off to Moorea

Vacate room early and hang around the tourist office for an hour hoping it will open ( thinking its Monday) and entertained by a large pack of excited and fornicating street dogs. Wander down to the quay and onto the Moorea ferry just prior to departure, 1000 francs one-way 40 minute ride.

Very picturesque Captain Cook Bay, turquoise blue sea, thatched cottages, vertical jaded peaks, clacking yachts, and the remote boom of the surf on the reef. Catch Le Truck 14 km to Chez Pauline’s 200 francs. A large one story veranda-ed wooden house, dark and musty inside, attendant outbuildings of thatch and woven cane provide kitchen and dining-room. There is a sitting out area over a stream. Madame Pauline has a haughty style and barely utters a word as she shows me my room and departs. Long grey hair and flowing bright cotton print smock. There is an eternal game of Boules in the yard. The children, one blonde, never go to school, I think Madame Pauline is granny.
I turn up for dinner after dusk, all very sang froid, excellent steak with prawns French bread and some starchy vegetable as chips. Read novel by the warm glow of a paraffin lamp with decorative shells in the paraffin.