Photo album: "New Caledonia: isle of Pines"

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We are back to Nouméa in the evening, on Sunday Marcg 18th, 1973. On Monday 19th we go once more to Qantas agency where we are told our suitcases, after having transited at Port Vila (New Hebrides) have gone back to France, however they assure us they will be back to Nouméa before Thursday, the day we will leave New Caledonia. In the meantime, we fly the next day, March 20th, aboard a small Britten Norman aircraft of Air Calédonie, to Isle of Pines. There we rent a Méhari to visit the island. On Wednesday March 21st, we go on an excursion in boat and, in the evening, a Twin-Otter of Air Calédonie takes us back to Nouméa.

In flight aboard the Britten Norman of Air Calédonie which tranports us to isle of Pines, south of New Caledonia.

We are flying over coral reefs which form a barrier around most part of New Caledonia.

A nice beach of Isle of Pines. It completely fits in with the idea we had about the Pacific islands.

A pirogue, aground on the seashore.

In the calm waters of bays like this one, we can see scores of bright-coloured fishes swimming.

An outrigger canoe.

This workmen are trimming tree trunks to make pillars they will use to enlarge the church of their village.

A native, who seemed to us old enough, is working on a tree trunk.

In the sunset we perceive, above the horizon, the silhouette of the pines which gave its name to this island of New Caledonia.

Gradually, the sun disappears behind the horizon.

A last picture: a pirogue, the clouds, the sea, before the full darkness of the night.

The next morning, on Wednesday March 21st, we embark onto this boat for an excursion around Isle of Pines.

After having visited, the day before, the interior of the island, we can now admire the coastline from the sea.

We stop, around noon, in a bay where we can try angling, not successful as for us, then we get ashore to have lunch.

After a picnic on a small beach, it is time to go back to the boat.

The tour goes on, then we get back to our starting point, in time to catch the aeroplane that will take us back to Nouméa.

Back to Nouméa, on Wednesday March 21st, 1973, in the evening, we go for a last swim in the warm water of Anse Vatta beach. Tomorrow we will leave New Caledonia to Mexico. We hope our luggage will be finally arrived at Nouméa airport!

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