The best backpacker’s option for staying in Papeete is “Fare Suisse” – clean pension convenientyly located in the narrow side street (Rue Venus) on tbe edge of the center. I paid 40 euro per bed in the 3-beds dormitory with shared bath. Great thing is that in this price is included the transfer to and from the pension.
My last day on Tahiti. But it is not the same Tahiti I saw 26 years ago during my first journey around the world. You will not see here “le trucks” – open air buses converted from the trucks, full of music… Erratic city buses are instead of them… Even banknotes are different – instead of colorful, pictured notes with vahines and polynesian warriors they use since October new money – single-color and not attractive.
What remained from the old days are ROULOTTEs /not a casino roulette :)/ Believe or not but every evening one square in the central Papeete – on the coast is converted into big eatery. I saw there yesterday at least 12 roulottes – mobile kitchens installed on the trucks. At dusk people are coming herte to eat, eat big portions of the food served on the big plates. Bon apetit!
And I must mention again that Tahiti is now much more expensive. -That’s what you should pay for staying in the paradise! – said my host. OK, but remember that in my opinion the paradise is now not on Tahiti – to try it you have to go to the smaller, less visited islands.
I did it and tonight I am flying out of French Polynesia – satisfied and happy to see so many remote places in the South Pacific. This was another big adventure..
