Onward we went to the Paul Gauguin Museum (PK 51.2, Papeari).  Paul Gauguin is probably the most famous person connected to Tahiti.  Many people wanted to come to Tahiti after they heard it described by 19th-century romantics as a Garden of Eden.  Paul Gauguin was no exception.   He left his wife and five children in France and arrived in Tahiti in 1891 but  found Papeete to be too built up for his liking so he moved into a Tahitian hut in the countryside with his 14-year old mistress.   It was here that he painted furiously from 1891 on and produced some of his most famous works.  In 1893, he sailed back to France and staged an exhibition with 66 paintings and some wooden sculptures.  The exhibit failed so he returned to Tahiti in 1895 and built a wooden colonial house in the Punaauia district of Tahiti where he lived  from 1897 to 1901.  Finally, still in search of primitive art, he moved to Atuona, in the Marquesas, in 1901.  He died and was buried there in 1903.          

From Hidden Tahiti by Robert Kay  ( written by Paul Gauguin on why he came to Tahiti):  "The reason why I am leaving (France) is that I wish to live in peace and to avoid being influenced by our civilization.  I only desire to create simple art.  In order to achieve this, it is necessary for me to steep myself in virgin nature, to see no one but savages, to share their life and have as my sole occupation to render,  just as children would do, the images of my own brain, using exclusively the means offered by primitive art, which are the only true and valid ones."

Paul Gauguin - picture taken by Pearl inside the Museum.

The museum tells the story of Gauguin's life.  It does not have any of his original paintings but does have some copies, and of course, postcards for sale.

Deux Thaitiennes

Ia Orana - Hail Mary

Peggy and Jim explore the museum.

After looking at the museum, we had lunch at a nearby restaurant.  We got to try our first casse croutes and wash them down with, of course, Hinano beer! Left - Lucy, Jeff and Marsha. 

Nancy, Joy and Pearl enjoying the restaurant.

If you would like information about the "Insider's Tour with Dierdra McElroy,  please contact Chris Meny at chris@yourtravelsource.com or call (800) 597-0594.   CST #:  20378740-40.

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