Around our Hotel in Papeete

We originally arrive at our hotel, the Hilton Hotel Tahiti, located between the airport and Papeete, as the sun sets and look across the grounds at Moorea across the channel.

Moorea across the way

Sun setting over Moorea

We wander over to the hotel pool area where a band is playing by the Maeva ("Welcome") sign.  Our first Tahitian word.

Welcome at the hotel

We have a special dinner reservation in Papeete at L'o à la Bouche to celebrate the trip and a birthday:  foie gras à la vanille Tahitienne/confit pommes abricot/brioche toastée, carpaccio de thon rouge, and escargot to start, followed by margret de canard au miel, mahi mahi à la vanille Tahitienne/coco, and thon mi cuit/sésame/salsa exotique/caramel de soja.  All really good, but large portions.

Dinner

The next day, we explore our hotel before heading over to the port to find our ship.

Moorea in the distance

Around the hotel

One last look from our room and then we're off to the ship to depart toward our first stop in Fakarava, in the Tuamotu Archipelago north of our current location in the Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Huahine).

Last look from the hotel