Harley Davidson is Alive and Well in Tahiti

Papeete – Day 3

Last night was fun! I stopped at a bar/coffee shop/restaurant down the street from my hotel. They had a group of men playing Polynesian Music and an audience member dancing like a crazy woman! It was ‘happy hour’ and I had 2 beers and a Pina Colada so delicious that I don’t think any other Pina Colada ordered in the future will be as good.

I also made some biker friends—none of whom spoke English and me with like 5 words of French.. but somehow we managed to communicate. They travel to the US every year to go to Bike Fest. The one guy had a Sturgis t-shirt on and the other guy kept saying “Las Vegas”. LOL It was very interesting!

When I left there, I made my way to the roulottes and had an ‘average’ dinner. Grilled chicken and French fries, followed once again by a crepe that was so rich, I couldn’t finish it.

I was up with the dawn again (I know very strange) but once I get back to the room, there is nothing to do. All the TV shows are in French and Internet is so expensive that I don’t get online. So, I try to read and fall asleep in like 10 minutes.

I saw my little ship cruising into port about 530 this morning. Then a little before 7, this gigantic monster of a ship arrived. A Royal Caribbean. It’s amazing to watch them dock and back in. I can’t even back a freakin’ car into a parking spot. I guess that’s why they have a special Port Pilot in the ports to do just that. I wonder how you practice for that ?

It’s now about 7PM here. I walked across the street and a little ways around the harbor to the ship. I dropped my huge suitcase with a porter and I waited maybe 10 minutes to move to the area inside the gate. As I walked past the tent where they were keeping the luggage, I was absolutely AMAZED to see another suitcase like mine. I didn’t think that was a likely event. Perhaps the suitcase was more popular than I thought. Oh well.

I went to the registration tent—no wait. Got my room key and off I went to the ship. Once on board, I moved to the comfy chairs in the lobby and was going to wait until Noon when the restaurant opened for lunch (no buffet for this gypsy!) I heard someone calling my name and who was sitting there?  Jeannie, from Cruise Critic—better known as Pescado Armadillo. I have been following her blog since last year when she and her husband did something like 10 back to back cruises on this ship around French Polynesia!  I chatted with her for a few minutes and then made my way upstairs to the dining room. They had a shrimp and avocado cold appetizer that was wonderful. I had two  of them and a crusty roll!

The cabins were ready at 12:30 and I went down and unpacked my backpack and tote. Shortly after that, my cabin steward introduced herself. She seems just lovely. My luggage arrived. I unpacked and was struck with a killer headache that has been brewing for days. I laid down but couldn’t really sleep. So, made my way around the ship and about 6:30 went to the buffet for a plate of fresh fruit—just not hungry—more half sick to my stomach with this headache.

So, tonight will be an early night. I have to be up by 5:30 tomorrow. I am being picked up at the Tourism Center at 7 for a whale watch!!!!

So, ta-ta for now. Oh and the ship internet is horrendously slow. Not sure if I can post any pictures at all. But I will see how it goes early tomorrow morning.. maybe not so many people online will make it faster!