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Helen Betts | all galleries >> Galleries >> A Week in Tahiti > Downtown Papeete
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1987

Downtown Papeete

Not the most attractive capital city I’ve ever seen, but perhaps it’s changed over the years.

*****

In 1987 we stopped in Tahiti on our way home after our two-year posting to Canberra. Needless to say, it was quite a change from Australia and a pleasant interlude before facing life in Washington, D.C.

‘Can’t I have another treat?’ posted earlier:

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Carl Carbone26-Apr-2024 15:54
Interesting. Nice to have a shot to compare.
Julie Oldfield24-Apr-2024 02:46
It is an interesting looking place with unique architecture…especially on the right. V
Liz Bickel24-Apr-2024 02:31
I agree that Papeete was not overall an attractive capitol "city". Things seem to have also become a whole lot busier during the couple of years between when we were there and when you were. Because of the narrow streets, there were only a few cars in town when we visited Papeete. Transportation was mainly bicycles and motor scooters, certainly not heavy car traffic. Actually, most people in town just walked. At the time of our visit, Papeete was a very sleepy town. It was extremely laidback with not-much-going-on. I find your photo with all the traffic interesting. It doesn't look anything like the Papeete I remember. Change certainly happens very fast. With the enormous increase in tourism since your visit, things must be even more hectic today.

As much as I wanted to love it, I remember the capital "city" as being a fairly dirty town. 😔 I especially remember one shop that had a decomposing dead critter in their front display window. Ugh!!! However, downtown is now probably a lot cleaner today than what I remember. Too many tourists now.
Tom Munson23-Apr-2024 18:45
Terrific capture.
joseantonio23-Apr-2024 18:16
nice to see these old models of cars.V.
Dan Greenberg23-Apr-2024 18:05
I think a lot of cities in small tourist paradise destinations must look like this. All the efforts are put into resorts and such near the beach. ~BV~
larose forest photos23-Apr-2024 17:21
It must have been a fascinating interlude; your shot shows a place that looks very different from most cities, but as you say, it might have changed in the decades since. V
Milan Vogrin23-Apr-2024 17:00
Nice pov. V!