“Paradise exists!” French Polynesia Cruise (15/02-02/03/26)

I had already been to French Polynesia on a world cruise in 1986 and later as a cruise director on the Vistafjord (Cunard). I was lucky enough to travel to Polynesian islands, such as Tahiti, Mo'orea, and Bora Bora, during winter cruises in the early nineties. My wife, however, was never there. So I wanted to show her paradise. I found a good cruise deal with the prominent cruise company Seabourn. The flights are damn expensive, but oh well, we're going for it.

We drive to Charles de Gaulle , the Paris airport, where we take a flight that takes 22 hours and 20 minutes, with a stopover in Los Angeles of about two hours.

A two-man orchestra with a dancer welcomes us — "Maeva!" — at Faa'a Airport . We withdraw some local money and get into a taxi for a ten-minute ride (€16) to our hotel, Tahiti Nui , right in the center of Papeete.

Sunday	15/Feb	CDG	18:55	LAX 2h15
Monday	16/Feb	Papeete, Tahiti		6:15
Tuesday	17/Feb	Papeete, Tahiti : Seabourn Quest	12:30	embark
Wednesday	18/Feb	Papeete, Tahiti : Seabourn Quest	20:00
Thursday	19/Feb	At sea			gala
Friday	20/Feb	Rotoava, Fakarava (Tuamotu)	8:00	18:00	tender
Saturday	21/Feb	Avatoru, Rangiroa (Tuamoto)	8:00	18:00	tender
Sunday	22/Feb	Maroe Bay, Huahine Iti	8:00	18:00	tender
Monday	23/Feb	Uturoa, Raiatea (Society isles)	8:00	18:00
Tuesday	24/Feb	Vaitape, Bora Bora	8:00		tender
Wednesday	25/Feb	Vaitape, Bora Bora		18:00	tender
Thursday	26/Feb	Bahia Opunohu, Mo'orea	8:00	17:00	tender
Friday	27/Feb	Papeete	9:00	disembark
Saturday	28/Feb	Papeete
Sunday	1/Mar	PPT airport	8:50
Monday	2/Mar	CDG		16:50
1 CFP = €0.0084		€1 = 119.33 CFP

Papeete 16/02.

We arrived in the morning, shortly after six, and experienced nothing but night for almost 22 hours, but I arranged an early check-in. So we are taking advantage of the minus eleven-hour time difference to rest a bit more right away. And… to take cold showers, because it is humid and hot (30°).

Towards evening we head to the famous “ roulottes ” (food trucks) on the harbor quay where

on previous visits, we ate superb, cheap wok dishes. Unfortunately, it is Monday, and there is almost nothing to do in Papeete, so there is little choice. A disappointment, but on the corner of our street and the coastal boulevard Pomare, we find a lovely, covered, charming terrace café-restaurant where a small orchestra is playing and there is plenty of atmosphere: “ Bora Bora Lounge ”.

French Polynesia is very expensive because just about everything, except for tropical fruit, has to be imported. A simple pint easily costs 7 euros. I don't let it bother me, because the local Hinano beer is deliciously refreshing.

The locals gather here, some in colourful dresses with flower wreaths in their hair, and they crowd around a huge liter tank of beer, where they refill their glasses via a tap. When I ask if I can photograph this, I am immediately invited to join them.

Remarkably, the inhabitants of these islands are all very fat. Eighty percent are severely obese. This is due to a genetic predisposition involving the CRIBF gene, which formerly allowed them to survive on their fat reserves during long voyages from island to island. And, of course, due to the cheap, high-fat food that conquered this region from the West. Tahiti was discovered by Captain Wallis in 1767.

There are many ladyboys walking around, strolling, soliciting, but always exuberant. Some work as waiters here. They appear to be clearly accepted by everyone. I am not very hungry and stick to a tuna carpaccio. Tuna is the number one fish species here.

Our hotel deserves a major makeover and sprucing up. The room is a suite with a small terrace, but the stark brown begs for a metamorphosis with color and a more tropical feel. In the restaurant, I feel like I'm sitting in a seventies ballroom. There is an outdoor pool, though. In a gas station shop next to us, I find some drinks, but no beer. You can only buy that in large supermarkets. Downside: no idea why, but all night long we constantly hear sirens from ambulances and such...

Papeete 17/02.

Naturally, around three o'clock —much too early— (jetlag) we are both still tired, but wide awake. Before boarding at 12:30, I am going to explore the city a bit more thoroughly. Unlike all the other islands, Papeete is a very busy city with a lot of traffic. It is just about the only urban setting in French Polynesia. Tahiti contains 80% of the French Polynesian population.

I walk past the central bus station, the town hall with a small park, to arrive at the bustling and absolutely colorful local market. Color, scent, and smiles. Mainly fruit and fish are offered everywhere. And what stands out is that the fish are beautifully sorted and the pieces of tuna are very neatly wrapped in plastic.

It turns out to be Chinese New Year, and I'm certainly aware of it. A few men are standing ready in the famous dragon costumes for their dragon dance, and we hear drum rolls everywhere. The streets are decorated with the typical Chinese red lanterns, and firecrackers are popping here and there. I pass the cathedral of Papeete. Cathedral? Well, an unsightly little church. But quite charming against the backdrop of the deep green, lush inland hills. A few chickens are walking around in front of it.

The inhabitants of these islands are very religious. Usually Catholic or Protestant. Yet still mixed with myths and spirituality.

Via Vaima Center , a modern shopping center with various outdoor stalls and seating areas and a view of the harbor, I end up back on the coastal boulevard. I notice that our yacht-like ship, the elegant Seabourn Quest ****** (450 pax), is already in the harbor.

It is nearby, but we will still need a taxi, because with our luggage along that

Whimsical footpaths with uneven levels—that is impossible. Boarding around 12:30 goes smoothly, and as always, we immediately head to the pool in the shade for aperitifs and a light meal. Our cabin—called a suite everywhere here, with a balcony, bath, shower, seating area, veranda, and terrace—with all the trimmings, is arguably the best cabin we have ever had. Only the Wi-Fi is, as is actually the case on all ships, a tricky operation again, because we can never use two devices per person at the same time. On our iPhone, we have a Ubugi e-SIM that covers this territory, and I have NordVPN , but Wi-Fi is required on the iPad. But syncing remains a nightmare.

But we are satisfied, especially because our upgraded stateroom has an interesting and central location on the ship. And naturally, there is a bottle of champagne chilling. In our bar area are the spirits we were asked to specify before the cruise, and the same goes for the fridge drinks.

We benefit from the facilities on board of this, in terms of layout and amenities, good

assigned ship. While Nella unpacks, I head to the introduction of the key staff members and officers with live music on the pool deck. I am immediately introduced to cruise director Daniel Edward , a Londoner, and his assistant Kate.

We have aperitifs in the delightful Observation Lounge with pianist Bruno, dine in The Restaurant, and then “ Live and Wired ” follows in the Grand Salon , a polished show where various iconic pop songs flow into one another with many technical highlights and a very intelligent arrangement, distributed orchestra, and movements on stage. The performance, provided by The Seabourn Six , perfectly cast dancers and singers, is of high class.

I consider the Seabourn Quest, despite being a Silversea loyalist (their direct competitor), to be arguably the best cruise ship I have ever sailed on as a passenger.

Papeete 18/02

The ship remains docked in Papeete for the first day. The famous Queen Mary 2 (Cunard) is coming alongside us.

On the other side the Paul Gauguin of Ponant, a French shipping company with smaller vessels, specializing in island sailing areas such as here, the Seychelles, Indonesia, and so on.

I am visiting the German Swenja Henrich , guest services manager . It turns out that two years after I left the Vistafjord as cruise director, she started working on board there (1993). We exchange memories of that beloved ship and of mutual acquaintances.

We spend the day super relaxing and go for dinner in the evening at The Patio on the open deck in ideal summer evening temperatures, where wonderful little dishes are presented to us with a selection of wines. There we meet Captain Joris Poriau , a Belgian, and the hotel manager, a Dutchman. By the way, Seabourn is affiliated with Holland America Cruises.

At sea 19/02

On the first and only day at sea, we continue to enjoy everything on offer: sunbathing, swimming, the jacuzzi, a cocktail, a snack. A waiter offers fruit skewers. No, we are not complaining. But suddenly an intense downpour follows, which happens here occasionally but is always over quickly and not even unpleasant “for cooling down”. Fifteen minutes later, everything has already dried up…

In the evening, there is a Captain's Gala where the captain introduces his officers in The Club , a cool bar with an orchestra and even a fresh sushi stand. We are invited by cruise director Daniel to his hosted table in the center of the beautiful restaurant, along with five Brits. Every evening, the expected attire is “elegant casual” (gentlemen: stylish/sporty trousers, shirt, optional jacket), but tonight it is formal ; time to put on one of my bow ties again. Later, we are treated to another impressive show, this time titled “ Skyline ”.

Fakarava 20/02 (Tuamotu archipelago)

Our first destination of the seven islands is a rectangular atoll named Fakarava .

It is classified as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The interior of this atoll, a thin land snake (60 km long), is very special. And the lagoon is dazzling emerald-light blue, bordered by pink-white banks and palm trees. The many coconut trees here produce copra (coconut flesh) alongside the famous black pearls, their only export product.

While I enjoy exclusively exotic fruit for breakfast, such as dragon fruit, mangosteen (nothing to do with mangoes), lychees, papaya, crunchy cherries… the most beautiful Bounty landscapes glide past outside.

All landings, except for Raiatea and Tahiti, are made by tenders to small jetties. After our anti-UV treatment, sunscreen, cap, sunglasses, and the towels and water bottles handed out, we are welcomed with a flower upon disembarking.

A small orchestra is playing music a little further away, there is a small shop, and that is it. We go for a stroll in the village of Rotoava . But it is nothing special and it is scorching hot.

We decide to rent an e-bike; we can do so for a maximum of two hours, after which they are reserved. We set off, cycling along a beautiful wide road. No public transport and very few cars here. To the left is the lagoon and to the right the ocean, surrounded by rocky beaches with many palm trees and flowers, but otherwise, there isn't much of interest to see. We could go to a pearl farm – pearl fishing in the lagoon is the main activity here – but I have visited that before.

Until we reach the pyramid-shaped Topalea lighthouse. I had hoped I could go up there to take an overview photo of the lagoon inside the atoll. Quod non. Nella decides to turn back and I continue alone past the small airfield with its insignificant little building. I cycle to a distant beach to snorkel, but just can't seem to get there. I decide to try out my snorkeling gear somewhere else, until I realize that the cliffs and the crashing water are too intense with those abrasive sides of the rocks, and therefore leg-breakingly dangerous.

I have no idea what time it is, because I left my watch on board. A moment of panic. I throw everything into the basket on the back of my e-bike and then, shirtless and barefoot, start pedaling frantically right into a strong wind to get back on time. Once there, I notice that both my flip-flops and my tank top and T-shirt have flown out of the basket. So there I stand, “typical Wim”. But I can laugh about it. Bare-chested, I wait for the tender to return. An old lady gets out and asks me: Is there anything to see anywhere? The look in her eyes betrays the thought: Hopefully not, then I can go back.

Once on board, I am going to enjoy the well-prepared, lavish lunch buffet with my wife in The Colonnade , a restaurant at the back of the ship with a partially open deck.

Rangiroa (Tuamotus) 21/02

Rangiroa is the largest atoll in the world, an endless, narrow strip lined with palm trees (200 km)

with lagoons and islets full of coral reefs. This atoll (79 km²) is so vast that it seems to create its own horizon. There is nothing to visit in the sense of “going to see”. Snorkeling, on the other hand, is “ the must-do ” here. I bought myself one of those modern 180° face masks that goes up to below the chin with excellent air guidance. This Blue Lagoon has an undeniably super-rich underwater world, but – strange as it may seem – what is unique is that even a small-scale wine production takes place here on low coral islets a little further out.

The tender takes us to Avatoru , actually just a pier with a few stalls, where a few nice little boats decorated with palm branches invite you on a trip; they turn out to be glass-bottom boats . But I am looking for the real thing . A group, including two Italian couples, decides to “get on board” with a portly, shirtless man dressed in a wrap. We go along. We steam on towards the so-called “The Aquarium”. No idea what awaits me. There is the promise of many tropical fish, perhaps some harmless black-spotted or hammerhead sharks, and with a bit of luck, a giant tortoise or a Napoleon wrasse.

We sail to a barren little island, more of a pinkish sandbank. In the meantime, we receive some explanations about all sorts of things. Everyone gets snorkeling gear. I only need fins and, splash, everyone into the water. This grandpa too, a bit slower. Putting his head in the water is an immediate revelation. Massive schools of little fish swimming criss-cross, including... (I have to tell this to granddaughter Sofia)... "Flounder's" friends. Flounder is the yellow-striped fish friend of Ariel from The Little Mermaid (Disney cartoon). I also spot anemones, clownfish, parrotfish, butterflyfish, and surgeonfish. I admit: I looked up the names afterwards.

I call it a day rather quickly and crawl back on board. The mask gave me a

A constricting feeling, something oppressive. I realize that I am no longer an underwater person; I felt a sort of claustrophobia. Let me jump out of a plane, skydiving, or paragliding , but blubber blub, it turns out it's not my thing anymore. Although I did have some super fun snorkeling experiences before, like visiting a sunken James Bond Cessna in Cozumel or offshore Turtle Island (Zanzibar), where the coral so close to the waterline almost gave me scurvy .

But the setting is nice. Every now and then, even more snorkelers are dropped off. There is a man sitting in a small boat watching closely. He helped me take off my fins when I wanted to climb back on board. I know, I'm a klutz sometimes.

Once the whole gang is back, I realize that I haven't missed any exceptionally spectacular fish species. The sun is blazing. Our boat sails back along lyrically beautiful coastlines and fifty shades of blue .

Back on board, we enjoy a Sail Away Party by the pool, with Grace and the Band playing Abba covers. The Seabourn Six entertainers stir up a dance party. Plenty of caviar and all kinds of cocktails are handed out. As we sail away, it turns out to be a delightful extravaganza with dreamlike views at sunset.

In the evening, we once again enjoy unique small dishes, grills, and amuse-bouches served 'al fresco ' from a smoking window tube. The baked Camembert is meltingly good, but I am satisfied. Nella opts for a sorbet from the chef. Later, there is “ Earth Song ,” a dance and song spectacle accompanied by overwhelming visuals and graphics of natural elements and extraordinary landscapes.

Huahine Iti 22/02

Amazing. We are anchored in Maroe Bay , no more flat atolls but a real dark green island.

Full of bays and crystal-clear azure water, fringed with white sandy beaches and swaying tropical palms beneath lush, dark green forests, on dramatic hillsides. Here, barely a little over 6,000 inhabitants live on 74 km². I studied the sights of this butterfly-shaped island, connected only by a small bridge: Huahine Iti and Huahine Nui . Iti means the smaller of the two, Nui the larger. An island tour of Iti seems like a must to me.

Once off the tender, we start negotiating with various island tour operators dressed in local attire. There is a free shuttle provided to Fare Village with “Le Truck” (open air, hard benches). Fare is 13.5 km away and has a beach, market, and waterfront with facilities. But I ask a lady, wearing a sarong and a flower behind her ear, about the ins and outs of a private tour. Hooray, two hours in which I will see everything I wanted to see! The price seems acceptable to us in these expensive places. She takes us to her little car, complete with air conditioning. It feels all right. And so it does.

We drive past lush rainforest and breathtaking landscapes, past charming villages and lovely little bays like Porea Bay. From Mt. Tapiori, we even have views as far as Bora Bora. And all around, small Motus with coral beaches, ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling.

What a lovely island. Truly a kind of Garden of Eden. A beautiful, well-maintained, asphalted road leads us all the way around the upper island. Everything here is very clean, dust is quickly hosed away, and the people are really friendly.

On the next Society Isles as well, by the way.

We pass Fare and the small airfield, and stop at a vanilla plantation, where our guide explains the remarkable growing and cultivation process. The pollination of the blossoms is done manually due to the absence of the right insects. Vanilla was imported from islands in the Indian Ocean, such as La Réunion and Madagascar .

I'm buying a small bottle of vanilla-coco rum. Curious.

We visit the archaeological site Maeva Marae , 400-year-old stone temples on the shores of the inland sea Fauna . A fisherman on an outrigger canoe paddles past.

The Marae form the “sacred” place of the island where the Maori originally came to pray and make offerings. We see melon plantations and white-yellow frangipani flowers everywhere.

Also remarkable, a little further on, are the stone “ fish traps ”, a structure that allows fish, such as the mahi mahi (gold mackerel), to flow in, after which they cannot get out. The final “attraction”, then, are the unique, sacred, blue-eyed giant eels in the freshwater river coming from the mountains near Faie Village.

In the evening, we enjoy a performance by the world-famous Ben Woodward’s Comedy Magic show. He has performed for royalty and Hollywood stars in over 40 countries.

High energy, classic illusions, sleight of hand, mentalism (mind reading), and sharp stand-up comedy. An unforgettable performance.

Raiatea 23/02

Sailing into Raiatea, “ The Sacred Island ,” is once again a breathtaking experience and yet another fantastic photo opportunity: mini-islands, palm-fringed beaches beneath dark green, characterful hills alongside water in every possible shade of blue, azure, emerald , and turquoise. It is the second largest of the Society Islands archipelago. And here, too, the cultivation of coconut, pineapple, and vanilla is paramount.

You can go ashore via a small gangplank. A few women with flower wreaths in their hair and a ukulele duo greet us. I pose next to a large, fully tattooed man holding a conch shell, a seashell you can blow into. Tattoos are really a thing here.

We immediately explore the small town of Uturoa, where most of the inhabitants stay . Among other things, in search of new flip-flops for me. As soon as you step out of the little harbor building, you find plenty of small shops and mini-supermarkets that remind you of those back home fifty years ago. Giant baskets bursting with long baguettes next to all kinds of plastic slippers, for example. We walk along the quays and take some beautiful photos.

We could go to Marae Taputapuatea , the most important Marae of these islands and a UNESCO site. That is where the migration to Hawaii, the Cook Islands, New Zealand, and the rest of the Pacific began. But it is far, so long and expensive. Or rent a canoe or something, but we are sufficiently overwhelmed just by looking around.

In the evening, I once again enjoy the fantastic open sea voyage and the views at sunset. Sailing in and out, and approaching these islands, remains undeniably the highlight of the day every time.

Tomorrow follows the absolute highlight. Bora Bora, a barrier reef with ring-shaped islets surrounding lagoons and an impressive green mountainous area in the center. An island full of paradisiacal nooks and crannies. We are sailing slowly, because it is not far…

In the Grand Salon, the show “ Can't Stop the Music ” shines, set to music by Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Janet Jackson, Adele, The Beatles, and others.

Bora Bora 24 and 25/02

I want to capture the approach to the island on video and in photos starting as early as six o'clock. Funny: at 6:30, a man is already sitting in a jacuzzi at the bow of the ship with his nose facing the emerging dream island.

Sky view Bora Bora (google)

But right now, the match between Atlético Madrid and Club Brugge (my team) is being played. With an eleven-hour time difference, that means 7:30 local time for us. A difficult choice. And absurd. Still, I listen to Radio 1 on my headphones while simultaneously taking in the spectacular beauty of sailing into this tropical island with its delightful coral reef full of Motus. After anchoring, I can continue watching the match on TV channel Sport 21 .

It is time for exploration. We take the tender and approach a sturdy man dressed in a sarong with only one tooth, who promises us an island tour for €80, lasting two hours. Oh well. Two Swiss join us.

His name is, believe it or not, Freedom (photo: right) . The two-hour drive around the island is only 32 km. The most exclusive thing is that, in his open pickup truck with side benches, he can take us all the way—albeit bumpily—to a point on the dramatic Mt. Otemaru. Along with Mt. Pahia, this forms the two volcanic peaks that give the island its distinctive character. Excursions cannot reach here unless by 4x4.

From a plateau, we admire the front of the island, with our ship in the middle of the lagoon featuring its small, enchanting islets, Motu Toopua and Motu Tapu, opposite Raititi Point. Located there are the most luxurious resorts with the most beautiful beaches amidst the sapphire-blue hues of the lagoon. From the same plateau, we look out over the back of the island, with equally breathtaking panoramic views. This tropical paradise is the most beautiful and unique island in the world.

Rightly called the “Pearl of the Pacific”.

I'm taking photos and filming like crazy. It's hot, but along the way the natural air conditioning is doing its job. We pass Matira Point, a nice little sandy beach on the East Point, and Povai Bay with yet another fabulous view. A naval and air base with cannons was established in Faanu in 1942. The long runway and a museum still bear witness to the role this place played during World War Two.

The tenders between ship and shore go back and forth nonstop, even at night. We are staying here for two days. Passengers can enjoy themselves with boat or catamaran trips, diving, jet skiing, you name it. Outside Tahiti, large cruise ships are not allowed anywhere, only “ small and yacht-like vessels”. And the number of tourists is non-disturbingly limited.

In the evening, from 20:45 to 22:30, the “ Let's Dance Party ” takes place “ under the stars ” with live music featuring the two bands, boosted by the entertainers.

The next day we keep it simple and go for a stroll in Vaitape (founded in the fourth century), actually the only village, where most of the barely 10,000 inhabitants reside. The little town offers some cultural authenticity and sparkling island charm. Everywhere you go, people talk about the black pearls cultivated in this region. And yes, all kinds of jewelry made of shells and who knows what else, flowing sarongs and T-shirts in swirling colors. But it is fun. Today there are also more clouds; consequently, the temperature feels a lot more bearable, despite the persistently high humidity.

I linger on my little balcony overlooking the small Motus , those cute little islands surrounded by light blue, dark blue, and turquoise water with their white beaches and bungalow huts over the water. A small ship has come in, a sort of mix of cruise ship, cargo ship, and ferry.

Overwhelmed by so much beauty, I decide, while writing, to crack open the welcome bottle of champagne after all, because the cruise ends the day after tomorrow.

Mo'orea 26/02

Once again enjoying a wonderfully fresh breakfast, as the Seabourn Quest sails into the unparalleled, breathtaking Cook's Bay of this heart-shaped (65 km²) island. Dramatic volcanic peaks, shrouded in dark green rainforest, contribute to the ultimate tropical postcard effect. Here, nature, culture, and tradition come together under that glorious Polynesian sun.

I content myself once again with the many types of fruit, while an American, on another table —believe it or not— orders a minute steak from the grill.

Mo'orea has a population of only 50,000 inhabitants, almost all of whom work in tourism. The name Mo'orea means “yellow lizard”.

We negotiate on shore with a number of people to decide that Maamie , a somewhat older, overenthusiastic woman with a good air-conditioned car, promises to show us this paradise. And I don't have a time limit, she says. She will truly cover every spot I wanted to visit. I am over the moon. Once again, we pay less than an excursion on board. We see more, at our own pace, with privacy, and with another couple with us, it would even have been half the price.

Bahia Opunohu in Mo'orea (near Tahiti) is the place where Captain Cook landed in 1769 and called it “ the finest natural harbour ever .” It served as a location for the famous movie “ Mutiny on the Bounty ” and other films, as well as the inspiration for the song “ Bali Hai ” from the musical “South Pacific .” Yes, these islands were the domain of famous seafarers such as Bougainville and Samuel Wallis .

On the way uphill to the Belvedère , we pass the golden-yellow public Matu Beach , some ruins of small Marae and Tikis, pineapple plantations, a bamboo forest, and basins full of farmed shrimp, which serve solely for personal consumption. From that inland Belvedère (240 m high), we see the two lovely bays: Opunohu and Cook's Bay with our ship. Then we drive back east, past a golf course and the airport to the Toa Tea Viewpoint with a stunning perspective over Temae Beach and the blue lagoon with the above-water bungalow huts and Tahiti in the distance, only ten nautical miles (15 km) away.

We return via the lively coastal village of Maharepa on the same beautifully landscaped coastal road that circles the island . There isn't a single red light on the entire island, says Maamie. Not on the previous ones either, now that I think about it.

We forgo further attractions such as feeding stingrays or spotting dolphins at Lizard Island . Incidentally, between July and November you can also see humpback whales there. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy parasailing, surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding , or other water sports.

Before setting sail, we experience one last “signature event ”: a team member salute . Cocktails and snacks, music around the pool, and then suddenly the crew from all departments marches on deck nine above the pool to bid farewell. Followed by “Classique ”: a performance in the form of a magnificent classical crossover performed by Ally, Ian, and Georgina .

With musical songs and ranging from “Nessun dorma ” and “ Con té partiro ” to Queen . I see tears of emotional beauty welling up everywhere. I myself swallow and get goosebumps.

It is only a 2.5-hour boat ride, so tonight at 9:00 PM we will already be docking back in Papeete. We have a booking at the impeccably maintained Mediterranean specialty restaurant Solis, where an overwhelming selection of gastronomic surprises awaits us, accompanied by superior service. Top class.

Papeete 27 and 28/02

We disembark and return to Hotel Tahiti Nui. I had planned another drive to Point Venus and the nearby blowholes. Or alternatively, Vaipahi Water Gardens , the Marau Fern Caves, or Matavi Bay with Tahara's Point . Although the beaches in Tahiti are black. Perhaps Mateia , the “ Paul Gauguin Village ” (1891-1893), or the East Coast with the Papeno'o Valley.

But the views and experiences will not surpass those of the previous days, so I might as well stick to budget control.

On March 1st, we get up at 4:00 to fly back with Air France . During the stopover in L.A. a

photo is always taken passing immigration control. Afterwards, we can board without a boarding pass or passport check, made possible by a simple facial recognition check via cameras at the gangway.

We land on March 2 at 16:50, take the shuttle (10 minutes) to the peripheral car park in Louvres , and arrive home around 21:00. It will take us a week to recover from jet lag, albeit with our heads still in Paradise .

©WimVanBesien2026