The village of area is in effervescence... the new year is in 3 days and we are "requisition" to lend a helping hand to the preparations of the meal. Another great opportunity to sympathize with the locals and better understand their culture.
The evening of the new year we are invited with Terevatua at Remu and Itia. Her table "overflows" dishes cooked and as usual we don't resist the urge to taste everything!
Rapa has 2 community ovens in each village. It's the wife of Octavio Cecile ( the Deputy Mayor) good heart who kneads bread dough in a huge container, 
While the children and we same will pick up sheets of Auti
that will serve as a mold for chopsticks and gently enfournees.
Philip bread on board specialist, takes advantage of the hot oven to taste to the family of Octavio the chopsticks to the Tao way grain! 
We return on the boat with a small reserve of crusty breads!
The popoi, It is the work of women... It is the root of the tarot who once cooked in water is crushed and kneaded on a flat stone with a mortar until you have a smooth paste that once ready, 
is cooked in leaves of auti Cécile sort and assemble, 
for Lucie and her grand mother (87years) can do small packages containing the popoi and marinated pieces of pig.
Lunch promises to be a bit heavy, 
then Philippe gives a helping hand by cutting the trunks of banana trees to cover the Tahitian oven.
The table of honor is reserved for officials, 
Each couple who got married a little earlier in the week will in turn offer us traditional dance, 
symbolized by a long Ribbon of fabric close family and friends wrap around every couple 
to wish them a long and happy life.
Nearing the end of our stay at Rapa and we want to thank all the inhabitants of the island for us the open arms and so warmly invited to each event in song . It is with Charlotte and Pierre (Terevatua) as we rework the lyrics of the song "Hoist and O" Hugues Auffray. But before you interpret it as "fun" musicians, 
Philippe has prepared a speech in "Rapa" language that makes everyone smile. Here we are all ready to do our best to sing just because our vocal cords being a bit "Rusty", 
We are nowhere near the beautiful voices of the Polynesians!! 
In memories we do a photo montage in the guestbook that will forever mark our passage to Rapa!
