We remembered that one could watch the dolphins jump in the water as one entered the atoll of Rangiroa so we through on some clothes and raced up to deck 16 near the mini golf to watch our entry into the atoll from the front of the boat. We saw no dolphins but we did have a fabulous view of the island!!
We then went down to the Terrace Grill for breakfast. Once we finished eating we joined four new friends while they ate breakfast and talked about adventurous activities like cycling and canoeing before talking about the day’s plans!
After a quick few laps around the very small track around the back of the ship, we made plans to join one other couple planning for a bit of snorkelling. We decided to take a boat to the very nearby aquarium - which we negotiated for $40 US apiece - instead of $50 for two hours worth of snorkelling. Once you arrive at the spot, the drivers say okay - jump in and start spotting the marine life!! I don’t know if I expected a beach nearby or what- but at least the boat would stay at the site and allow us to climb back on if we got tired. Our friends from Missouri would have liked a pool noodle - like others were using ad a flotation device in the water - but since our boat didn’t have those - they had a life jacket to wear!!
We saw black tipped sharks, loads of fish and a few moray eels! The eels are kind of creepy. The boat periodically left us and went back to the pier and collected more customers. That was a bit disconcerting to have lost our anchor. In the transfer of acquiring more passengers our friends lost access to their life jackets and that wasn’t good. Nevertheless a good day of snorkelling in turquoise blue water that was warm like bath water!
At noon we returned to the dock, where we decided to return to the ship, clean up, get on dry clothes, and eat lunch. We then returned in a tender back to the dock. We wanted to catch a free shuttle to the Paul Gaugin Pearl Farm. We quickly learned the shuttles were finished for the day. We contemplated renting electric bikes for $10 per hour per bike, but needed to return them in 90 minutes. So we decided to walk to Josephine’s. There was a wonderful boardwalk facing the water with a few tables and chairs. I had a juice while the others had a beer. What a delightful way to pass a few hours in the afternoon.
We returned to the ship at about 4 pm - a full 30 minutes before the last call to board the tenders!
We played a board game of Carcasonne and passed the time until our 7:30 reservation at Jacques- the French restaurant. We had a lobster gnocchi for an appetizer 2 the best gnocchi of my life!! My main course was Coquille St Jacques - scallops. Delicious. And chocolate mousse for dessert.
John headed to the room, while I listened to the entertainment in the theatre ( and sat in the back row to finish this blog!)
Life is good! Tomorrow, we pull into Bora Bora!!
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