A Unique Sand Floor Restaurant

Today was a sad day for our crew. We have enjoyed having our Omi (Grandma) with us for the past two weeks as we have visited Tahiti and now Bora Bora with her. We have had some incredible experiences together. We had been promising the kids a special meal at the popular and famous Bloody Mary Restaurant since we arrived and so today we went for lunch. Outside of the restaurant there are large wooden panels which list the names of over a hundred famous people that have eaten here over the past number of years since 1979. On the backside of these same panels are photos of many of these individuals with autographed photos and compliments.

Bloody Mary has a beautifully well kept dock that crosses the road from the restaurant to the harbour across the street. All we had to do is dingy from our mooring buoy over to their dock and then walk straight in the open air entrance of the restaurant. The entrance and the entire floor to the restaurant is soft white sand. Although we did not use the shoe check, you can check in your shoes so that the floor can maintain bare footprints throughout the sandy floors.

The restaurant is a rustic thatched roof and bamboo look. Most of the walls are also without walls and open to the outside air. The kids looked at the bulletin board which has hundreds of one dollar and other foreign bills stapled to it with the names of various individuals written with permanent marker. They couldn’t resist but to go back to the boat and pin up a “Canadian Tire” ten cent bill on the board with our family name on it.

We found a table that could accommodate all ten of us and sat on the wooden stump like stools. The entire ambiance of the restaurant was so unique and exciting. Perhaps just as exciting as the meal were the washrooms. Entering the washroom you see saloon style double doors separating off the toilet and a rock waterfall directly ahead. Here too there is no outside wall but rather a small outdoor courtyard with a statue and grass. The waterfall is operated by pulling a handle hanging in the air. Once pulled water comes down the waterfall and that is where one can wash their hands. There is one other unique touch in the men’s washroom better left for those who come to experience.

The food was absolutely incredible and a great treat for a family who has been on the high seas now for a few months. It was great to sit down to some delicious food and to order off of a menu from a wide variety of items. Bloody Mary’s was definitely a highlight of our time in Bora Bora.

After lunch it was time to say goodbye to our Omi. The restaurant had called a taxi for her so that she could shuttle into town where the Air Tahiti navette (water taxi) would shuttle her to the airport which is 30 minutes away on a small island motu. There must have been a little misunderstanding however as two minivan taxi’s showed up to pick her up. We found out that the restaurant thought that all of us were needing the taxi into town and not just my mother. Although we could have squeezed into one minivan taxi, the restaurant had advised that we were a party of 13. Thus the reason for two taxis. We had to break the news to the second taxi driver as we waved goodbye to our time with our Omi. It was a sad but sweet parting as we had many wonderful experiences and memories from our time together.

After saying goodbye we all boarded our sailboat and motored in the sunset across Povai Bay to a new mooring spot at the Maikai Bora Bora Marina and Yacht Club. We loved the calm waters at the Bloody Mary Restaurant but were looking forward to being within walking distance of the main city of Vaitape, church as well as our friends Gloria & Dennis.

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. naomi

    so fun! won’t it be fun when we visit to really make you a party of 13

  2. Bob Seegmiller

    Glad to hear there weren’t fleas there. A similar restaurant in the Virgin Islands (U.S.) left diners with flea bites.

    You had to walk barefoot into the restrooms? Sounds somewhat eeyuw! Guess it wasn’t, or you would have mentioned it. Enjoying reading your blog.

  3. Dennis McKay

    Okay. When you see Gloria and Dennis who named their first child Denise will you settle a old problem of Tyson and me. When we first arrived at Bora Bora everyone jumped ship while I stayed to make sure the boat was properly anchored. About 15 minutes to 30 minutes (Max-my opinion) I left the boat and wandered down a street. Saw a guy (Dennis) on a roof and asked him if there was a LDS church on island. He pointed up the street. I went up the street, found the chapel, watched the missionaries playing basketball and then went back towards the boat. Dennis asked if I was LDS, I answered “Yes” and he invited me into the house to meet the family. While talking to Gloria and Dennis in walks Tyson, opens the fridge door, pours himself a glass of juice, says hi to Gloria and Dennis and walks out. I was astounded. In less than 1 (that is ONE) hour (my timing) Tyson had met the Tetanuis, befriended them enough to feel totally at ease in going out of their house, coming back in and helping himself to a drink of orange juice without even asking permission or feeling it necessary to say thank you. Tyson thinks we had been in town for a week by the time this happened and that he was practically family by then (exaggerated somewhat for effect) Whose version is correct? Dad

  4. Schwendingers

    What a lovely tale about a lovely place, and a blessing for you to share it as a family. We just returned from a wonderful 2 week vacation with friends and family in Iowa and Minnesota. Our daughter’s family arrived today from Everett, WA and we shared a delightful day with them.

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