It was a good day.

I went to Atuona to buy a new battery for the STB engine. The old one just broke down, a frequent death of a battery.

I forgot that the hardware store closes already at 1130 for their noon break. With a panini from the food store in my stomach I walked in the Centre Culturel Paul Gauguin, an open air area with the museum with paintings of Paul Gauguin as a central or main part. Near the fountain, from which Paul Gauguin got his fresh water, I set down under a tree to enjoy the shade to write messages with pictures attached to my kids and my wife für their first hand information what I’m doing and seeing. Then it struck me. I turned around and looked at the tree under which I am sitting. This tree is very old, thus Paul Gauguin must have been sitting under this tree as well. Maybe even with some of the persons he painted.

At 1400 I returned to the hardware shop to get a new battery. Asking the shop assistant who knows me already of they could give me lift by there car to the little harbor where I have always my tender at the dinghy dock. He agreed and said at around 1600 it would be possible. “Perfect” i said, “I’ll do some food shopping and come back”.

On the way to the food store, I decided to get a haircut as well. Quickly I found it in the small business areas consisting of small, nicely designer building and lots of places and trees, with the “Mairie” of Atuona, the doctor, the dentist, the pharmacy, the office of Moana airlines, and, and, and. I had to wait a bit; 2 people were in front of me. Sitting outside in the shade of covered terrace was pleasant. I wrote messages and read news. Then it was my turn. As normal the lady who runs the shop, was curious about me and I was curious about her. In a mixture of my broken French and her broken English we could communicate. She actually is from France, the Auvergne with the famous Puy de Dome on which I was once in about 1977/78. She moved to Hiva-Oa and is the only hairdresser here. Her clients are from Hiva-Oa, Tahuata, and Fatu-Hiva, thus, she has a clientele of about 3000. She is not rich, but has a good living in a very nice place. The perfect job.

After food shopping, I went to the hardware store, and they gave me a lift to the tiny harbor where I had my dinghy.