On August 1, 2020, just before midnight, the Boeing 767 of Air Tahiti Nui, took off in Los Angeles. The aircraft, which had only occupied every second seat (Covid 19), rolled faster and faster. Then we took off into the night sky, below us sparkled the lights of LA. But when the plane turned southwest, they quickly disappeared. For the next eight hours we would fly over the night-black Pacific; only water below us.

After dinner, accompanied by a beer, we soon fell asleep in our seats – with the mask on our face! We didn’t wake up until the flight attendant announced six hours later that breakfast would be served in half an hour. It was still pitch-black when we landed in Papeete shortly before five. Half an hour later we were in the arrival hall. Here we received the material for a Covid self-test, which we have to hand in after four days. The virus is also chasing us in Tahiti, where people hardly wear a mask on the streets …

PS. Heiura was picked up by two friends at the airport. All together we visited the famous Marché de Papeete. What a difference to the market we went the day before in Santa Monica, California!