A Couple Of Slow Ones

Under the sea under our bungalow.

The last two days have been relaxing ones, swimming reading and some spa treatments for all. The weather continues to cooperate, clear skies with few clouds. The sea (or lagoon) changed in 24 hours though. Yesterday it was calm enough that it was like swimming in a pool. Today the waves picked up, much more turgid than yesterday. The waves were crashing on the barrier reef so hard a lasting curtain of mist formed. Did not prevent us from swimming though.

The amount of sea life and activity we have seen has been remarkable, fish and rays of many sizes visible from our back porch. Terns diving for food have made fish and rays fly across the water.

It was time to get off the farm for dinner tonight, took the boat to Vaitape to visit Bloody Mary’s for some fresh local fish. Very Polynesian feel complete with sand floors, food was great. The bathrooms were a hoot as well. Made me think what it would be like if the castaways of Gilligan’s Island opened a restaurant…

The still waters
The still waters
Some of our smaller friends
Some of our smaller friends
Under the sea under our bungalow.
Under the sea under our bungalow.
The view from the swim barrier.
The view from the swim barrier.
Proof I am on this trip.
Proof I am on this trip..
What the shark saw...
What the shark saw…
Syd and me at sea.
Syd and me at sea.
The waves crashing over the barrier reef. The island in the background is Ra'iātea.
The waves crashing over the barrier reef. The island in the background is Ra’iātea.
Finally she lets me take her picture!
Finally she lets me take her picture!
Proof we are together
Proof we are together
How you pick your meal at Bloody Mary's
How you pick your meal at Bloody Mary’s
Finally a picture of the three of us
Finally a picture of the three of us

Physalia Physalis

The racers and fans.

Up early for some reason I decided to start the day the way I ended the previous one, up looking at the stars. Glad I did, Orion was up and putting on a display you can only see in dark areas. Beautiful.

We decided to spend the morning in Vaitape, the largest city in Bora Bora. City is a misnomer, with a population of less than 5000 a town is more of a better description. Still about half of the population of Bora Bora lives there so…

A great day to go over too, it was clear, the water was calm plus there was a local rowing contest going on. The crowd was enthusiastic cheering on their teams and family members. A woman on the dock apologized to Kim for all the noise, Kim told her no need to, we were loving the contest and the crowd. Very polite people!

After a little shopping we headed back to the hotel for a swim in the calm lagoon but alas there was a warning from the staff that there are Portuguese man o’ war, aka jellyfish present in the lagoon today and they recommended against swimming. Apparently these jellyfish were rare in Bora Bora but with global warming the population has grown. Bummer. So it was pool time instead. At least there was a swim up bar… But after a couple of hours (and drinks) I decided screw it I am going in. Glad I did the water was very comfortable on this beautiful day.

We ended the day back in our room, the restaurants at the Conrad are closed on Tuesdays so we “suffered” through room service. We opened the main patio door and the windows in the back and let the breeze blow through the room. Suffering.

The dock at Vaitape
The dock at Vaitape
Vessels in Vaitape harbor.
Vessels in Vaitape harbor.
Downtown Vaitape
Downtown Vaitape
Parroquia de San Pedro-Celestino
Parroquia de San Pedro-Celestino
Shopping in Vaitape.
Shopping in Vaitape.
Traffic at the harbor.
Traffic at the harbor.
The racers and fans.
The racers and fans.
More racing fans.
More racing fans.
Ne pas déranger
Ne pas déranger
The race is underway.
The race is underway.
Catamaran in Vaitape harbor.
Catamaran in Vaitape harbor.
Crossing the lagoon
Crossing the lagoon
Back at the Conrad
Back at the Conrad
Vaitape from To'opua
Vaitape from To’opua
Looking for a Man 'O War...
Looking for a Man ‘O War…
Sunset in the round.
Sunset in the round.