Papeete is the capital of French Polynesia, an overseas country of France in the Pacific Ocean. The name ''Papeete'' means "water from a basket". Papeete is not a tropical paradise. It is a typical government center and industrial port with small doses of French and Polynesian charm. It has shopping, eating, and drinking, but very little sightseeing for a capital city and even fewer top-class hotels. The residents speak French and Tahitian, although English is spoken by many in the tourist trade. The people-watching is superb.
