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“Not going to happen,” I think, staring at the steps of the shuttle. My baggage preceded me down the ferry dock. The stevedores already loaded it aboard. I followed behind pushing my rollator. When I saw the gap between the ground and the bottom step, I knew I couldn’t clear it. The driver knew what to do. She used her phone to call in a favor. “No worries, madame. I called a taxi. I’ll bring your bags to the hotel.” The taxi arrived. A robust Polynesian woman rolled out from behind the driver’s seat. Her hair was adorned with a haku. She wore black pearl earrings and strands of black pearls over her bright red dress. “I am Dora. I will take you to the MaiTai.” “That will be easy to remember. Like Dora the Explorer.” “Yeah, I heard of her. But I am Dora from Bora Bora!” Dora helped me into the front seat. Se folded my rollator into the trunk for the 20-minute drive to the MaiTai Polynesia. “You first time to Bora Bora?,” Dora asked. “My first time south of the equator, my first time outside North America, many firsts.,” “Maeva. Have you made plans for what you want to do here?” I shared the ideas I had in mind: 1) circle-island tour; 2) water-related activity; 3) cultural activity. “I do a circle-island tour!,” Dora said. She handed me her business card for Dora Taxi. “For $150.00 US. We can go shopping; lunch at Bloody Mary’s. Whatever you want to do for three hours. Better price than what the hotel will give you. They get commission from their vendors. Give me a call when you’re ready to go.” I promised Dora I would contact her after I sorted out my schedule. After breakfast the next morning, I stopped by the MaiTai’s activities desk. The glass-bottom boat tour only sailed Wednesdays and Fridays. I booked Friday. Then I asked the activities director to call Dora. After a minute, the director asked, “Are you free to go now? Dora can be here in 10 minutes.” Dora and I set off on a counter-clockwise loop around the island. First stop was Sofitel, the resort director Dino de Laurentis bought to house his cast and production crew when filming 1979’s Hurricane. Seeing Hurricane had been my inspiration for coming to Bora Bora. Dora claimed she was an extra in the film! At other locations, Dora pulled off the road to show me points of interest. She demonstrated the medicinal properties of the tamanu. She pointed out her home and the karaoke bar she frequents down the street. We shopped for pareos. When we got to Bloody Mary’s, Dora had another run. She seated me at an outdoor table, promising to return in an hour. A miscommunication with my server yielded two desserts on Dora’s return. I offered Dora the vanilla crème brulee. After returning to the MaiTai, I realized I’d left my guidebook in the taxi’s door pocket. Next morning, Dora showed up at breakfast, my guidebook in hand. That afternoon, the MaiTai’s activities director informed me that Friday’s tour was canceled. For less than the boat ride price, Dora drove me to the Bora Bora Beach Club to watch Thursday’s sunset. When she arrived, Dora had just retrieved her bichon frise Coco from the vet. After helping me to a patio table, Dora left to take Coco home. She returned an hour later to join me. As we sipped our mocktails, a couple called my name from the beach. It was Phil and Pamela, a Canadian couple I’d met at the MaiTai! They climbed to the patio. I introduced Dora. “Like Dora the Explorer!, “Phil said. “No, Dora from Bora Bora!” On Saturday, I stayed in my bungalow until Dora arrived to transfer me to the ferry in Vaitape. “I brought a gift for you to remember our adventures.” Dora handed me two jewelers bags. Each held six irregular black pearls. “One for you; one for your mama.” At the dock, Dora helped me to a bench. She handed my baggage to the stevedores. We hugged farewell. Dora was my pearl beyond price.