be friendly but are showing up for a snack. Most of the time these are the smaller variety that Mark calls “spinners” because sometimes when they jump they also combine a full twist resulting in a spinning leap out of the water. This probably also has a function which may be to look around and see what is going on around them. Birds are also attracted to our passing but more on that later.
Nuka Hiva - This is the largest island in the archipelago and its major town Taiohae is the administrative capital of the Marquises. One of its main tourist sights is a 350 meter tall waterfall reputed to be one of the world’s tallest. This attraction is several hours by boat and hike from the town.
We arrived in time for lunch so we dinghied to shore and walked up to the Pearl Resort. This is the same chain that we had visited in Hiva Oa. They have a dozen locations throughout French Polynesia and some are quite luxurious and exotic. The attraction of this one was a pool and an Internet connection right next to the restaurant. We spend the afternoon trading spots at the computer to check e-mail and cooling off in the pool.
By the time the day was done, we had eaten a few meals, done a few boat chores and played some cards. We decided that since it was Sunday, we deserved a day off.