It is 9pm as I start this post, after a day that began well before 5am. Ain't cruising relaxing?!? ;-) Luckily, today we had some of the best WiFi we've had so far, and I was able to upload multiple photos throughout the day as things unfolded (it was kind of real-time, like Facebook or Instagram, neither of which I actually use). But they will definitely help to walk me through a recount of our day.
We didn't make it up when the alarm went off at 4am, but after just a few snooze extensions we were up on Deck 10 by 4:45am. It was early twilight; the sky to the east was brightening. We were scheduled to depart Raiatea at 5am but didn't leave on time. We suspected we had to wait for a small freighter to leave first, and once it did, the Pacific Princess was quietly pushing away from the pier by 5:20am.
We watched as we slowly cruised past the Uturoa sights for the final time: La Cubana, Champion, the marina, the hospital, the airport, and the imposing Mt. Tapioi loomin over all of them.
A freighter leaves Uturoa through Pai Pai Pass just ahead of us
A first peek at the sunrise
The Pacific Princess started curving through the lagoon between Raiatea and Taha'a just as the sun rose. The ship drew closer to the Taha'a coastline, and there was enough light for us to make out the now familiar landmarks on that island. I'm very happy that we were able to spend a day over there last cruise.
Yachts moored off the coast of the island of Taha'a
Part of the southern Taha'a coastline does not have a road around it, so we couldn't get to it with our rental car, but it appears to have a narrow beach.
A pocket beach on Taha'a
I had downloaded the map for the Society Islands while we were in Chaplins on turnaround day and I've marked the path the Pacific Princess took after leaving Uturoa.
The reef as seen at the narrowest part of Pai Pai Pass
Once through Pai Pai Pass; the Pacific Princess headed northwest through open ocean en route to Bora Bora.
Once we moved away from the Taha'a coastline, we sat in loungers on the Promenade Deck with the Bora Bora mountains growing larger in the distance. It was already a hot day, and it wasn't even 7am yet. By the time the Club Restaurant opened for breakfast, we were getting hungry; we'd been up for nearly three hours by then.
We arrived in Bora Bora just before 9am, and for once we didn't watch our entry into the lagoon from the upper decks. Instead, we were in our cabin packing for a beach day. We were on one of the first tenders and were on the island by 9:30am, and took a taxi for 500 XPF per person to the Sofitel Marara Beach Resort that we had visited last cruise. Once there, we received day passes for the Sofitel Private Island on Motu Piti uu Uta, about a 5 minute boat ride way.
We were greeted with scented cloths and juice (i love that!) and given a brief tour of where the various facilities we were entitled to use, and by 10:30am we were settled in some strangely shaped lounge chairs on a sandy beach.
The location of the Sofitel Private Island
We could have kayaked or snorkeled, but instead discovered we had free, fast internet and being able to check on things at home and upload photos to my blog posts starting Day 63 in Papeete held more appeal. While the day was hot, we had a wonderfully steady breeze, and, sitting in the shade of a palapa, never felt too warm. We occasionally swam and floated in our Swimways floats, and walked around the grounds of the resort, and by 1pm were ready for lunch.
Our three-course lunch was included with our day pass, and, frankly, I wasn't expecting much but, oh boy, it was a feast. First, with that view I would have been happy with a hamburger...
Our view at lunch (looking two directions)
...but we had a huge meal. For a starter, I chose poisson cru and G chose a vegetable turrine. Then, because I knew he really wanted it, and we both had to order it, we got the beef; and two huge rib steaks were delivered to us, accompanied by fries and salad.
Half a steer of beef ;-)!! This was our shared entree. Wow!!
For dessert, G had a chocolate volcano cake with ice cream and I had three scoops of sorbet, in mango, pineapple and passion fruit. And all this was included in the day pass!
There was no snorkeling after that; I'd sink like a rock! Instead we returned to the beach to finish out the afternoon. We watched as a kite surfer (from Montana) inflated his kite and launched over the lagoon. And I added Motu Piti uu Uta to the list of places where I've flown my Konvertible Kite. :-)
Shortly after 5pm, we took the boat back to the mainland Sofitel Marara Beach Resort. We had asked the taxi that dropped us off to meet us again at 5:30pm, and, like clockwork, at 5:28pm our driver arrived, waving at us through the windshield. I love it when things work out!
We took a waiting tender back to the Pacific Princess and boarded the ship at 5:45pm, just as the first seating for dinner was beginning. Fortuitously, headwaiter Josko was walking by as we boarded and we asked how late we could enter the dining room. He assured us that even 6:30pm would be ok tonight, so we did a quick unpack of our bags and took fast showers and made it just in time. The Pacific Princess is overnighting in Bora Bora tonight and there were many empty tables in the Club Restaurant. We ordered just starters and sorbet and were stuffed (after that lunch...!).
We attended the 7:45pm performance of comedy magician Lorenzo Clark and were quick to bed afterward. We can sleep in tomorrow; for once, there won't be an early island arrival...we're already here!