Note:  There are two piers for cruise ships; one on the northern edge of Place Vai’ete and the other to the south.  You won’t know which one you will use until you arrive.  It doesn’t make any difference as they are both about the same distance from everything – but if someone told you to “turn left” at the end of the pier – then you need to make sure you have the correct starting point.

If you didn’t have a tour booked – there were still about ten vendors selling tours along the sidewalk on the way to the market.

The local tourist information center is across the street on the way to the market.

On the west side of the Market, there is a row of lei stands – we always enjoy picking some up – usually around $5 – $10 USD, and we can get them to last 4-5 days back on the ship.

Judy picked up an inexpensive black pearl before everything closed up.

Today is Chinese New Year’s Eve – so there were a lot of shops decorated for the occasion.

Most of the shops in the area were already closed by noon, but one nearby shop that remained open was H and V Boutique-Import, 6 Rue Albert  Leboucher.  They sell loose pearls and fabric, and other items to make clothing.  The pearls are in shoebox-sized bins, arranged by price – ranging from 100 CFP (about $1 USD) to 20000 CFP (about $200 USD).  The bins are inside a closed display case, and once you select a bin for closer examination, they will weigh the bin and then dump the contents on a cloth laid on the counter.  After you are finished, they weigh the bin again, and if the weight is different, you may be charged for the difference.  Google Translate alerted us to this practice as it was posted in French on a sign.  Another reason to use Google Translate.

I stopped by an ATM to get some local currency – the cost for 15,000 CFP was $138 – the price on the ship was $148 – so you would save $10 by using an ATM (assuming zero transaction fees etc.).  Not a huge difference, and unless you make a large cash purchase – it may not be worth it to you.  Most vendors will exchange USD at a rate of $1 per 100 CFP – so the price for 15000 CFP, in this case, would be $150.

Papeete Roulottes

One of the highlights of a late departure is the chance to sample the Papeete Roulottes or Food Trucks.  They start setting up around 5 pm in Place Vai’ete (right next to the ship) and are open for business around 6 pm.  There are usually about six trucks, each with it’s own outdoor dining area, but they appear to be working together and don’t seem to mind if you buy food in one area and eat in another – but I would ask first.  We had several in our group who wanted to try different items, but we still wanted to sit together – it was OK.

The Spirit of Tahiti

Back on the ship, a group of local entertainers performed “The Spirit of Tahiti on the Mainstage at 7 and 9:30 pm.  This is a high-energy, colorful show, with great dancing and singing.  Don’t miss it!