French Polynesia Day 1

Somewhere over the Pacific -

     We're off again to explore a faraway place and report on the adventure.  But this time, the reports will be different in a couple of ways.  First, we will not bore you with how much we saved by getting a few credit cards, earning miles without flying, and traveling up front for pennies.  We will not tell you about how you can use Delta miles, for example, to cross the country from Jacksonville, Florida, to board an Air France Boeing 777 in Los Angeles bound for French Polynesia using those same miles--all in business class.  We won't boast about the fine food and first class treatment one can have before falling asleep in a flat bed seat for the overnight trip to Papeete, Tahiti.  We won't review the menu or movie selections with you.  We won't even talk about the fact that anyone reading this blog can take exactly the same trip for a mere pittance.

     Second, filing an interesting report each day is sure to be a huge challenge.  After all, what can you say about the islands of Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, and Maupiti on 15 different days? 

     "Today the wind blew from the west.  The beach was especially pretty, and the water was a bit clearer than yesterday.  There were fewer clouds, but a rain shower is expected tomorrow.  Our tans are really beginning to develop.  Lunch was nice, and so was dinner.  We really must try to eat less."

     How many times are you going to read reports like that?  Italy, Turkey, China, Ireland, Vietnam and Cambodia--now, those places have plenty of history, magnificent structures, and fascinating culture.  Reporting from those places was easy.  But isolated islands where you spend the days being lazy?  How will we write about that?

     Actually,we do have a few other questions that need answering.  Where did the natives come from?  How did they get there?  What were they doing for the last thousand years or so before Europeans crashed the party?  What changes have occurred since that time?

   We'll search for the answers and still get in some precious beach time; and we look forward to telling you all about it.  But right now they've turned out the lights in the front cabin, and it's time for bed.  We'll report later.

  Asleep aboard Air France Flight 76

Charlie & Tricia