Needless to say, Tahiti is a very senior trip. At 28+ years of seniority, I can’t touch it. But I’ve been telling the universe for years that I want to go. And guess what? The universe just answered.
Not only was I lucky enough to get a Tahiti trip, but I got it over the 4th of July weekend (holiday pay!), I flew with a friend, and the layover fell on a Sunday.
On Sundays, there’s a brunch luau at the resort. It was very expensive, so I didn’t go. But I didn’t have to. You can hear and see it from all over the hotel.
Since it was Sunday, we decided to go to church. This wasn’t a touristy activity. This was a $25 taxi ride into town to attend church with the locals. In fact, we were the only tourists there, standing out in our floral-printed sundresses. The locals dress in white, with the men in crisp white collared shirts and the women wearing white eyelet dresses and straw hats. Some of the hats were quite elaborate with flower arrangements and feathers.
I took this picture before church started. But eventually, the pews were filled with everyone dressed up in their white Sunday best.
Visually it was stunning. But then they started to sing!
I wish, dear reader, I could attach a recording for you. The entire congregation sang at the top of their lungs, not in French but in their native language. Sometimes they would sing together. Other times, they would sing in groups as if the congregation were divided into three choirs: the front right, the front left, and the rear. They sang to one another, almost like a call and response. Each group was anchored by a strong female voice while the men kept rhythm with a low bass chant.
It didn’t matter that I couldn’t understand the words because I could feel them. A deaf person could have felt them. I’m Catholic. We sing under our breath if we sing at all. This expression of worship was something I had never experienced. I can only imagine the joy and release of singing like that in church.
My recommendation: skip the luau and attend church. It was gorgeous, cultural, and deeply spiritual.
With our insides feeling warmed up and golden, we decided it was time to go play in the sunshine.
Our layover resort has several pool options. We opted to swim in the lagoon with the fish. Unfortunately, my pictures don’t quite capture all the wild colors or the size of some of them. But that jackfish was disturbingly large.
Next time, I want to swim here. Adjacent to a small beach, this infinity pool has a swim-up bar and, I’m sure amazing sunsets.
And someday, I want to swim here.
You can upgrade into a hut with a private balcony and ladder down into the ocean. Over the past two years (during Covid), the nearly empty resort would allow flight attendants to upgrade for $150. However, the world is once again traveling, so the price has gone up to $400. That was too steep for me, but my flying partner and her fiancé upgraded and invited us over for a peek
On a future trip, I’d love to stay in a hut.
Universe, are you listening?
As your grandmother always used to say “everything happens for a reason!” So I’m sure if you do get to stay in one of the huts it will also be because the universe was listening!
You are very much like your California grandmother in many ways.
You have always worked very hard for everything you have. And you unselfishly share your time, money, and love (unknowingly to others) in many different areas of your life. So the universe does listen to you occasionally.