We have enjoyed a couple of days relaxing and catching up with Bev & Martin in Rangiroa

Blue Magic is anchored off Kio Village Hotel – which is closed for renovation !

Yesterday we decided to walk to the village (6 miles) to get petrol for the dinghy and some fresh supplies.

After a long hike in the hot afternoon sun, much to the amusement of the locals, we discovered that the petrol station

Was only open in the morning and the only fresh produce on offer were potatoes and onions !

We hiked back with empty bags and empty fuel cans, luckily we had a table booked for dinner that evening at the local Pension ‘Chez Josephine’.

I should explain that there are only a couple of restaurants on the island and we had already tried the main hot spot in the village on the first night….  it was the local ‘chinese’ take away with a couple of plastic tables and chairs complete with plastic tablecloth with a snowmen and Santa Claus print.

Very tasteful !

They had run out of wine and local punch so we drank beer – well it was the only option.

The bill was £50 a couple and the taxi fare for the 6 mile return trip was also £50 – it is very expensive in paradise.

Still cheaper than the alternative which was the hotel (not the closed one) at £150 a couple for dinner !

So, we explored the next day and stumbled across a little pension that looked rather nice overlooking the pass into the lagoon.

The menu was fixed each day and they could only cater for one table of guests so we had booked for Saturday evening hoping we had found

A little cheap and local ‘gem’.

Well, the setting and the meal were lovely. Cocktails overlooking the pass watching black tipped reef sharks swimming over the coral.

The menu :-

Cocktails – Ti Punch ( lime and rum with ice)

Sashimi (carpacio of tuna)

Mahi Mahi with curry sauce, fresh banana

and homemade spicy chutney.

Pineapple cake with crème anglaise

Red & White wine

Expresso coffee

The men enjoyed the ambiance – especially the free flowers for our hair.

 The bill was still a bit of a shock at £ 140 a couple !

So it was back to the shop this morning to examine

stocks more closely and try to come up with some

imaginative meals for the next few days !

Back to the ‘ready steady cook’ game but minus

any trace of fresh fruit or vegetables.

Will we succeed ?