Up early again. Breakfast. I was going to try the pancakes today but not available so I have a 1 egg omelet with tomatoes and cheese, fruit, pastries, and pineapple juice. Richard just loves all the vegetable choices-tomatoes, broccoli, diced beets, and cheese.
I have made a reservation with Albert's to rent an automatic economy car today. www.albert-transport.net We are to pick up the car at 8:15 AM. Albert's is located right across the street from our resort. We fill out paperwork and Richard inspects the car with the rental lady noting any scratches, dents, etc. She tells us the closest gas station for us to fill up before returning the car is next to Le Petit Village-around 5 minute drive from here. We have decided to head to the Lagoonarium for some snorkeling first. www.lagoonarium.e-monsite.com On the way there we make some sightseeing stops. Cool mile markers shaped like the island of Moorea. I spot the blue painted palm tree for the Lagoonarium. There's quite a few cars here already but we manage to find a spot for our little car-a white Hyundai. We arrive around 9:15 AM. Cost 7800 XPF cash for the 2 of us. The boat over to the motu has just left so we wait for it to return to take us there. Luckily we manage to get the very last hut which will offer some shade and a place for our towels and other gear. It's at the end of the row next to the restaurant and bathroom facilities. That building is shaped like a boat and has seating on an upper deck. It's quite cute actually. I'm more impressed with this set up than I was led to believe. The snorkeling trail is marked off with lines and buoys. The current is very strong in some places but you can stay in shallow water right near the entrance to the Lagoonarium and see black tip sharks, sting rays, lots of fish. 11:30 AM. First feeding. The sting rays are fed in this shallow water area and there are loads of them. I stayed in the water and some of the sting rays brushed up against me. It was fantastic that I was able to see so much in the shallow water. I should admit that I barely know how to swim so I prefer being in water that is not over my head! There's even a large brown eel. Richard and a small group head out along the line to deeper water where the shark feeding takes place. Unfortunately Richard set his dive camera to snorkel and all the pictures did not turn out. He has to reset the camera to scuba which is odd since this is a snorkel, not a dive. Weird Sea Life camera! Around 1:30 PM we ask to be taken back over to the mainland. We are the only ones going back in the boat but there are people there waiting to go to the motu. It's been a fun time.
Because we are in wet clothes and feel a bit icky from the salt water we decide to drive back to our hotel to freshen up for further sightseeing and dinner. Past Moorea Fun Dive shop where Richard did his diving. We make one stop-Le Petit Village. Not many stores here that are open. I buy a can of coca cola at the little market store for 300 XPF. There is a fairly large store called Creativ. It's supposed to carry locally made crafts, clothing....Lots of very nice things here. I end up buying a beautiful beach cover up, a souvenir type coffee mug, and a mother of pearl fridge magnet that says Moorea. FWIW I always buy a coffee mug, fridge magnet, and pin from our vacations. Total cost of these 3 items is 10600 XPF/$105.09. I don't know how much each item cost as the saleslady took the prices off the items. I think the fridge magnet was 1400 XPF. I should have told her to keep the prices on or I should have made note of the prices. We get back to our bungalow around 3:00 PM.
Feeling much better we turn to the left this time coming out of the hotel. Through Papetoai. Opunohu Bay. Past the Hilton, a few view stops, Cook's Bay, Allo Pizza. It is getting very dark and since we can't see much in the way of views, sights, etc. we decide to turn around and head back to Rudy's where we have a dinner reservation for 7:30 PM.
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| Richard loves the vegetables |
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| 1 egg omelet with tomatoes and cheese, a fruit filled pastry, and the chocolate au pain |
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I have made a reservation with Albert's to rent an automatic economy car today. www.albert-transport.net We are to pick up the car at 8:15 AM. Albert's is located right across the street from our resort. We fill out paperwork and Richard inspects the car with the rental lady noting any scratches, dents, etc. She tells us the closest gas station for us to fill up before returning the car is next to Le Petit Village-around 5 minute drive from here. We have decided to head to the Lagoonarium for some snorkeling first. www.lagoonarium.e-monsite.com On the way there we make some sightseeing stops. Cool mile markers shaped like the island of Moorea. I spot the blue painted palm tree for the Lagoonarium. There's quite a few cars here already but we manage to find a spot for our little car-a white Hyundai. We arrive around 9:15 AM. Cost 7800 XPF cash for the 2 of us. The boat over to the motu has just left so we wait for it to return to take us there. Luckily we manage to get the very last hut which will offer some shade and a place for our towels and other gear. It's at the end of the row next to the restaurant and bathroom facilities. That building is shaped like a boat and has seating on an upper deck. It's quite cute actually. I'm more impressed with this set up than I was led to believe. The snorkeling trail is marked off with lines and buoys. The current is very strong in some places but you can stay in shallow water right near the entrance to the Lagoonarium and see black tip sharks, sting rays, lots of fish. 11:30 AM. First feeding. The sting rays are fed in this shallow water area and there are loads of them. I stayed in the water and some of the sting rays brushed up against me. It was fantastic that I was able to see so much in the shallow water. I should admit that I barely know how to swim so I prefer being in water that is not over my head! There's even a large brown eel. Richard and a small group head out along the line to deeper water where the shark feeding takes place. Unfortunately Richard set his dive camera to snorkel and all the pictures did not turn out. He has to reset the camera to scuba which is odd since this is a snorkel, not a dive. Weird Sea Life camera! Around 1:30 PM we ask to be taken back over to the mainland. We are the only ones going back in the boat but there are people there waiting to go to the motu. It's been a fun time.
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| Car rental right across the street from IC Moorea |
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| Mile markers shaped liked the island of Moorea |
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| Betela-Mo'a built 1916 |
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| Protestant church |
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| Bus stop |
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| View stop |
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| Town of Afareaitu |
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| We're here! |
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| Our little white car |
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| Our tickets |
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| Motu where the Lagoonarium is located |
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| Leaving the Moorea mainland behind |
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| Our boat captain |
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| Approaching |
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| We got the last hut |
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| Snorkel trail marked by lines and buoys |
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| Richard |
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| Sting rays |
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| Sting rays being fed |
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| You can get up close and personal with the sting rays if you want |
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| Black tip sharks and fish |
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| Sting rays |
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| Shaped like a boat |
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| Food for purchase |
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| Steps lead to upper deck/seating area |
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| Life vests for rent |
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| Leaving |
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| Heading back to mainland Moorea |
Because we are in wet clothes and feel a bit icky from the salt water we decide to drive back to our hotel to freshen up for further sightseeing and dinner. Past Moorea Fun Dive shop where Richard did his diving. We make one stop-Le Petit Village. Not many stores here that are open. I buy a can of coca cola at the little market store for 300 XPF. There is a fairly large store called Creativ. It's supposed to carry locally made crafts, clothing....Lots of very nice things here. I end up buying a beautiful beach cover up, a souvenir type coffee mug, and a mother of pearl fridge magnet that says Moorea. FWIW I always buy a coffee mug, fridge magnet, and pin from our vacations. Total cost of these 3 items is 10600 XPF/$105.09. I don't know how much each item cost as the saleslady took the prices off the items. I think the fridge magnet was 1400 XPF. I should have told her to keep the prices on or I should have made note of the prices. We get back to our bungalow around 3:00 PM.
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| Le Petit Village |
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| Creativ had lots of really nice things, all local |
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| Small market good for snacks and drinks |
Feeling much better we turn to the left this time coming out of the hotel. Through Papetoai. Opunohu Bay. Past the Hilton, a few view stops, Cook's Bay, Allo Pizza. It is getting very dark and since we can't see much in the way of views, sights, etc. we decide to turn around and head back to Rudy's where we have a dinner reservation for 7:30 PM.
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| View stop-Opunohu Bay |
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| Starting to get dark |
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| Allo Pizza |
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| Very dark now |
Dinner-Rudy's. We are early as it is only 6:30 PM but no problem. We are seated at a nice table for 2 and there are only a few other tables occupied at this early dinner hour. Drinks-Hinano beer of course and I get a Rudy's cocktail made with white and dark rum, pineapple, orange, strawberries, banana, and triple sec. Yummy! Still water. I see on the menu lobster flamed with cognac. Oh no-lobster season is over. 😢 I settle for the parrot fish stuffed with crab and a sauce of tarragon and balsamic vinegar. Comes with white rice, green beans, and carrots. Richard orders the seafood casserole that has sea scallops, fish, shrimp, calamari and he's told a few pieces of lobster. It also comes with the white rice, green beans, and carrots. My filet of parrot fish just melted it my mouth. It was awesome and a very good second choice. Richard said his casserole was good but didn't think there was any lobster in it. Dessert-Richard gets ice cream. Three scoops-chocolate, Tahitian vanilla, and coconut. Go for broke with the creme brûlée which was terrific. Cost without tip 11050 XPF/$109.55. Credit cards accepted. Early to bed again. All this sun, hot weather, rich food is taking a number on us. Tomorrow we have our first excursion!
We decide to drive back the way we came as we want to change our clothes. We stop at Le Petit Village. Not many shops here. Creative is open and there's a lot of nice things here. Supposed to be all locally made. I buy a pretty beach cover up, a souvenir coffee mug, and a mother of pearl Moorea fridge magnet. Cost of all items 10600XPF/$105.09. The small market is open and here I buy a can of coca cola 300 XPF.
We return to the hotel around 3:30 PM. Change for dinner at Rudy's but will do more sightseeing first. Drive past the Hilton, the Sofitel. Make a few stops for the view but it's getting dark and it's not even 6:00 PM yet. Our dinner reservation is for 7:30 PM but we get to Rudy's at 6:30 PM. No problem being early and we are seated at a nice table for 2 in the corner. Drinks-Hinano beer of course, Rudy's cocktail for me. It has white rum, dark rum, pineapple, orange, strawberries, banana, and triple sec. It's lovely. I see a lobster dish on the menu that is calling my name. Alas. Lobster season is over and doesn't start again until mid August. 😧 I settle for my second choice-filet of parrot fish stuffed with crab, sauce of tarragon and balsamic vinegar, white rice, green beans, and carrots. Richard gets the seafood casserole of sea scallops, fish, shrimp, calamari, with a few pieces of lobster claims our server. It comes with the same white rice, green beans, and carrots. Dessert. Of course I must have creme brûlée and Richard goes for scoops of chocolate, vanilla, and coconut ice cream. Dinner was delicious. That parrot fish melted in my mouth. Cost without tip 11050 XPF/$109.55. Richard says that driving in the dark isn't as bad as he thought it might be. It's been a long day and we're ready to call it a night. Had a restless night. Maybe too much rich food is catching up with me??
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| Dinner at Rudy's |
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| We're early |
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| Menu |
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| Drinks menu |
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| I ordered a Rudy's cocktail |
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| Menu |
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| Menu |
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| Menu |
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| Richard ordered the seafood casserole |
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| I ordered the parrot fish stuffed with crab |
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| Dessert menu |
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| Hinano beer |
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| Rudy's drink |
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| Parrot fish |
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| Seafood casserole |
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| Creme brûlée |
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| 3 scoops ice cream |
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| Bill |
We decide to drive back the way we came as we want to change our clothes. We stop at Le Petit Village. Not many shops here. Creative is open and there's a lot of nice things here. Supposed to be all locally made. I buy a pretty beach cover up, a souvenir coffee mug, and a mother of pearl Moorea fridge magnet. Cost of all items 10600XPF/$105.09. The small market is open and here I buy a can of coca cola 300 XPF.
We return to the hotel around 3:30 PM. Change for dinner at Rudy's but will do more sightseeing first. Drive past the Hilton, the Sofitel. Make a few stops for the view but it's getting dark and it's not even 6:00 PM yet. Our dinner reservation is for 7:30 PM but we get to Rudy's at 6:30 PM. No problem being early and we are seated at a nice table for 2 in the corner. Drinks-Hinano beer of course, Rudy's cocktail for me. It has white rum, dark rum, pineapple, orange, strawberries, banana, and triple sec. It's lovely. I see a lobster dish on the menu that is calling my name. Alas. Lobster season is over and doesn't start again until mid August. 😧 I settle for my second choice-filet of parrot fish stuffed with crab, sauce of tarragon and balsamic vinegar, white rice, green beans, and carrots. Richard gets the seafood casserole of sea scallops, fish, shrimp, calamari, with a few pieces of lobster claims our server. It comes with the same white rice, green beans, and carrots. Dessert. Of course I must have creme brûlée and Richard goes for scoops of chocolate, vanilla, and coconut ice cream. Dinner was delicious. That parrot fish melted in my mouth. Cost without tip 11050 XPF/$109.55. Richard says that driving in the dark isn't as bad as he thought it might be. It's been a long day and we're ready to call it a night. Had a restless night. Maybe too much rich food is catching up with me??
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