Tahiti at last! Moorea

Our Air Tahiti Nui flight was one hour late last night due to "technical" problems.  When they cancelled boarding at 11:30 PM, a number of us went to the bar.

We were so tired, but managed to stay awake long enough for our "light supper" of little ham & cheese sandwiches, salad and chocolate pudding.  They shut out the lights, and we did sleep for awhile.  They gave us a hot breakfast of crepes, croissant and fruit salad and landing was uneventful.  At the gate there were musicians, a dancer and very slow, long line to get through immigration.We went immigration (we each now have been issued a number which we have to turn in when we leave the country), got our bags and immediately found Marama Tours, were given a lei, exchanged our ferry voucher for another and were told we would be taken to the pier for the ferry in 30 minutes.  All very nice - someone took our bags and put them in a van, we took our carry ons and got on a bus.  At the pier, we were told to stay in one line, someone came and took us to another line, then be exchanged our vouchers for tickets.  Phew!  Finally on the ferry, which was running on island time (15 minutes late).  Arrived at the ferry dock, where are our bags??   Fork lift bringing crates of bags out - good luck in the crowd trying to find ones bags.  I finally went and pushed my way (being the better pusher in the family) and found our bags (which were on the 3rd crate brought out of the ferry; then we found Albert Tours who took us on a fairly long ride out to the Moorea Pearl Resort.  Chinese fire drill - never so saw much chaos.   And on arriving at the resort, of course our bags were buried way under the bus, but we finally got them and were greeted by a young lady with a little flower and told we could sit down.  BEAUTIFUL, and we were so glad to sit some place cool under the thatched roof.  Next, here comes another young lady with cold cloths and a cold lemon drink.  Reception girl came to us with a folder and we checked in while sitting in comfy chairs.  Our room was going to be an hour wait, we were offered showers or to go to lunch - chose lunch.  AH.....Poisson Cru for the both of us and a glass of white wine.  Poisson Cru is marinated raw tuna in coconut milk and lime juice, served with bits of cucumber, tomato and greens.  It is to die for!  I may end up eating it for every meal.

We verified ( or rather the hotel did)  our reservations for the ATV Safari tour tomorrow and the Tiki Village dinner on Thursday.  Then we also made reservations for Rudy's restaurant for tomorrow - they will come pick us up - hotel reception arranges all this.  They has specialties of Parrot Fish.   We have nothing to do but have a good time.  We were told Saturday they are having a Polynesian show here, so we will be here for that which will be our last night in Moorea.  And, Rico the man who drove the bus load of us here to the resort will email the hotel what time he will pick us up on Sunday morning to go to the airport.  Incredible!!

I paid the money for the internet - $20; and I may do it again at the end of the week.  Our foreign cell phone sees the local service but will not connect to it, so I had no way of letting anyone at home know we had arrived safe and sound.  It was a necessity to have it!!

While I was sitting here uploading photos, a knock came to our bungalow - there was  a young lady with a letter and big tray of fresh fruit - compliments of the resort.  We have already nibbled at it and will put the rest in our fridge.  In the middle of this fruit display is a coconut with a straw in it for sipping the coconut milk, slices of papaya, pineapple, oranges, kiwi and flower petals....always flower petals, they are everywhere.   Floating around on the floor from the wind blowing them.

Jim just shut our big patio door.  We do have air conditioning.  The young lady, Tiare (same as the name of the flower)  who took us on a tour and brought us to the bungalow told us to shut up the place at 5 PM.  Mosquitoes are out from 5 PM until 9 PM and then they simply go away!!  Jim didn't really believe this but just came in saying mosquitoes were biting and yes, it is 5 PM!  Sun shining brightly on the gorgeous blue water and bugs biting!

Just look at the photos....they say it all.  I feel like I am in the middle of Adventures in Paradise!  OK, who remembers that show???

Sitting here in luxury.....