Saturday, March 1, 2014
GOOD NEWS: FREE; BAD NEWS: INFREQUENT
Good news: As of today, March 1, DFWSportatorium is free.
Bad news: It will also be infrequent.
I thank you guys for buying memberships and supporting me, but recently my blogging time has drastically dwindled. With NBC graciously upping its ante on my writing, I'm now blogging there three times daily. And last week I also commenced some media consulting for an Internet start-up in North Dallas.
If I find time I'll write a Whitt's End on a Friday and perhaps sprinkle in a column or some radio news here and there, but as of now I don't have the time to make DFWSportatorium a daily commitment.
Canceling your recurring monthly membership can be done quickly and easily at PayPal, and of course I'll refund any payments that slip through the cracks to me from here forward.
You can still read me at NBC 5, where I'll blog daily on all things Cowboys, Rangers and Mavs. And you can keep up with my casual ramblings on Twitter @RichieWhitt.
Thanks again.
And don't be a stranger.
Friday, February 28, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.28.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Bigger ain't always better ...
*After not happening in DFW in '13 for the first time since '89, it's set to resume this Spring ...
*Good news: Starting March 1 DFWSportatorium will be free. Bad news: It will also be infrequent ...
*Bigger ain't always better ...
*After not happening in DFW in '13 for the first time since '89, it's set to resume this Spring ...
*Good news: Starting March 1 DFWSportatorium will be free. Bad news: It will also be infrequent ...
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Labels:
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Thursday, February 27, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.27.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Stop it, irrational dreamers, he ain't playing for the Cowboys ...
*I'm apologizing to this player. For now ...
*Will this guy be the best No. 84 in DFW sports history? ...
*Stop it, irrational dreamers, he ain't playing for the Cowboys ...
*I'm apologizing to this player. For now ...
*Will this guy be the best No. 84 in DFW sports history? ...
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Labels:
Barry Switzer,
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Wednesday, February 26, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.26.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Drastically lowered ticket prices to local professional sporting events? ...
*The Rangers' easiest decision since cold beer over warm milk ...
*The man who predicted Wichita State's undefeated season ...
*Drastically lowered ticket prices to local professional sporting events? ...
*The Rangers' easiest decision since cold beer over warm milk ...
*The man who predicted Wichita State's undefeated season ...
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Labels:
Bitcoin,
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ESPN,
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Mark Cuban,
Ron Washington,
Subway,
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Whitt's End
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.25.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*It's better to be lucky than great ...
*Our sports world changed forever 25 years ago today ...
*Apparently it's okay for teachers to sext with students as long as ...
*It's better to be lucky than great ...
*Our sports world changed forever 25 years ago today ...
*Apparently it's okay for teachers to sext with students as long as ...
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Monday, February 24, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.24.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Easiest way to become famous? Suck really, really bad ...
*The Ranger so tough he was injured by a soft ...
*Chicks and Conservatives again prove to be illogical, ignorant groups. You heard me ...
*Easiest way to become famous? Suck really, really bad ...
*The Ranger so tough he was injured by a soft ...
*Chicks and Conservatives again prove to be illogical, ignorant groups. You heard me ...
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Labels:
Argyle,
Celina,
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hockey,
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Shaun White,
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Whitt's End
Friday, February 21, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.21.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Don't look now, but in January The Ticket's lead in DFW sports-talk radio ratings ...
*The player that people love but I'd hate the Cowboys to draft ...
*Don't cry over spilled gold ...
*Don't look now, but in January The Ticket's lead in DFW sports-talk radio ratings ...
*The player that people love but I'd hate the Cowboys to draft ...
*Don't cry over spilled gold ...
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Thursday, February 20, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.20.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Look who's cut their hair and dropped some weight ...
*Frisco is a safer place because of this ...
*After 30 years as a trusted voice in DFW, she's retiring ...
*Look who's cut their hair and dropped some weight ...
*Frisco is a safer place because of this ...
*After 30 years as a trusted voice in DFW, she's retiring ...
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Wednesday, February 19, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.19.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Fans of the English language rejoice, your NFL Sundays just got more coherent ...
*Cowboys win! At the dumbest "game" in all of sports ...
*I found the funniest TV commercial of 2014 ...
*Fans of the English language rejoice, your NFL Sundays just got more coherent ...
*Cowboys win! At the dumbest "game" in all of sports ...
*I found the funniest TV commercial of 2014 ...
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Tuesday, February 18, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.18.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*He's been to rehab. Been arrested. Gotten divorced. Banished overseas. We ready to call it even? ...
*Texas Giant about to be gigantic loss for Six Flags because ...
*The latest on the present - and future - of Pizza Buzz is ...
*He's been to rehab. Been arrested. Gotten divorced. Banished overseas. We ready to call it even? ...
*Texas Giant about to be gigantic loss for Six Flags because ...
*The latest on the present - and future - of Pizza Buzz is ...
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Monday, February 17, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.17.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*This coach really cares if you wear your hat backward ...
*With this remake, we've (again) officially run out of ideas ...
*Why this is the lamest of all our holidays ...
*This coach really cares if you wear your hat backward ...
*With this remake, we've (again) officially run out of ideas ...
*Why this is the lamest of all our holidays ...
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Thursday, February 13, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.14.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*The one place I thought I'd never ever never see Dale Hansen ...
*Is DFW tuning into the Winter Olympics? ...
*From my heart to yours (sorta), a Valentines Day video ...
*The one place I thought I'd never ever never see Dale Hansen ...
*Is DFW tuning into the Winter Olympics? ...
*From my heart to yours (sorta), a Valentines Day video ...
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WHITT'S END: 2.13.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*After their worst loss of the season, the Mavs get their signature win by ...
*Uh-oh, Jason Garrett is getting coaching advice from a guy who makes a home out of moving around ...
*The hottest girl you've never seen having sex in complete darkness ...
*After their worst loss of the season, the Mavs get their signature win by ...
*Uh-oh, Jason Garrett is getting coaching advice from a guy who makes a home out of moving around ...
*The hottest girl you've never seen having sex in complete darkness ...
Click to become a DFWSportatorium Member. |
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.12.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Come to think of it, yeah, he is a baseball polygamist ...
*Until last night in Charlotte, Dirk Nowitzki had never ...
*Kate Upton > Kate Hansen ...
*Come to think of it, yeah, he is a baseball polygamist ...
*Until last night in Charlotte, Dirk Nowitzki had never ...
*Kate Upton > Kate Hansen ...
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Tuesday, February 11, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.11.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*The update on the proposed fourth all-sports talk radio station is ...
*Really, this Cowboy player can reverse, double-pump dunk? ...
*He's been underrated in our area for 32 years, and now he's retiring ...
*The update on the proposed fourth all-sports talk radio station is ...
*Really, this Cowboy player can reverse, double-pump dunk? ...
*He's been underrated in our area for 32 years, and now he's retiring ...
Click to become a DFWSportatorium Member. |
Labels:
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Whitt's End
Monday, February 10, 2014
WHITT'S END: 2.10.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Tighten up your Bible Belt, because here comes more progress. Right, NFL? ...
*The most overrated award in all of sports is the ...
*Psst, there's a miracle happening at Moody ...
*Tighten up your Bible Belt, because here comes more progress. Right, NFL? ...
*The most overrated award in all of sports is the ...
*Psst, there's a miracle happening at Moody ...
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Labels:
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Friday, February 7, 2014
WeddingHoneymoonVacation Review: FIJI
Third in a 5-part series recapping my weddinghoneymoonvacation in the South Pacific that spanned five countries, 10 time zones, 11 airports and countless memories. It's our vacation virtual slide show, from the comfort of your own couch.
*The best, strongest drink in Fiji is ...
*Yeah, they have a tennis court. But it's made of ...
*What's it like to witness yesterday's dawn ...
*Out of the places we visited the city we're most tempted to up and move to is ...
*The best, strongest drink in Fiji is ...
*Yeah, they have a tennis court. But it's made of ...
*What's it like to witness yesterday's dawn ...
*Out of the places we visited the city we're most tempted to up and move to is ...
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WHITT'S END: 2.7.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*There's one major flaw in Roger Staubach's thinking ...
*A weather phenomenon that boggles my bird brain ...
*I say these six Cowboys could start for the Seahawks ...
*Goodbye to the man who's as edgy as cookie dough ...
*There's one major flaw in Roger Staubach's thinking ...
*A weather phenomenon that boggles my bird brain ...
*I say these six Cowboys could start for the Seahawks ...
*Goodbye to the man who's as edgy as cookie dough ...
Click to become a DFWSportatorium Member. |
Labels:
Bill Nye,
Dallas Cowboys,
Duck Dynasty,
Jay Leno,
Jerry Jones,
Johnny Manziel,
LeBron James,
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NBC 5,
NFL Draft,
Roger Staubach,
Sochi Winter Olympics,
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Thursday, February 6, 2014
WeddingHoneymoonVacation Review: AUSTRALIA
Third in a 5-part series recapping my weddinghoneymoonvacation in the South Pacific that spanned five countries, 10 time zones, 11 airports and countless memories. It's our vacation virtual slide show, from the comfort of your own couch.
*Foster's beer in Australia is actually ...
*Flash "Hook 'em Horns" in Sydney and you'll get ...
*The best view Down Under is actually from 400 feet way up ...
*Foster's beer in Australia is actually ...
*Flash "Hook 'em Horns" in Sydney and you'll get ...
*The best view Down Under is actually from 400 feet way up ...
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WHITT'S END: 2.6.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*I'm cool with the Rangers' Snow Globe Life Park. You? ...
*When this guy plays with energy, the Mavs are dangerous ...
*I spy Tony Romo ...
*I'm cool with the Rangers' Snow Globe Life Park. You? ...
*When this guy plays with energy, the Mavs are dangerous ...
*I spy Tony Romo ...
Click to become a DFWSportatorium Member. |
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
WeddingHoneymoonVacation Review: NEW ZEALAND
Third in a 5-part series recapping my weddinghoneymoonvacation in the South Pacific that spanned five countries, 10 time zones, 11 airports and countless memories. It's our vacation virtual slide show, from the comfort of your own couch.
*Got so confused by the allure of Bora Bora and the prospect of the International Date Line that I actually misplaced ...
*If you didn't know better, you'd be in Auckland and think you were in ...
*In New Zealand they play basketball without ... And their blackjack bust number isn't 21 but ...
*Got so confused by the allure of Bora Bora and the prospect of the International Date Line that I actually misplaced ...
*If you didn't know better, you'd be in Auckland and think you were in ...
*In New Zealand they play basketball without ... And their blackjack bust number isn't 21 but ...
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WHITT'S END: 2.5.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Rangers Ballpark is about to be re-named ...
*Of the Top 100 folks ranked by Twitter followers, only these two are American athletes ...
*Sorry, I just can't take this NBA player seriously because of his hair ...
*Rangers Ballpark is about to be re-named ...
*Of the Top 100 folks ranked by Twitter followers, only these two are American athletes ...
*Sorry, I just can't take this NBA player seriously because of his hair ...
Click to become a DFWSportatorium Member. |
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
WeddingHoneymoonVacation Review: BORA BORA
Second in a 5-part series recapping my weddinghoneymoonvacation in the South Pacific that spanned five countries, 10 time zones, 11 airports and countless memories. It's our vacation virtual slide show, from the comfort of your own couch.
*Is Bora Bora as gorgeous as they say? ...
*Swimming under your bungalow you might find ... A) Stingrays; B) Naked humans; C) All of the above?
*In paradise, you'll pay this much for a hamburger ...
*If you get married in Bora Bora, prepare to have this put on your head and this poured on your hands ...
*Is Bora Bora as gorgeous as they say? ...
*Swimming under your bungalow you might find ... A) Stingrays; B) Naked humans; C) All of the above?
*In paradise, you'll pay this much for a hamburger ...
*If you get married in Bora Bora, prepare to have this put on your head and this poured on your hands ...
Click to become a DFWSportatorium Member. |
WHITT'S END: 2.4.14
Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Incest in play at Cumulus, where a member of The Ticket's BaDD Radio is now a member of ...
*If the Mavs have proven anything in 2014 it's that they can ...
*Robots not evolved enough to talk shouldn't win awards ...
*Incest in play at Cumulus, where a member of The Ticket's BaDD Radio is now a member of ...
*If the Mavs have proven anything in 2014 it's that they can ...
*Robots not evolved enough to talk shouldn't win awards ...
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Monday, February 3, 2014
WeddingHoneymoonVacation Review: TAHITI
*Tahiti is to tourists as Valentine's Day is to ...
*Who knew that in Tahiti resided the world's oldest ...
*Screw Tahiti, when in this part of the world you gotta sneak away to ...
Click to become a DFWSportatorium Member. |
Sybil, extremely happy at this Tahitian waterfall |
And broken glasses missing the left arm, leaving them resting uneasy and gotch-eyed on her squinty face.
Oh, and sporting a grumpy disposition that clearly transcended the barrier of her speaking .01% English and 99.09% French.
After a three-hour flight to Los Angeles and then another 9-hour trek to Papeete via Air Tahiti, Sybil and I were anxious for a shower, some breakfast and then a lot of, well, vacation. Not that the flight was bad. These days international flights over the Pacific are like being in your own mini-home theater. In the backs of seats are personal video systems where you can watch movies, listen to a variety of albums, play interactive games like poker or blackjack or tic-tac-toe, or just be amazed at the views from the plane's external cameras.
Tahiti immagracion, turns out, was a breeze and as we headed to our hotel in a taxi we were immediately confronted by the staples of the country: Chickens. Dogs. Bread. Rain. And mini-Peugeot cars.
All were everywhere.
Slightly more scenic than McKinney |
Us: Rooms? Her: Not yet.
Us: Breakfast? Her: Thataway.
Us: Luggage? Her: Here. Dogs.
Us: Alcohol? Her: Quoi?!
Welcome to Tahiti.
It's located in the warm waters of the South Pacific Ocean, south of Hawaii, east of Australia and - in every way - a million miles from Dallas.
We were quickly baptized in the unwelcoming arms of French Polynesia. Make no mistake, Tahiti is beautiful. But it's no more prepared for - or accommodating to - tourists than Tyler.
(continued from page 1)
Left without a room. Given chunks of pineapple and bread to nibble on. And forced to entrust two friendly dogs to watch over our luggage, we tip-toed into Tahiti ... and into traffic! There is one main road that encircles the island, and it's a two-lane highway as busy as 635. As we walked to find liquor - and perhaps a better hotel - the beach, the ocean and a glorious view of the island of Moorea were to our left. But we didn't dare sneak a peak, lest we be run off the shoulder of the road by one of the countless zipping Peugeots.
Fortunately, it got better.
After flirting with upgrading to a hotel that was $150 more expensive - in Tahitian XPF currency that's ... I have no idea - we took our bottle of liquor, water and pretzels and went back to Pension and checked into our room. $106 USD a night in Tahiti gets you this: No a/c. A giant ceiling fan that hums like an airplane engine. A shower with no door. A toilet that must be flushed five times. One towel. And zero help from the "front desk."
We poured a couple water bottles full of Sybil's homemade "rum", put on our swimsuits and bravely crossed the Tahitian terror of a road toward the beach. Finally, vacation.
Though the beach was narrow and littered with hard, irritating pebbles, we hopped in a two-man kayak and paddled toward the gigantic waves breaking along the barrier reef a half-mile from shore. The view back toward Tahiti was breath-taking. Clear water. Mountains. Hang-gliders appearing through the clouds. And, of course, rain.
Taking shelter in another bed 'n breakfast, I devoured the most delicious Mahi Mahi in some sort of vanilla sauce and enjoyed a Desperadoes beer, which was infused with lime and tequila. It was here that we encountered two opposite characters that helped shape our opinion of Tahiti - Eugen and Granny Grunt.
Our "charming" hotel view |
Fortunately, it got better.
After flirting with upgrading to a hotel that was $150 more expensive - in Tahitian XPF currency that's ... I have no idea - we took our bottle of liquor, water and pretzels and went back to Pension and checked into our room. $106 USD a night in Tahiti gets you this: No a/c. A giant ceiling fan that hums like an airplane engine. A shower with no door. A toilet that must be flushed five times. One towel. And zero help from the "front desk."
We poured a couple water bottles full of Sybil's homemade "rum", put on our swimsuits and bravely crossed the Tahitian terror of a road toward the beach. Finally, vacation.
Tahiti, from its highest point - Plateau Taravao |
Taking shelter in another bed 'n breakfast, I devoured the most delicious Mahi Mahi in some sort of vanilla sauce and enjoyed a Desperadoes beer, which was infused with lime and tequila. It was here that we encountered two opposite characters that helped shape our opinion of Tahiti - Eugen and Granny Grunt.
(continued from page 2)
Granny Grunt, an old, hunched-over woman who just had to be related to our hotel's keeper in some way, ran the bed 'n breakfast across the street from Pension. It was on the beach. It had a kayak for rent for $5. And it had a restaurant, perched high for a nice view of paradise. But Ms. Grunt was a beast of a bitch. Without ever making eye contact with us - much less uttering a word - she fumed over the fact that I didn't buy my initial Desperadoes beer, but instead had a local give it to me for free. In her mind, that was lost revenue.
And in a slow-paced world where only one person per family works, children smoke pot, men jam in parks with guitars and make-shift basses of broom handles, rope and mop buckets, and every single meal revolves around a giant loaf of french bread sold on every corner, there is little to do other than stew over lost revenue.
Our Granny Grunt translations came from Eugen, a friendly Brazilian who spoke six languages and desired nothing out of life other than some decent waves to ride his paddle board (think standing on a surf board using one wooden paddle to navigate). In short, for us he saved Tahiti.
The next day we hopped in his Peugeot for a tour around the entire island. Things we would have never seen because, trust me, there are no tourist maps or guide centers or mopeds to rent or even souvenir shops. For $15,000 XPF (about $170 U.S., I think) he showed us the world's oldest turtle (185), a sacred ground where not that along ago Tahitian cannibals held human sacrifices, gorgeous waterfalls, a creepy-yet-cool cave (or "grotto"), the highest plateau on the island and the beach beyond which each August surfers arrive to ride the biggest waves in the world.
Not unlike Fast Times' "Spicoli", Eugen was always happy and irrationally positive. His equivalent to "yes" was "100 percent." As in, Hey Eugen is it dangerous to hang-glide off those mountains? "Oh yes, 100 percent." As in, Hey Eugen does it rain here 50% of the time? "Oh yes, 100 percent." His English was also amusing, like when he compared Sybil's beauty to that of "Audrey Repburn." But the guy is a life-saver of a tour guide. If you're ever headed to Tahiti, look him up: eugeniodecampos@hotmail.fr.
In Tahiti there is no dress code. No tipping. No strong rum. And, despite them running around everywhere, not much chicken on the menu.
Mostly, there are vowels. Every word seemingly begins with an a,e,i,o or u, has several of the same crammed together in the middle, and then ends with a couple more. Vanna White would hate it here, because everyone is trying to buy a consonant.
We didn't know what to expect from Tahiti. Our dreams didn't go much past white sand, blue water and cold drinks. Honestly? It fell short. One day we went for a jog along the beach road, but were quickly dismayed by the smell of trash and car fumes and the lack of a pedestrian-friendly path.
Sensing our disappointment, Eugen pointed toward the giant mountains looming in the distance to the west.
"You want really nice? You go there," he said. "Moorea."
"Better than Tahiti?" I asked him.
"100 percent."
The next morning we hopped on a ferry for the 12-mile ride to Moorea. Now we're talking.
$113 USD. I think. |
And in a slow-paced world where only one person per family works, children smoke pot, men jam in parks with guitars and make-shift basses of broom handles, rope and mop buckets, and every single meal revolves around a giant loaf of french bread sold on every corner, there is little to do other than stew over lost revenue.
Our Granny Grunt translations came from Eugen, a friendly Brazilian who spoke six languages and desired nothing out of life other than some decent waves to ride his paddle board (think standing on a surf board using one wooden paddle to navigate). In short, for us he saved Tahiti.
Two dorks and a grotto |
Not unlike Fast Times' "Spicoli", Eugen was always happy and irrationally positive. His equivalent to "yes" was "100 percent." As in, Hey Eugen is it dangerous to hang-glide off those mountains? "Oh yes, 100 percent." As in, Hey Eugen does it rain here 50% of the time? "Oh yes, 100 percent." His English was also amusing, like when he compared Sybil's beauty to that of "Audrey Repburn." But the guy is a life-saver of a tour guide. If you're ever headed to Tahiti, look him up: eugeniodecampos@hotmail.fr.
In Tahiti there is no dress code. No tipping. No strong rum. And, despite them running around everywhere, not much chicken on the menu.
He looked dead to us |
We didn't know what to expect from Tahiti. Our dreams didn't go much past white sand, blue water and cold drinks. Honestly? It fell short. One day we went for a jog along the beach road, but were quickly dismayed by the smell of trash and car fumes and the lack of a pedestrian-friendly path.
Sensing our disappointment, Eugen pointed toward the giant mountains looming in the distance to the west.
"You want really nice? You go there," he said. "Moorea."
"Better than Tahiti?" I asked him.
"100 percent."
The next morning we hopped on a ferry for the 12-mile ride to Moorea. Now we're talking.
(continued from page 3)
Jurassic Park.
At least it looked like it, with its pristine white beach, palm trees and lush, green mountainside rising up to kiss the blue sky. Yes, this was more like it.
Having no hotel reservations, we struck up a conversation on the windy ferry with another honeymooning couple from Chicago. They were headed to the Hotel Intercontinental and, now, so were we. Hotel crashers, as it were.
Slipped the shuttle driver $2,000 XPF and next thing you know we're riding around gorgeous blue bays of water, looking for prehistoric monsters atop the remote jungles and headed to the Intercontinental. We spent the day sipping Sybil's homemade rum out of our plastic water bottles, laying on the beach under palm trees, frolicking in the warm ocean and swimming in one of two vanishing-edge swimming pools. Other than the old European couple in the thong and the Speedo, it was Utopia.
For lunch we rented bicycles and rode 15 minutes to a joint called Snack Mahana, right on the beach and secluded from everywhere. It was so perfect that we forgot three things:
1. America.
2. Our intense sunburns.
3. The fact that we were supposed to check out of Pension because we're headed to Bora Bora tomorrow.
Not a care in the world on the ferry back. I was dreaming of our wedding in 24 hours while Sybil laughed off breaking her flip-flop and making do by covering her foot in a plastic baggie. But once Eugen picked us up and dropped us back at Pension, it dawned on us ...
"I've been pounding on door all day," said Vincent, Pension de la Plage's co-owner and somehow husband to the hideous housecoat madam.
I guess you can call it a good day when you're so detached that you blow off your itinerary. We told Vincent our tale, asked to pay only half a day and ...
"Okay," he grumbled. "You win."
With that we frantically packed up, called Eugen and headed to the Tahiti Airport Hotel. Not a bad way to spend your last night as single folks.
Because in the morning, it's off to Bora Bora.
Behold, Jurassic Park |
At least it looked like it, with its pristine white beach, palm trees and lush, green mountainside rising up to kiss the blue sky. Yes, this was more like it.
Having no hotel reservations, we struck up a conversation on the windy ferry with another honeymooning couple from Chicago. They were headed to the Hotel Intercontinental and, now, so were we. Hotel crashers, as it were.
Slipped the shuttle driver $2,000 XPF and next thing you know we're riding around gorgeous blue bays of water, looking for prehistoric monsters atop the remote jungles and headed to the Intercontinental. We spent the day sipping Sybil's homemade rum out of our plastic water bottles, laying on the beach under palm trees, frolicking in the warm ocean and swimming in one of two vanishing-edge swimming pools. Other than the old European couple in the thong and the Speedo, it was Utopia.
For lunch we rented bicycles and rode 15 minutes to a joint called Snack Mahana, right on the beach and secluded from everywhere. It was so perfect that we forgot three things:
1. America.
2. Our intense sunburns.
3. The fact that we were supposed to check out of Pension because we're headed to Bora Bora tomorrow.
The ol' pool-pool-beach-ocean trick |
"I've been pounding on door all day," said Vincent, Pension de la Plage's co-owner and somehow husband to the hideous housecoat madam.
I guess you can call it a good day when you're so detached that you blow off your itinerary. We told Vincent our tale, asked to pay only half a day and ...
"Okay," he grumbled. "You win."
With that we frantically packed up, called Eugen and headed to the Tahiti Airport Hotel. Not a bad way to spend your last night as single folks.
Because in the morning, it's off to Bora Bora.
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