Honeymoon10 - Bora Bora: The Pearl of the Pacific

ARRIVAL IN PARADISE

It's 11:00 in the morning, when after only 20 minutes of flight, the plane taken at Raiatea is landing at Bora Bora. With our faces glued to the window we watch that corner of the world seen a million times pass below us, that panorama used by everyone to describe paradise and having it truly before us seems almost unreal. The airport here is more well-kept than on the other islands, the welcome special. All the resorts have their desk here, ready to welcome you with the brightest of smiles and with the very fragrant flower necklaces. We chose "Le Meridien", above all for its location. These will be the last four days of the trip and here we didn't want to spare any expense. We wanted the best. Once we've collected our luggage, they accompany us to the boat moored at the pier to go to the hotel.

The airport occupies an entire motu, as soon as we're out the colors dazzle us and not many words or explanations are needed to understand why this is considered the most beautiful lagoon in the world. One glance is enough to confirm this statement. Already on the boat we're euphoric, our gaze is absolutely captivated by the colors of the water and by the profile of Mount Otemanu, which has something magnetic about it. Even before arriving at the hotel we understand that our choice was perfect. The area occupied by the Meridien is the only one that enjoys a view of the lagoon incomparable to any other. We approach the pier and the sea looks more like an enormous pool. On the pier a mandolin player and a tray of fruit are waiting for us. His greeting is "Bienvenue en Paradis" and we believe we've truly arrived there.

For check-in they accompany us to the bar overlooking the beach, from which one enjoys the most wonderful of the views that Bora Bora has to offer. We fill out forms and formalities sipping a welcome cocktail before going to discover our bungalow. This is another Polynesia. We understand it right away. Beautiful, comfortable, luxurious and unforgettable... even if less real. Ours is an overwater bungalow with a lagoon view; once the curtains are opened and we've stepped out onto the terrace we know that we could not move from here for the entire stay and be absolutely happy. The bungalow is very beautiful, the glass on the floor and the bathroom spectacular. Everything absolutely impeccable. My newlywed husband doesn't resist even a minute and is already in the sea, under the room for the ritual photo! We have a snack in the room taking the first sun on the terrace.

In the afternoon we begin to explore the Hotel... its magnificent beach, the inner lagoon where you can snorkel, the sea turtle reserve. It's no longer permitted to swim with them, but just watching them gives emotions. Incredibly the very white beach, where no service is lacking, isn't crowded and won't be for the rest of the stay. Privacy and silence are guaranteed everywhere. The infinity pools help create the perfect panorama that this corner of the world gives us. We witness the first sunset over the lagoon returning to our terrace for a well-deserved private toast to our wonderful honeymoon. Everything turns red and it's another minute we'll never forget. We have all the time to enjoy the small luxuries of our room before going to dinner. The choice is between the à la carte restaurant or the buffet.

Here we have half board, which I highly recommend considering the astronomical prices on the Island. A Spanish couple told us they spent about 80 euros per person for the buffet... on the contrary the drinks and bar prices are to be considered completely normal. (Very high for Polynesia but lower than the renowned Italian resorts!!!) Returning to dinner, our choice fell on the buffet restaurant, "Le Tipanie", where it's possible to eat with your own table at the edge of the inner lagoon. The atmosphere is absolutely special and the food plentiful, of quality and with a truly vast choice. We'd like to taste everything... every evening the cuisine has its own theme..Asia, Italy, France always keeping fresh fish and fruit at will. Our first day draws to a close, it seems to have flown by.

TOTAL RELAX

Perhaps it's the euphoria, but at 7 I'm awake... And what a Good morning! Opening the window and finding yourself looking together at that view, lulled by the sound of the water hitting the pillars of the bungalow, enjoying a cup of tea gave us the most beautiful awakening of our lives. Today the day will be spent here, with no schedules and nothing to do. Just sun, sea, relaxation, the two of us.

Tour of Bora Bora Island

This morning after breakfast we're ready to set off to do the entire circuit of the island by boat in the lagoon. After considering all the options available, in light of the excursions already done elsewhere, our choice fell on just the DIY boat rental. On the beach we meet the guy who hands us the keys and briefly explains how to handle the... what he calls a boat. In fact our hilarity is strong when we see our little boat... its only boat-like characteristic is that it floats. For the rest it's really quite ugly, all tin, with wooden benches and a small canopy, for the modest sum of 150 Euros (with fuel). The guy also gives us a mobile phone to use in case of need or problems. Well... we set off from Le Meridien for what will turn out to be a real adventure. We go around clockwise, heading straight for the coral gardens.

Our speed is non-existent but this allows us to truly fully enjoy the colours of the water flowing beneath us and those views that only postcards show. Soon, however, we notice that a big dark... clouds cover the top of Mount Otemanu in two seconds, becoming ever more threatening. The wind and the sea pick up. I'd barely had time to put the bags under cover when we're hit by a veritable tropical downpour, with so much water that we were forced to bail it out of the boat with a bucket. We had arrived near the coral gardens, over shallow bottom that, as the waves rippled, was no longer visible. We spent a bad quarter of an hour... that's how long it lasted. Right after, the sun and the marvellous colours of Bora Bora returned. The most frightening thing I'll remember are the waves that, outside the lagoon, looked like veritable buildings of water.

Naturally the snorkelling was skipped and we continued to the beautiful Matira beach. Next stop the famous Bloody Mary Bar-Restaurant. To stop there we leave the "tub" anchored and tied to their boat dock; we can't miss this institution on the island, which soon turns out to be a big rip-off. After 16 days in Polynesia we would never have expected such rude and ignorant behaviour and attitude. They live on the fame they've been given, on the celebrities who have set foot here and on the gullible tourists (like us, after all) who include it in their "musts". Very expensive, rude staff who treated us rather brusquely since we were there not to eat. The only bad Polynesian memory. Let's move on. Next stop Vaitape, the capital of Bora Bora.

Here we're truly surprised by the abysmal difference between the small village of a few houses, a little market, a few shops, and the rest of the island... stitched together around tourism. Here in Vaitape the roads are poorly kept, there are few people, a few tourists on an outing, but it's another island compared to the glamour that reigns in its resorts. We set off again, driving along the whole west coast of the island. Very green, with a deeper, intense blue sea. Only returning east do we find the marvellous lagoon again and make a few swimming stops until we slowly return to the Meridien. On our return we see the rental guy on the beach rather agitated and angry... well... when the storm arrived we'd protected the phone in a bag and completely forgotten about it, and he had made no fewer than 55 calls.

One more swim and they would have come looking for us!!!!! Happy with the day we enjoy the afternoon at the Meridien between our bungalow and the beach. Another day has gone... this is the last night in Bora Bora and tomorrow will be the last we'll spend in Polynesia. Looking at the moon from the bungalow terrace I get a lump in my throat. We'll carry these places with us forever.

Last Day in Bora Bora...

This morning I want to enjoy the bungalow to the very last, so as soon as I get up I dive in for a nice swim and soak up some sun on the terrace. After the usual hearty breakfast we stay here to imprint this view in our eyes. Until 12. Now we really have to leave it... Late check-out is available at 50% of the room rate and in this case it would have been prohibitive. So the Meridien took care of our things and then made available a service room with shower before going to the airport. We spend the rest of the day on the beach and by the pool until 5 PM... the boat is ready at the pier to take us to the airport. The hotel staff accompany you all the way there... and with the shell necklace they put around your neck you understand that it's really time to go. One last farewell photo and off we go. The sun has gone away, making the parting less traumatic...

but I confess a little tear fell. At 6:30 PM we take off for Tahiti, where we'll wait for the connection that will take us back to Los Angeles.