Tahiti and Bora Bora

After about fifteen hours of flying, with a short stop over in L.A., we arrived in the tropical paradise of Tahiti, early in the morning.  Everything is easy going with a brightly costumed band to greet us at the airport, and a real lei of fragrant fresh flowers.

We waited for what seemed an eternity for our luggage, and it never did show up.  This was panic time, as we started to mentally inventory what we had with us in carry-on.  It was mostly art supplies, because these are heavy, and couldn’t go in checked luggage.  I try to have enough things for a day or two as well, but John was not prepared for this event.  They were very nice at the airport and gave us each a kit with a t-shirt and tiny personal grooming items.  Needing a few extra clothes was, of course, a reason to look through the local shops, many of which were not open on a Saturday afternoon, though we really don’t know why.

  Because it was much too early to get on the ship, we were taken by bus to a luxurious hotel resort for a continental breakfast.  The heat and humidity really affected us, being very tired and not at all used to it.  While we were there the clouds opened with heavy downpour of rain, as this is apparently the rainy season, and a common occurrence.  It didn’t bother us, and once it cleared up, we went for a walk down to the amazing black sand beach to take some pictures, and to look at the marvelous array of exotic flowers.

We boarded the Symphony in the afternoon, and it felt like coming home.  The ship is decorated for the Christmas season much like it was last year, when we did the holiday cruise to Hawaii.  The climate and even the ocean waters are much warmer here.  The ship concierge was very concerned about the luggage, and assured us they would pursue it in addition to the airlines.  After a scrumptious dinner, we were too tired to even go to the evening show.  It was so nice to see a comfortable bed after the night of little sleep on the plane.

Rain pouring from palm thatch roof

Black sand beach of Tahiti

Getting ready for Christmas on the ship

 

Bora Bora

The morning dawned with clouds shrouding the mountainous silhouette of the famed island of Bora Bora.  We had breakfast on the outside deck of the ship, where the humidity was so high, the camera lens was completely fogged up.  The view was magnificent.  No wonder Captain Cook wrote “Scarcely a spot in the universe affords a more luxurious prospect.” when he first sailed into this place over two hundred years ago.  We were happy to walk around after tendering in to shore, admiring the natural beauty and observing the happy looking people.  There was a choir having their rehearsal outside a lovely church, and people dressed in brightly coloured clothing making their way toward the service.  Some shops were open, and we picked up a few more things, just in case the bags didn’t make it.  When we returned to the ship, the phone was ringing with a message that our luggage had been delivered to the ship.  Big relief!

Bora Bora resort

Cloud shrouded mountain

Local architecture

Street band.  They stay cool by wearing "skirts"