Hawaii: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9
We talked about Hawaii a lot. It seems we had all better go again!
6:00 am, and we are scurrying around getting the last-minute packing done. I had to clean the CPAP machine and get all the “electronics” packed. We should be ready by 9:30 am when Auntie Irene plans to arrive.
Scout made one last-ditch effort to tell us he was ready to go!
Scout told us he was ready to go on vacation.
Our chauffeur arrived at 10:15 am, and we left Scout inside as Auntie Irene was scheduled to arrive about fifteen minutes later. We made it to the airport without encountering traffic and arrived at 11:00 am.
We took a different route: 55 to 91 to 605 to 105! It worked better than the always-busy 405! The LAX airport was just five minutes away now.
LAX, here we come.
We met an interesting lady who was reliving “The Terminal.” Her plane was canceled, and now she has to wait until 11:00 pm this evening to go home to Florida.
We talked to this lady for almost two hours and three wines later.
We had seats 1A and 1B, traveling first class. We had plenty of leg room, and our TV Monitor was on the wall, making it easy to see. The Airbus 320 was quite nice. The pilot predicted rough weather as we approached Hawaii, but we never felt it. Up, up, and away!
Here we go.
A satisfying late lunch/early dinner was served, which we washed down with grape juice. Mary watched two movies while I checked for light leaks around my eyelids.
Mary was a good girl and did her salad.
The lasagne was extremely hot as we were near the galley, and it came directly from the microwave. The stewards were working hard to serve everyone in first class. It must have been a real struggle to feed everyone in the past, but at least we have these delicious snacks now.
Ranatas better watch out for their competition.
It was 5:00 pm as we descended into Maui, and the sun was setting, making for quite a picture out the window.
Sunset over Hawaii.
It was dark and misting when we arrived, and the tropical breeze was blowing. The ride to the car rental was short, and we only had to wait four minutes for the tram.
We sent Mary’s three steamer trunks and four large suitcases ahead a few days ago; they should be at the hotel when we arrive. (p.s. One trunk only contains shows, I peaked inside!)
One of three!
Here comes the tram! The weather was 72 degrees and quite comfortable.
We took an electric tram from the airport to the car rentals.
The ride to the Grand Wailea was about thirty minutes and dark; there were few street lights along the “highway” to Wielea. Mary was my navigator, and she, as usual, did a fantastic job only putting us on two dead-end roads, through the island’s only traffic circle, which we went around 12 1/2 times, and on the island’s only off-road automotive suspension test track.
The dead-ends, suspension test track, and roundabouts were left off for clarity.
We first stopped at the entrance to the event center, and no one was there. We walked around and finally got directions to the main entrance.
We made it to the hotel.
We unpacked and put our things together before going downstairs for a snack, which we did not need. It was 9:00 pm in Hawaii, and I wondered why I was so tired. Oh my, it was midnight in the US. Perhaps I should have worn my jammies downstairs. It’s OK; I had the trap door fixed; it does not squeak, nor does it fall down! The three-in-one oil and thumbtacks did the trick!
The drink prices work me up quickly. Interesting drinks, but the prices were high!
Oh my!
We had a snack; I had a selection of sushi, and Mary had some Miso soup. Miso soup is a traditional Japanese soup made primarily of miso paste, dashi (broth), and additional ingredients such as vegetables, seaweed, and tofu.
What? No ceiling? I was waiting for a rain cloud to pass overhead!
Drinks and sushi at midnight under the stars.
The hotel is HUGE, and we got lost several times but finally found our room. I am glad I left breadcrumbs along the path when we left the room.
We had an ocean view, which was quite nice. I could hear water all night long, so I found the restroom several times!
Half past midnight, we headed back upstairs looking like the cat drug us in; we were asleep within seventeen microseconds of hitting the sack.
See you tomorrow as Mary goes to her first class at 6:30 am. Remember, while the cats are away, the mouse will play!
