THE ARRIVAL

Sunday October 17th, 2010, 10:30pm (local time): arrival in Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia...

The trip was very long. The first flight from Paris to Los Angeles was 12 hours. We stopped off in Los Angeles for 2 hours. This stop went quickly because we went down the plane to go to the American customs (fingerprints and eyeprints), then we went back in the plane. The second flight from Los Angeles to Papeete was 8 hours. This route was shorter and I could sleep for 3-4 hours total...

Eric, our guide, came to welcome us at the airport with two of his colleagues. Garlands of flowers Tiare Tahiti, wild basil and other very odorous flowers. Loading of all the bags and direction to the Hotel Sofitel (located at 5mn from the airport) in two big cars.

Installation in the bedrooms: I will share a bedroom with Francoise. It is almost midnight and I am not sleepy at all. We need to be ready for a departure from the hotel at 8:00am tomorrow morning having had breakfast already...