We get up early for breakfast, so that we can take the 0830 shuttle into Papeete. We were booked for a 1200 pickup to come back. Like a couple of the towns we saw on our cruise to Alaska, this one starts at the port, and all visible shops seem to be only a block or two from there. There are black pearl shops up the wazoo. Oh, and a McDonald's. Sarah bought some makeup at a chemist. Surprisingly cheap, compared to home. By 0900 we are about ready to head back. So we suffer through some more pearl shops, sit in the sun, sit in the shade, and sit in a tourist centre with great a/c, and wait for our shuttle.
Sorry to say it, but Papeete is a really grotty little town. If we had come to stay here for a holiday, it would not only have been exorbitantly expensive, but very disappointing. Sitting by the pool or the beach at a hotel is great, but the town itself? Not so much.
To be honest, many island towns seem to be tired and grotty. I don’t know why. Must be a budget thing. I think shops and buildings live much longer here than they do in bigger places. The Macca’s, for example, must have been built decades ago. I know our one at Merivale was also built decades ago, but it has been remodelled and refreshed many times. This one will never have had anything done to it. The mop is probably original, as well. Blech!
We certainly found the shuttle a sight for sore eyes. Who do I see about getting the last three hours of my life back?
After lunch we sort out our stuff and head to the port to board the ship. Sarah had a wee argument with reception because they charged us the “city tax”. We had to show that it had been prepaid, so Sarah demanded a refund. It translates to about NZD4.
By the way, the shuttle arrived as advertised. We move back down the sphincter scale. Rest easy.
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