Day 32 – Vaitape, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

After a rough night and morning, I knew the odds of my setting foot on Bora Bora today were slim.

We Made It to Bora Bora

Tim took the included excursion, “Le Truck Island Drive,” described as follows:

Take a whirl through paradise on board a charming open-air “Le Truck” bus, admiring natural and historic sites. Take in the crystalline turquoise waters, lovely small villages and abundant mountains, and learn about it all from your local guide. There are many photo stops along the way as we drive to the district of Faanui and scenic Faanui Bay. Here, you will see the ancient ceremonial site of the Faanui marae, Bora Bora’s biggest Polynesian temple, with a typical raised ahu altar. Continue your scenic drive and pause for a photo stop at one of the island’s famed restaurants. Here, you will have a chance to strike a pose in front of Bloody Mary’s Bar & Restaurant. A longtime island favorite of Hollywood royalty, it is the quintessential tiki bar with its thatched roof, open sides, white-sand floor, wooden slab tables and stools made of coconut stumps.

Here are a few photos that Tim shared with me:

Le Truck

Sacred, Volcanic Mountain and Beautiful Beaches

Lovely, Tie-Dyed Sarongs, with the Artist and a Passenger as a Model

Unlike yesterday, I had a lovely view of the island from my balcony and enjoyed sitting outside and watching the world go by. Maybe not the world, but I did see the tender boats carry passengers back and forth.

Views from My Balcony

The Tenders Were Quite Active Today

I remain touched by the continued kindness of the Viking Sky officers and crew. Tim has told me that the staff in the World Café, noting my absence, always ask how I am feeling. Restaurant Manager Antonio, who replaced Asep in Los Angeles, offered to have anything that I would like delivered to me. Today, I took him up on his kind offer and requested scones from the Afternoon Tea. They were such a treat.

My Afternoon Tea (I Shared the Scones with Tim)

I happened to be outside when one of the tenders was being hoisted back onto the Viking Sky, just before we set sail for our return to Tahiti. That was impressive.

Hoisting One Tender Back On Board, While the Other Tender Sails By