1st of June 2025

Today was Alex’s last day in Tahiti, which felt strange just saying out loud. Since we had a rental car, we figured: what better way to spend it than going on one last island adventure together?

We started the day by heading to the famous Sunday market in Papeete. And wow - it was so worth it. The entire place buzzed with life. Local vendors were everywhere, selling vibrant piles of fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, meat… and everything smelled like it had just come from someone’s garden or boat. We grabbed some juicy lychees (honestly, addictive) and mangos. Alex also surprised me with a beautiful pair of mother-of-pearl earrings that caught the morning light just right. Thank you!

After all that chaos and color, our stomachs reminded us it was time for breakfast. We wandered over to a little restaurant near the airport marina with a wonderful view over the water. The menu wasn’t the most self-explanatory, so we had to guess a little. My mom and I took a chance on a tuna coconut salad. Luckily, it turned out delicious. Alex had an omelet. My dad, meanwhile, bravely asked for fish… not realizing they’d take him to pick his own, fresh, whole fish. Next thing we knew, a fully fried fish, head and all, landed on his plate, staring up at us with crispy eyes. It was apparently great, though maybe more lunch than breakfast.

As we ate, chickens and roosters paraded around our feet, clearly hoping for scraps. One of them even tried to hop onto a nearby chair like it had a reservation.

After breakfast, we drove westward along the coast, passing lush green hills and postcard-perfect beaches. Our goal: a waterfall we’d read about. Eventually, we pulled into a tiny local parking area where fruit stands popped up like they knew we were coming. After crossing a narrow little bridge, we heard it before we saw it, that deep, roaring sound of falling water. And then, there it was: a majestic waterfall, framed by wild green, mist in the air. The kind of place that makes you pause and just feel the moment.

We couldn’t resist stopping at a beach on the way back. My dad ran straight into the ocean in his shorts. The water was the perfect kind of cool.

Back at the marina, it was time to deal with some reality. We checked the battery monitor, which was supposed to show our solar-charged battery percentage… but since we had the new battery the charge was dropping every day. The batteries should’ve been full, but who knows? It didn’t look alarming yet, and since it was Alex’s last day, we decided to file that issue under “future problems.”

Instead, we grabbed our snorkels and jumped back into the sea one last time together. The underwater world never disappoints, shells slowly opening and closing like little treasure chests, bright tropical fish swirling around us like a scene from Finding Nemo, and even a pufferfish floating by with that permanently surprised grin that always makes you smile back.

Once we climbed out, salt-drenched and happy, Alex packed the few things he was taking with him. I brought him to shore in the dinghy, both of us quiet in the way you are when you don’t really want to say goodbye. At the marina, we hugged for a long time. Then he got into the little rental car and drove away.

His flight went smoothly. And me? I sat under the stars with my parents, feeling full of gratitude and just a little bit sad Alex couldn't be here.

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