On our first day of our trip (Saturday), we took the bus into the centre of Nouméa to do a bit of exploring. We started off with a visit to the market, which I’ll come back to in the next post. As well as fruit, vegetables, bread and fish, there was a craft section where I just had to buy this metal fish. Not sure where I’m going to put it, but at the moment it is brightening up a corner of the living room.
From there we headed over to the Museum of New Caledonia, with artifacts from different parts of the country as well as other Pacific nations.
Drawings on the wall of the museum
Part of the museum
Carved door posts or jovo
From there we headed over to St Joseph’s Cathedral. This was built between 1887 and 1897 on artificial terraces (you have to climb up steps to get to it). It apparently contains many interesting items, but unfortunately there was a service going on so we didn’t really get a chance to take a look inside. However, we did see these holy water stoups made from the shells of giant clams.
Giant clam shell
The 80kg bell, made in Cherbourg in 1786 and given to the cathedral in 1855
View of the cathedral from the side
The cathedral from below looking up
Joan of Arc
The local museum of Nouméa was shut, so we walked around the town in the heat, like mad Europeans. We did, however, stop for lunch and a cold drink, and were able to explore quite a bit of the city centre before heading back to the hotel and the beach for the afternoon.
Nouméa museum
Central Nouméa
Bus stop in Nouméa
Thistles and Kiwis 
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