French Polynesia 2018: May 22, 2018-Francky Franck tour, beach time, dinner at Coco D'isle

I am up at 5:00 AM. Richard is still sleeping. I write in my journal that I've been keeping about this trip. Breakfast-I finally have a crepe/pancake with maple syrup, an apple turnover pastry, fruit-watermelon/pineapple, tropical fruit juice. I go back and get 1 egg over easy, a potato cake/patty, and a slice of toast. I ask for coffee but it's too bitter tasting so I can't finish it. Richard starts with cereal loaded with dried fruit. He loves it. Then he gets his plate of vegetables-diced beets, tomatoes, cauliflower. Potato cakes, pickles, artichoke hearts.

Pancake and apple turnover

Potato cake/patty and fruit

My 1 egg over easy, toast, and tropical fruit juice

Cereal and dried fruit

Richard's vegetables

We drive to the Total gas station next to Le Petit Village and fill up the tank with gas. Cost cash 1000 XPF. Car is returned before 8:15 AM. Car is checked-no damage, everything good. I give the girl the receipt for the gas. Credit card accepted. Cost for the 1 day car rental 10000 XPF/$99.14. www.albert-transport.net We walk back across the street to get our stuff together for our first excursion. I booked this via internet before arriving in FP. E mail from Francky Franck explained FF will not be doing the tour himself and is that ok. It is and I'm told that the cost cash only $50 per person or $100 for the both of us. We can pay in USD, euros, or XPF. Credit cards not accepted. While waiting for our pick up I notice a large bus Albert Tours and a van Albert Safari. He is all over this island! Good for him.

Parking are at the IC Moorea

Our little white Hyundai

Total gas station

Receipt for the gas

Albert Tours

Albert Safari

Pick up by Francky Franck Tours is 8:45 AM at the lobby. I've picked this company because of the great reviews on Trip Advisor, the reasonable price, and the itinerary. Per website we will visit Magic Mountain, Belvedere, pineapple fields, Tropical Garden for tasting and vanilla plantation, juice factory for tasting, 2 bays-Opunohu and Cook's. www.franckyfranck-mooreatours.com
Our driver/guide is Jean Renee but he says we can call him John. Besides the 2 of us there are 7 others. A couple on their honeymoon, 4 flight attendants from the new French airline French Bee, and the boyfriend of one of the flight attendants. Nice scenery as we drive. The back of the 4 X 4 pick up is open so we can see the sights as we drive. Nice. First stop Magic Mountain. The road up is steep and very rough. We park the truck. There are a few other trucks/vehicles there. Have to climb up to get to the viewing platform. It's a beautiful day. Clear skies, lots of sunshine. Lovely views of Opunohu Bay and the 2 outer reef breaks. I take pictures and video. Pineapple fields-can see where some have been picked and where others are still waiting to get picked. Pineapple here is delicious-just the right amount of sweetness and so juicy. Next is Belvedere which I really thought had a better view than Magic Mountain but that's my opinion. By the viewing platform you can see both bays-Opunohu on the left and Cook's on the right. Unexpected is a stop at a marae/ruins. Marae Fare-Aito dedicated to sports-archery. John gives us a lot of information about this marae. I found it very interesting. Then a stop at the Juice Factory, but no tour. Instead we have a tasting of several drinks-Tahiti drink, lemon, pineapple/papaya- that are sold in this store. The store also sells all manners of souvenirs-baseball caps, T shirts, perfume............. I enjoyed the tasting and my favorite is the Tahiti drink. I decide to buy that. I spot Hinano beer glasses-set of 3. Have to get that. Credit card accepted. Cost 2465 XPF/$24.36. Then I see small bottles of vanilla extract and a container of the vanilla pods. My daughter asked for that so I get that too. Cost 3780 XPF/$37.35. I'm mindful that we have to fly Air Tahiti from Moorea to Bora Bora. There are so many nice things in this store. Wish I had the room and weight in my luggage. 😞 Onward to see the vanilla plantation. It is right where the Tropical Garden is located. John tells us all about the vanilla growing and harvesting process. At the Tropical Garden I was a bit disappointed. We only tasted pineapple preserves and there wasn't a huge variety that you could purchase. I think the Agricultural High School may have more of a selection for sale?? There was a menu so I'm thinking that at certain times and days you can order from this menu?? Back to our hotel by 12:45 PM. I did give John a tip because he was so informative and pleasant. My husband and I really enjoyed this tour and would do it again and can recommend it without any hesitation.

Back of truck is open

Steep, rough road up to Magic Mountain

Pretty view

Opunohu Bay

Reef breaks

French Bee flight attendants and boyfriend of girl 2nd from right

Beautiful day for this tour

Pineapple fields

Pineapple!

Lovely view

Driving along

Opunohu

Cook's Bay

Opunohu on the left and Cook's on the right

Ruins Marae Fare-Aito

John explaining the marae

Juice Factory

Store for tasting and gifts

Vanilla plantation

Tropical Garden

Pineapple preserves-really good

Wish I knew French!

Richard noticed a store next to the Albert's car rental so he walks over to get 2 cans of Hinano beer. Cost 930 XPF. He goes to the closest ice machine by our bungalow for ice for the collapsible cooler I have brought from home. The ice will keep the beer and the Tahiti drink cold as the mini fridge in the bungalow isn't very cold. Time at the beach. It's so nice that it is so close to our bungalow! We have drinks on our deck, relaxing and soaking in the great view. We also catch an almost perfect sunset from our deck.

Hinano and the Tahiti drink

Sunset

Dinner-Coco D'isle. The concierge has made reservations for us at Coco D'isle since the Hilton Creperie is a no go. We have free pick up at 6:30 PM. There are 2 other couples coming with us-Brian and Jessica and Nick and Kimberly. This is a very casual place and busy. Drinks-Hinano and feeling adventurous a Blue Lagoon for me. Too bad I forgot to take a picture of the menu where the drinks are described! Richard wants a light meal so he orders a chicken caesar salad. There are lots of hamburgers, salads, pizzas on the menu. Ok. Haven't had pizza yet (tradition on trips is to have pizza) so I get the margherita pizza with just sauce and mozzarella cheese. We decide we will share our dinners which is good because that pizza is much too big for me to have by myself. 8 slices and I do eat my 4. The pizza is good but would have been better if that thin crust which I love had been crispier. The chicken caesar salad was yummy. I think we made the right choices for dinner tonight. Credit card accepted. Cost without tip 4600 XPF/$45.45. Back to the bungalow and bed. We're exhausted.