A Quick Trip to French Polynesia is a Bit Too Quick. And Yet....

I'm home now, and last week's 7-night cruise around the islands of French Polynesia feels surreally dreamlike. And yet aspects of the trip, aboard Windstar Cruises' Star Breeze, are still tucked away inside of me. It's possible that the memories I relish most all have something to do with how quiet and peaceful it is there, particularly when you're often anchored in these Garden of Eden bays, with craggy, cloud-poking mountains, calm blue lagoon-like waters, and the lushest green fauna. It never felt crowded, anywhere we went, whether onboard or ashore. I'm sure there were plenty of tourists on the islands because I flew in (and out) on pretty packed planes, but there's room to spread out there, on those islands.

In the end, I imagine that French Polynesia is a tropical Antarctica; not literally, of course, but in its sense of space and the feeling that humans are properly righted-to-size amidst the spectacular natural scenery, especially those lush mountains.

If I can't recreate the distinctive beauty of French Polynesia here at home, in darling Chestertown, I will confess that I'm strolling a little bit more languidly than usual, breathing in the fresh smells of dying leaves, and appreciating sweatering-up in the crisp air. Perhaps a little bit of French Polynesia has burrowed into my soul. I'd like to hang on to that feeling as long as I can.