We could have skipped last year's cruises, used the money we saved to build a home theater in the basement, and just watched this video on a big screen instead.
Maybe not. ;-)
Still, this travel show came the closest of any I've seen to depicting what we did on our winter vacation. It was kind of surreal watching it, because the host did many of the same things, in the same places, guided by the same people that we did during our time in French Polynesia. I guess that, despite the late start to our planning last year, we did manage to hit some highlights!
Even if you don't watch it in its entirety, I've noted some parts below that could have come right from our own vacation pics (also offered, as proof).
0:28 - Look fast! That multistory white building right in the center of the shot is none other than the Hotel Tiare Tahiti.
1:22- Le Marchė in Papeete
2:00 - ferry to Moorea. The video shows then old ferry terminal; the new one is much larger and nicer.
3:06 - ATV Moorea. This is the same company we used, and we stood right where the host is when we were shown how to operate the ATVs (Our guide, though, was the darling Guy (hard G-ee). And an unfastened helmet??? Guy would not have approved!)
4:00 - The infamous Magic Mountain. That road up looked so easy, didn't it? Just wait...
4:43 - The only part of the path down that comes close to showing how scary it is. I'm convinced the videographer chose this vantage point because it was the only one with a place for him to stand. But see the two concrete paths with the rut in the center? Picture that...dropping off on one side to the valley far below.
5:23 - I swear those same puddles are still there, and we got drenched just like that riding through them.
5:44 - Wow! I was too busy holding on for dear life at the time to realize how beautiful it all was.
6:05 - We stood right there!!
7:07 - This was filmed at the Intercontinental Moorea. Though we didn't swim with the dolphins, we did get to watch others doing it.
13:58 - See the two motus in the distance? Hiro's and Princess' motu excursions are held on the far one (and look at that water color!!).
14:33 - We've snorkeled all over between the two motus
15:04 - The making of poisson cru, demonstrated on most motu BBQ excursions.
17:17 - Moorea sting rays. I didn't notice until we got home that there was a shark fin sticking out of the water just behind G. :-o
24:03 - Tahiti 4x4 tour to the center of the island. We've done this on our prior visits to the island.
29:45 - Les Roulottes in Papeete and my favorite creperie food truck!
37:49 - Patrick's motu picnic on Bora Bora. The motorized outrigger canoes used for tours in French Polynesia are usually decorated like that, with leaves and flowers. At this point in the video, when I saw that boat captain, I let out a squeal. "Maretto!" Yes, Maretto is Patrick's cousin and was the captain of our boat, too. And that water...can you see why we wanted to return again this year?
40:57 - Patrick explaining how the lunch is prepared. Yum...everything was so good!
Picture it (Suzan and Greg :-))...G and I having lunch at that table, eating off of palm leaves and drinking champagne while enjoying that view. The reservation for this year is already on the books.
I hope you enjoy this. I did, at least five or six times this summer. :-)