Mike and I returned from the States late one evening to be held up at immigration because they did not like the fact that we were granted a 90 day stay when we arrived in Marquesas late June. Apparently they only like to grant Americans 30 days stay. They eventually let us go however, not before giving us a hard, rude time of it. Trust me when we tell you the French do NOT like Americans. All we could do was kill ‘em with kindness and say Oui sir!

We have been hanging around Papeete, Tahiti waiting for boat parts to fix the sail drive. Long story, short….Mike and Gary fixed the sail drive as the engine manufacturer (Yanmar) just didn’t step up for the warranty and the “experts” here did not know how to fix it. It was hard work but they got it done. Now the compressor on the refrigerator blew so we wait for that to be repaired. We found someone in Tahiti to fix it however, like everyone else in these parts he is on “island time”. He has been fixing it since Thursday, it’s now Sunday. That is just how things get done here, very slowly. We’re not complaining, there are worse places to be stuck!!

We’ve done a lot of work on the boat while we wait. We have enjoyed shopping in the city where you can cruise the local outdoor market and buy wonderful fruits and veggies and local cooked foods like shrimp, dumplings, coconut milk….. Buying lunch and sitting on a bench listening to the locals play Polynesian music on the streets.

Each time we enter or leave a country it is necessary to check-in and check-out with Immigration officials. You must have your clearance papers from the last country you visited in order to enter the next country. We needed to checkout of Tahiti yesterday and once again ran into issues. These people just want more money and get it out of you any way they can. So we ended up having to pay for another visa….because they were not happy that we were granted the original 90 days so it cost us more money to buy new visas. We are at their mercy so that is how it goes.

We hope to be headed to the next island in French Polynesia which is Moorea, tomorrow. This is only a short 12 hour cruise. This is supposed to be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. We are told it is also much less populated than Papeete so we look forward to this as well. As much fun as it has been to be able to actually buy real groceries and be in the city….we are over it now and long for the more peaceful islands we have grown accustomed. That is, if the refrigerator gets fixed today, Sunday an even more laid back day than the other six!! Life is Good! Love to all….