Patagonian cruise, circum-Andean drive and a Pacific island hop back

[RooFlyer]

A panorama from my villa. Tahiti main island in the distance.




Looking towards the most expensive accommodation, the villas over the water. I honestly thought their situation was inferior to our own, as to do swimming, you go down steps under the villa straight into the water, by passing the 'beach experience', and they are at the crummier end of the resort anyway. I think would be noisy towards the shore, with people walking back and forth.




The resort pool. Never thought of going there - smelled of chlorine. Looking back towards our end of the beach from the pier for the over-the-water villas.




I've always said I'm not a 'beach-and-resort' type of person; can't stand doing nothing. Before arriving I had visions of hiring a car and exploring the island, or at least to go snorkelling at Cooks Bay, on the other side of Moorea. Well .... no. I immediately saw the advantages of just veging out, especially after a few hectic weeks. We only left the resort once, to have lunch.

First sunrise.

 

[drron]

veging out and sunrise-that doesn't seem to go together.

 

[RooFlyer]

Astute observation drron, but I think I was still on Easter Island time ... 6am sunrise was abt 11am where my body thought it was.

And this post allows me another gratuitous sunrise shot.

 

[Milboo]

Do they still have the glass bottomed area in the restaurant?

I recall a couple of day trips to the beach there when I spent 8 weeks in Tahiti as a 16 year old on exchange - including one where I got a little more red than intended!

 

[RooFlyer]

Not that I saw, and I think it would be difficult to see how it would happen ... its all on shore, except for a jetty, which had tables on it. Must have been a re-build at some stage.




Most of the dinner menu.




I had the spiny lobster bisque and scallops (from New Zealand). All good.




Lunch the next day. Some visitors dropped in with their own transport and had an exclusive lunch on the jetty. We made do on the deck; my ceviche.

 

[RooFlyer]

We went on a hotel organised snorkelling trip for a few hours, mainly because we couldn't be bothered organising something more adventurous ourselves!

Destination was a small island in the lagoon about 1/2 hour motor boat trip away. It was a little disappointing - even though I happily admit to being a poor snorkeler, when we arrived it was apparent that it was more of a 'first time experience' type of thing. A series of ropes strung over shallow water which most folk hung onto and looked down into the water, which abounded on black tip sharks, rays and other reef fish. The current was so strong that snorkelling proper wasn't really an option.










This guy - a conga eel? was actually pat-able.



The rays could get very 'cuddly' - wrap themselves around you, which was a really un-nerving experience.

 

[RooFlyer]

The next day was pretty much the same - not doing much, which I found remarkably enjoyable. Must do more of it.

We were flying home on Air NZ (B787) but with an unfortunate departure time of about 2am. The Sofitel let us have an ultra late check-out (it was far from busy) at about 5pm and also suggested that we take a package offered by the Intercon, near the airport, use of of their facilities, dinner, pick up from the ferry terminal and drop off to the airport, for about A$100. Sounded a great way to fill in that evening but it resulted in the holiday ending on a bit of a low note (although that was always on the cards with a 2am departure).

We used the pool, and got a sunset behind Moorea.




Dinner, there was a buffet or a la carte. The buffet was one of the saddest I have ever seen in a 'major' hotel.



I forget what the soup on the left was, but I think it was passible. BBQ prawns were awful - soft and gooey.


Intercon near Papeete airport not recommended - very dated and just bad all over.

Checked in at the airport OK - again, I'm in J and friends are in whY. Lounge is being renovated (of course!) and what was there was pretty crook. Wi fi so slow as to be inoperable. I ended up going down to sit with my friends in the gate lounge.




Air NZ B767. The J seats at first sight looked bad - like the old CX 'coffins', but with bum in seat turned out to be quite comfortable.



Anyway, I shouldn't let that last day cloud what was a terrific overall trip, and Tahiti exceeded expectations for me.

My thanks to JohnM for organising the Sth American part - the glacier cruise was a winner, even with bad weather (he's reprising it now in his TR)and western Argentina was very different to what I would have ordinarily planned to do.

Easter Island is highly recommended - like Machu Picchu its one of those unique places in the world and being a bit hard to get to adds to the desirability!

Anyway, I'm currently in the LH Business lounge in Frankfurt as I write this, en route to Oslo to start a RTW trip for my Uni studies. Just got this one done in time

 

[Jacques Vert]

Thanks RooFlyer for a marvelous TR, as always.

Only just managed to catch up in time for your next trip as I was busy doing my own TR

Loved the photos and all the "good oil" on various hotels, food options, etc., etc. Have taken plenty of notes for when +1 & I finally make it to Sth America.

JV