Tag Archives: Ursula Wicker

Lone Tender

I’m usually not a big fan of tendering to shore.  It takes time and it frequently requires long waits in line.  But there’s something about being transported over crystalline blue waters that somehow makes it all right.

Crystalline Blue Waters

A short, hot, uphill trek from the shores of Santal Bay takes you into dense jungle with some really interesting flora.

Lifou

Once you get to the end of the trail you arrive at the charming little Notre Dame de Lourdes Chapel — now fully restored to its previous glory.

Notre Dame de Lourdes Chapel

Make sure you duck inside for this view:

Notre Dame de Lourdes Chapel

Fun Photo Friday I’ll present my favorite Lihou shots.  Until then, click on any image below to bring up today’s slide show:

MS Oosterdam

Lifou Home

Lifou

Love My Tender; Love My Suite (eat your heart out, Elvis)

Lifou

Totem Pole

Tourist Shopping

MS Oosterdam Arrives Lifou

Cruise ships arriving to Lifou anchor in Santal (Sandalwood) Bay.  From there passengers wishing to visit Lifou must tender into port, meaning that they most board one of the ship’s tenders and ride it to shore.

Tendering into Lifou from MS Oosterdam

As with Nouméa (see last week’s posts), the island of Lifou is also part of New Caledonia.  Lifou, neighboring Tiga, and several other smaller islands make up the French commune (administrative division) of Lifou, which in turn is part of the Loyalty Islands archipelago.

Lifou

One of the first things that you’ll notice are the bright sand beaches and crystal-clear waters with saturated blues.

Lifou

To the west of Santal Bay is a tall spit of land projecting out into the sea.  We’ll take a walk over there on Wednesday and look around, but if you look at it in the photograph below you’ll see a white structure.  That is the Notre Dame de Lourdes Chapel, which we’ll also tour on Wednesday.

Lifou

Until then, enjoy today’s gallery.  Click on any image below to bring up the slide show:

MS Oosterdam

Lifou Flora

Lifou

Lifou

Lifou

Lifou

Lifou Flora