Orana!

Today’s word of the day is Maururu (mah-roo-roo) which means Thank You! Thank you very much gets “roa” added on at the end. Make sure you are rolling your R’s.

We had a “down” day today. Whenever we make it back here, we will have to squeeze more of these days in between the packed days, so we don’t need a vacation from our vacation. We didn’t make any plans, and things were fluid. We started the day by going to the Otemanu restaurant. Otemanu has a beautiful setup for a breakfast buffet from 7 am to 10 am daily. We were seated and asked if we wanted coffee. Alex got black, and I wanted cream, but they brought me a small pitcher of steamed milk.

Today was a good experience in eating because I wanted to try a little bit of everything. Even a year after my bariatric surgery, I still struggle with my eyes being too big, so buffets are tough! Now I have found what is safe and filling without feeling awful after. Alex did me a solid and ate some of my leftovers, so I didn’t feel wasteful. I am pleased they offer yogurt; it’s a staple for me in achieving my protein goals. The yogurt cups here are short and narrow. Comparatively, the “teaspoon” is like a boat. I’ve since started grabbing a small bowl to shake the yogurt into because the spoon is nearly larger than the opening!

I completely understand why the food needs to be chilled; as seen in the photos, there is so much humidity that everything sweats. The beverage station is a chilled case filled with glasses, ice, and butter. There are several milk options, as well as fresh juices and water. I may have hijacked extra butter for the baguette we purchased that was back in our room. It was just short of melted in the time from the table to our bungalow.

The bread station has some dried fruits, spreads and syrups, bread, and an incredible assortment of pastries!

Additional cold stations include vegetables, cheeses, a relish tray, smoked fish, sliced meats, and the Tahitian specialty poisson cru.

Next was the fresh fruit and yogurt station.

Let’s get to the meat and potatoes of it, literally!

There is also cereal, sliced bread, and a made-to-order egg station!

Here are our plates and the views from our table!

After breakfast, we walked around the main building where the reception, concierge, boutiques, and restaurants are. They have several pieces of local art displayed. The work of art with the plaid shirt and leg tattoos is no longer for sale. We have been getting stamps from the gift shop to send the boys daily postcards.

We returned to the bungalow, where we laid about, worked on this post, and even took a short swim! I got around to getting better pictures of our bungalow since housekeeping had come by and tidied up.

Around 6 pm, we got freshened up and returned to Otemanu restaurant for a three-course meal. I did the math on the dinner package. It ends up costing $82 per person. Looking over the menu and choosing the cheapest options is $82, and the most expensive items are $95. That said, I couldn’t eat any of the courses alone. The meal package saves a small amount of money, and I think the average person will leave their meal feeling very satisfied. I have included pdf’s of the menu’s because they look nicer then my photo

The meal service starts with a selection of bread offered. The employee works the room and returns to provide more through the meal. They have a traditional crusty roll, an olive roll, and focaccia to choose from. They bring a lovely hunk of butter to your table. Additionally, each evening has an amuse-bouche; this evening, it is a purée of sweet corn.

Alex got creamy mozzarella, fresh focaccia, and homemade mesclun with fresh seaweed for the starter course. I got Castiglioni-shaped pasta filled with fresh goat cheese and spinach, a turmeric sauce, and hot peppers (I sensed no heat).

We both ordered the Opah fish with cream of corn, ribbon zucchini, and a spicy coriander sauce for our main entrees.

We ended the meal with an espresso and split both desserts. We ordered the La vanilla de Tahaa and three scoops of sorbet (mango, citron, and passion fruit). Sorry! We were apparently so excited about dessert that both of us forgot to take photos….

After dinner, we walked the grounds for some evening shots before calling it a night!

Nana!

🕯️