FRENCH POLYNESIA: DISCOVERING PARADISE

A fantastic journey in French Guiana to the discovery of heaven

Tours organized entirely by me and intrappreso with 2 friends. Total duration of 19 days (of which almost 4 travel between return and 16 nights on the spot).
Visitate Islands: Tahiti, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Bora Bora, and Maupiti Moorea and one night spent Raiatea.

The organization of the trip was quite long and also some 'complex.
1 - why was not easy to decide which islands to visit since they were all beautiful and different from each other (thanks to friends of the forum ww.polinesia.it that I have advised and helped very much)
2nd - because once decided the destinations I have searched the hotel accommodations and selected the best among the cheapest (and abolished resort hotel ... only guest house) then I tried to contact me but not all respondents and then I had to find alternate ways to address myself to the book as haere-mai (www.haere-mai.pf)
3rd - why build the route and comply with rules imposed by the air pass and schedules are not always a day was a real puzzle.
Anyway for me it was a pleasure because the trip starts quad salts but when the aircraft begins to organize it!
Intercontinental flights purchased through travel agency made with Air France via Paris - Los Angeles
For domestic flights, I bought through the internet package BoraBora - Tuamotu pass directly the Air Tahiti.
The accommodation in Tahiti, Bora Bora and Rangiroa them I booked directly with the pensions and pay on the spot while those of Maupiti Tikehau and through the local tourist association (see above haere-mai ...) because I could not contact them directly. The remaining I contacted them directly.

 

THE LONG TRAVEL STARTS

here we are .. After many months of research and many years of dreams about Polynesia finally arrived on the day of departure! Sveglia soon ... final preparations and a look on the web to check if the x plane from Bologna is on time .... e. ... Surprise!
The flight we booked not panic ... ... Gloria immediately call the travel that I had made the reservation and explain everything .. control and calm me by saying that there are no problems have changed the operational flight but our bookings are valid for the same flights programa ... I understand ... but tell me first no ?!!!!?? Damn ... x I was just not a stroke! I had already seen the journey of my dreams fade away .... so much effort and made nothing ... x
Va be '... speriamo bene ... Meanwhile, between a phone call and the other has made the time to start eating something and then quickly and greet all the way to the airport with the hope that everything is in place and no problems ...
I did not start as you like, we hope that much better!

While we are at row x check-in behind me I see my dear friend who had not met years .. now lives in Norway and back every now and only today because of a strike x go home are forced to take an alternative flight via Paris, and so x the first leg the aircraft we are together. What incredible coincidence! Sometimes it's really a small world ...

Ok all the controls and finally we start ... Paris first stage and second Los Angeles where we waste all our hours of break in the interminable row x controls American (after completing several sheets will take an impression and even photos!) then I do not know what to serve because we are only in transit and not even leave the airport! To tell the truth even go there! in the sense that we lead with the coach in a restricted area from which we can not go out and then we go back on board without even making a trip to the airport x then tell a little 'what are served all checks facts! Practically we have not even put foot on American soil!
Okay prudence and more thorough x away terrorism but I think this paranoia!
In the end, however, again ... other 10 hours of flight and then we come!

FINALLY IN POLYNESIA!!!

6.00 hours of 13 November 2004, Tahiti Faa airport.
Finally after having dreamed all my life, here I am ... in FRENCH POLYNESIA!
Almost does not seem real ... go out ... breath out from the warm, fragrant air ... is a beautiful day, there are over 25 degrees and the sun beats a casino although still early.
There is no doubt .... are in Polynesia ... .. the other side of the world exact, and now begins the adventure ... ...
Before we move from the 'Air Tahiti to pick up the pass air (booked and paid via the Internet, about € 402.00 a head) .... Then in the bank (Socredo) to change a po' di Euro (the exchange rate is fixed: € 1 = 119.33 FCP and you pay about 4 euros fixed fee for each transaction performed) and x to the Post to buy a phone card (1550 FCP) from 40 units (about 15 minutes of calls). All this always at the airport, waiting for the flight to Rangiroa at 10.30.
After waiting a while 'sitting outside the airport and having curiosity shops in the surrounding area we head to the check-in for domestic flights baggage allowance ... 20 kg ... more 1solo heavy hand luggage to a maximum of 3 kg. ... But in reality even if they are very tax bags x As to the hand luggage of us have never weighed ...
Passed the check-in pass in the waiting room .... watching the planes on the runway known that are not small as I expected and which are also fairly new. Excellent! Punctual departure and arrival in Rangiroa in advance ....
Now we can finally say that a destination ... after over 20 hours of air and "only" 36 hours of total travel .. here we are ... in the legendary Glorine of Pension Rangiroa ...
At our arrival we are welcomed into retirement by Sabrina Glorine which presents (in the kitchen with a beautiful and huge fish that assume will be our dinner ...) and then takes us to do our ... carinissima a house in the middle of the garden .. with two double beds and bath (separate from the bedroom by a curtain colored).
First we must get used to, them that x is normal, is to always take off their shoes before entering the house to soil and not to bring sand. Mica stupid!
Recently placed in the luggage room we pulled the costume and we head to the nearby beach to the Hotel Kia Ora ... the beach is narrow and long with lots of nice coral but practically deserted ... .. and the sea is beautiful ... the water is clear and the colors change depending on the depth ... blue, green and blue in thousands of different shades.
The sun so hot that we stretch the shade of the trees, but the tiredness and the lack of sleep begin to be felt and then x not risk falling asleep and then lose precious time, we decide to take a walk in the neighborhood and search for the famous dolphins beach (many of which I had spoken in the forum of Polynesia) but we can not find. Finally comes the time for dinner (the 18.30) and reach the dining room that overlooks the lagoon.
At the table are many of us and dinner together at a long table .. there is a group of sub (French) who live in Tahiti and that x came here the weekend, a couple of pairs of French and a pair of young Italians, however, are sitting away from us so we can not talk. Dinner was excellent .. raw fish, which with a little 'courage encouragement tasted just behind the French sub and we find that to be delicious ... grilled mahi mahi with salsa and white rice ex dessert fruit salad. We arrived at the coffee practically half asleep on the table and then we decide to give everyone a good night and go to bed, finally, after I do not know how many hours that do not sleep ... and so has already passed the first day in Polynesia.

RANGIROA - BLUE LAGOON EXCURSION

After going to bed early course we also wake up early! At 4, just over 30 are already on our feet and waiting for the breakfast that is served at 6.30 we prepare for the excursion in x x program today: the legendary "Blue Lagoon" (FCP 7500). After a long wait is finally the time arrived for breakfast and since today is Sunday we serve butter, jam, cheese, pan de coco, Croissant empty or filled with chocolate, coffee and orange juice.
Excellent and delicious breakfast! We just wanted to ... now we are ready to leave and sit in the garden to wait until arrival to collect the x excursion.
At 8:00 just to be taken by a kind of pick-up cover and leave for the port. Along the trail up a Canadian girl and six Italians who then discover to be with the Adventures in the world.
Arrived at the pier Avataru, climb on the speedboat to Jean-pierre, starting almost immediately and within an hour we arrived at the beautiful blue lagoon ... the colors are fantastic, the sea has a thousand shades from green to blue and the small islands (motu) are ... grass is really amazing!
The boat, however we can not bring that much because the water is low, then we load the backpacks on their shoulders and walk to reach the motu that there is shown being careful not to slip on the corals. The water is clear and within minutes we reach the shore.
The motu is one of many that surround the Blue Lagoon which has a vaguely triangular shape with one of its sides by the ocean. Our motu is one of the most beautiful interior and is very small ... ... chock full of palm trees ... un po 'di and a beach hut in the middle where Jean-Pierre and his assistant will bring it to work for preparaci lunch. After thoroughly coated sunscreen (the sun beats strong and there is not even a cloud) we throw ourselves into the water to do some 'snorkeling but even if the water is beautiful and wonderful place, truly a dream, we few fish, and so we come back on and we are dedicated to photography.
The lunch is great .. tahitienne to raw fish, fish and grilled chicken, the delicious pan de coco this instantly cooked on the grill and finish with chocolate donut and coffee with milk, coconut juice instantly.
Fantastico! Obviously in the end we are all overflowing so we remain somewhat 'on the table for a chat, then when someone makes a pennichella the three of us together with some members of the group adventures in the world decide to take a walk to the island of birds .... motu one of our biggest, so far not completely wild at the center with a dense vegetation impassable and full of birds.
We take some photos then we return to our motu ...
The sun is deadly, walking on water that acts as a mirror is a suicide ... Fortunately, we brought the sarongs with which we try to cover their backs .. we would not burn right away and thus spoil the holiday!
After being a little 'we have not resisted the shade and we have again thrown into the water ... was too beautiful and hot! At one point, JP is calling us to return to the boat and so we are .. the water in the meantime it was first raised and mind we arrived just at the ankle is now in mid-belly, and so we must do even more careful where we put our feet and keep on backpacks for bagnarli not. A few meters from the boat for a moment I look around and I see to be completely surrounded by sharks! .. Are small at most a little over a meter and JP says of peace of mind that are not dangerous but I will tell you that even if I believed I felt much more peaceful once boat lifts! Recently we have gathered all JP started to throw food into the water for sharks so many attirane and try to get someone to let us see up close .. At this point I understood why they had come so many! Mica is scemi ... they already knew that we would have given them something to eat! Return to the 16th
Dinner at 18.30 after a walk in search of the beach (many of which I have spoken on the forum polinesia.it) which are often seen entering and leaving the lagoon dolphins but we did not have visas.
Dinner chicken and asparagus rolls, white spaghetti, banana pancakes and coffee.
After dinner, we agree with JP that would take us to the past with his girlfriend x Kia Ora to go see a show of Polynesian dances but does not see so after waiting a while 'we are approaching on foot. The Kia Ora is not far away but just left the village the darkness is total, it seems incredible but do not even see where we put our feet .. Fortunately we have a flashlight with us in single file and continue. At some point we reach Alberto and Elena who are scooter and offer us a passage that we accept very happy .. of course it then loads a return back to me and Melissa on a second trip.
We arrive at ... there are stories to come even if we are not just guests who pay the entry x indulged FCP 500. It 'too early and then we look a little' round the place is nice but it is all desert and silent .. sadness that the stay in a hotel like this ... who is right because it is in honeymoon and something to do otherwise is to be found to cut the veins!