It’s been a busy few days here in Papeete.

G has now completed his SSI Advanced Diver course including some enriched air Nitrox dives and some deep dives to 40m. Now planning a more leisurely dive for G&K, tomorrow to go and look at fish and corals.

And the big news: we got our visas to go to New Zealand. We do have a timing issue with the ‘use-by’ dates but we can work that out down the road from Fiji. So we are all stations go for a departure in early May for Fiji.

That means it’s time to get ‘passage fit’, so we started yesterday with a hike up to a view point above Papeete to stretch the legs. We were up early to avoid the worst of the heat. Should do that more often.

And last night we had sundowners at the new bar by the marina followed by dinner at the open air roulottes (food trucks) with our bubble of Venture Lady and Leela. It turns out that Graham (Barracuda) and Graham (Leela) have lots of mutual acquaintances through time at BP.

On the way home we were greeted by our friendly marina manta ray who quite often comes round at night.

Some may be a little shocked at the sundowners picture. It’s worth bearing in mind that we are allowed to remove masks once seated, the tables are further apart than they seem, and we are allowed to gather in groups of six. And it’s outdoors. And the first time we’ve been to an actual bar in at least six months!
Covid has probably reached a low point here in FP. They find but a handful of cases a day in the whole country, sometimes only one or two. There are currently only two people in hospital. The vaccination programme is picking up apace. There are still hygiene rules in place but people are noticeably more relaxed. There is talk about re-opening flights on 1st May, which will doubtless raise the risk levels, so people know the current low state may be temporary.