At the end of every trip, it’s always bittersweet -- ready to go home but wanting to stay and continue the adventure. I think we stayed any longer we would have to buy a plane to get us and our stuff home. Also, I don't have sunrises like this:
At breakfast, I tried the macadamia nut stuffed french toast -- yummy. That is one thing I will miss, the four course breakfast and mini shot smoothie. Wonder where I can find that in my hometown?
We already had our swimsuits on and went in search of a beach chair. At the Royal Hawaiian, there were two rows of beach chairs with umbrellas on the public beach and a chain in front of them. Princess had already found us some together and reserved them. Luckily we were on the front row for some great people watching. This was not a beach like at home, where you could listen to the surf -- there was very little wave action. But because the beach was small, lots of people crammed into a smaller space.
Some ladies were out early doing yoga--- they looked to be in their 50’s and they were in magnificent shape. I would love to do yoga and after watching them, great incentive now.
It was a tad bit chilly out and I kept my cute new frog sarong on and used two beach towels - one to lay on and one to cover up with. Great people watching, and some were very easy on the eyes.
A must when I come back -- Diamondhead and the canoe...
While we were relaxing, you could hear what people were saying around you. The man beside us, who was clearly from the West Coast and the husband of one of the yoga ladies, kept chattering on the phone about getting shots for Peru for their next gig. He sounded like a band manager of some kind. Then his friend joined him, and he looked like an aging rocker like you would see on TV -- rode hard and put up wet. This guess was correct. Princess with her handy iPhone researched the point and deduced it was Davey Johnstone, the guitarist for Elton John. Elton John had played the night before in Honolulu and was playing again tonight. OMG we were staying in the floor below the penthouse -- Elton John was probably our neighbor. How wicked.
Mr. Johnstone was joined by one of the yoga ladies (very reassuring to see him with an age appropriate wife) and was reading the Rum Diaries -- a literate rocker, gotta love a man with a brain and who can rock -- sweet!
Took bunches of pictures and kept my feet in the sand..... I will so miss that, June cannot get here quick enough. On our way back, ordered a Royal Hawaiian bathrobe - it’s pink and terrycloth. They had run out during the holidays. We finally found the parrots to pose with at the Hilton -- when in Hawaii one must always get a photo with birds perched on you. Somehow the Aloha spirit scored us a free Dole Whip, friendly behavior can get you almost anything.
some things are just not right
After getting ready and finishing packing, Randy and his magical dolly came to collect us -- and 21 bags later he took the second elevator.
he got tipped VERY well, Thank you sweetie.
Even after seeing that sight, we had to finish buying a few last souvenirs. Angel had found a great alleyway market across the street from our hotel. She would be so dangerous in Florence at the San Lorenzo Market. I made some great deals on the last few things I needed. Yes, I did have room to pack it.
At the ABC store, I found some more coffee for friends and if I had any, I could have paid with yen -- what’s up with that?
We all ended up at the same store and decided Duke’s was perfect for our “last meal”, started there and ended there--- Princess and I split a cheeseburger and we sat in those great vinyl Hawaiian print chairs.
Before we loaded up, we took more pics at the Royal Hawaiian -- :(
(Westin)
Our last trip in the minivan...... amazingly they managed to pack all our luggage in.
We hit the Likelike Highway, I was getting very adjusted to the island driving. The Nuuanu Pali Lookout -- our first encounter with the Honolulu fire department. Some yahoos were up on a ledge, just looking around casually. How they got up there was a mystery.
Great views of the island --- North Shore, dramatic mountains and valleys. A little windy but not bad.
The people were winding their way down from the ledge and the firemen were watching.......
Discovered not all Hawaiian gas stations had rest rooms. Saw a poor lonely pooch get checked on a flight. Loved the fact that after clearing the produce check, three suitcases didn’t cost us a penny to check on the plane.
Cleared security with no confiscated materials and no problems. Angel picked up a lava rock and I got a sandwich and chips. Princess had some issues and we were the last ones on the plane. Might have been a physical reaction to us leaving paradise for reality... if we could have stayed a few more days....... Until next year, Aloha and Mahalo. Yes, annual trip to Hawaii is in my fixed plan.
impulse purchase, eh? hee hee
