Maré: A Tour of the Island Begins

Photo by Laurent Guiader, 2006.

To continue our story of our tour of the Loyalty Islands, we spent the second day (16 December) in Maré touring the island with a local guide. We started here, at a picturesque (and often photographed) corner of Maré, not too far from our hotel (Nengone Village). A stone's throw away, you can get down into the cove where you have one of the nicest beaches (la plage de pede) and snorkelling locations in Maré.

We then drove to the natural aquarium (pictured below), which is an outdoor inlet fed by the sea flowing under the coral formations. It provides a wonderful refuge for fish and turtles and it is forbidden to swim or fish there. We were thoroughly impressed with the number of fish you could see and the water's transparency.

Photo by Laurent Guiader, 2006.

Stay tuned for the rest of the tour ...

Video: A Typical Drive in Nouméa

Would you like to see a typical drive in Nouméa? If so, you'll enjoy the three-minute clip below. (Click on the arrow and turn up the volume.) This clip is brought to you by YouTube member, ipiroro. This is his drive to work: you'll love where he works.

The drive begins on Promenade Vernier and continues past Ouen Toro past "The Roof" (a great restaurant on the water" to the tourist office (look for the hut) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (not shown, but it is across from the tourist office) at Anse Vata. Nouméans will recognise the drive easily and those at a distance will remember it fondly (I am thinking in particular of Caitlin and Xavier).

Laurent runs this stretch, Sophie is learning how to drive here, and this is my favourite bit to drive with Pablo (we do it at least once a week). Doesn't it make you dream, smile, want to visit?

My thanks to ipiroro.

Maré: A Great Place to Rest and Relax

Photo by Laurent Guiader, 2006.

As we had an early departure for Maré (by early I mean the taxi to the airport arrived at 5 am) and thus an early arrival, Laurent, Sophie, Pablo and I spent the first day resting and relaxing. The last few days leading up to our departure had been a little busy, what with Sophie taking her big exam (brevet), Laurent finishing up work, and me trying to finish up a guide I am working on (which I am still working on!) and getting everything ready for our trip. Pablo was busy learning how to pull himself up to wander around whatever room he happened to be in.

Maré, being quiet and secluded, was the perfect place for R&R. The first day, we settled in, napped, visited the hotel pool (pictured above) and went for a walk on the beach and a roll in the sand (Pablo and I). We also just sat on our terrace and enjoyed the view:

Photo by Laurent Guiader, 2006.

Happy New Year from New Caledonia!

Photo by Laurent Guiader, 2006.

All of us in New Caledonia wish all of you wherever you are a VERY HAPPY and HEALTHY 2007. One of the first in the world to celebrate the New Year, along with Sydney and Auckland, Nouméa's skies lit up at midnight as fireworks painted the sky. From Ilôt Maitre to Baie des Citrons to Anse Vata and beyond, it seemed as if all the world were happy with the dawn of a new year. Boats, little and tall, tooted their horns, cars beeped out their drivers' joy and laughter and popping champagne filled the air in Nouméa's early hours. All the best for a magnificent and memorable year!