The shuttle picks us up bright and early at 4:15am. I wish I could say it was rough getting up that early, but unfortunately I was unable to fall asleep even though I'd work the night before. Yikes!
When we get to the airport it's so early even the restaurants are still closed, but for some reason there's a line of people waiting outside of Mcdonalds. I know it's tasty, but really, why not sit down and be comfortable for a while?
After the first rush passes we too start our day with the breakfast of champions; a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit with a greasy hashbrown patty. Yummy!
The boarding process runs smoothly and before too long we're all seated on the plane. There's just one little things that needs to get done before we can take off: de-icing. No wonder we're fleeing to Hawaii!
Can't say I remember much of the flight because I slept on and off through most of it. I cleverly brought an empty pillowcase on the plane with me so once it's fluffed up with my coat inside it's pretty comfortable.
We touch down in Phoenix 40 minutes early, which is great because US Airways doesn't serve a meal on either legs because they're domestic flights ... long enough to travel to Europe, but obviously that's of no consequence so we're forced to eat during our layover.
Anyway, so those 40 minutes would've really come in handy were it not for the fact that we can't taxi to the gate because there's still another plane there. After sitting on the runway for 40 minutes they realize the other plane has some kind of mechanical failure so they assign us another gate that just happens to be 2 gates over from our flight to Honolulu. Phew ... almost thought I wouldn't get to eat at all, but there's just enough time for an equally healthy lunch; a pepperoni pizza from California Pizza. It does the job and that's that.
Of course, our next flight can't go off without a hitch either. We're taxiing down the runway when a passenger a few rows back tells the steward he has to go. Right. Now.
So after a quick potty break (of which he had at least 6 more during the flight ... poor dude) we are on our way to Hawaii! This plane has in flight entertainment and I'm looking forward to watching Dolphin Tale, but by the time I wake up the second movie is just starting. I watch Marley & Me; the Puppy Years (just OK) then play a little bit on the Nintendo when suddenly Mauna Kea rises from the endless ocean.
When we get to the airport it's so early even the restaurants are still closed, but for some reason there's a line of people waiting outside of Mcdonalds. I know it's tasty, but really, why not sit down and be comfortable for a while?
After the first rush passes we too start our day with the breakfast of champions; a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit with a greasy hashbrown patty. Yummy!
The boarding process runs smoothly and before too long we're all seated on the plane. There's just one little things that needs to get done before we can take off: de-icing. No wonder we're fleeing to Hawaii!
Can't say I remember much of the flight because I slept on and off through most of it. I cleverly brought an empty pillowcase on the plane with me so once it's fluffed up with my coat inside it's pretty comfortable.
We touch down in Phoenix 40 minutes early, which is great because US Airways doesn't serve a meal on either legs because they're domestic flights ... long enough to travel to Europe, but obviously that's of no consequence so we're forced to eat during our layover.
Anyway, so those 40 minutes would've really come in handy were it not for the fact that we can't taxi to the gate because there's still another plane there. After sitting on the runway for 40 minutes they realize the other plane has some kind of mechanical failure so they assign us another gate that just happens to be 2 gates over from our flight to Honolulu. Phew ... almost thought I wouldn't get to eat at all, but there's just enough time for an equally healthy lunch; a pepperoni pizza from California Pizza. It does the job and that's that.
Of course, our next flight can't go off without a hitch either. We're taxiing down the runway when a passenger a few rows back tells the steward he has to go. Right. Now.
So after a quick potty break (of which he had at least 6 more during the flight ... poor dude) we are on our way to Hawaii! This plane has in flight entertainment and I'm looking forward to watching Dolphin Tale, but by the time I wake up the second movie is just starting. I watch Marley & Me; the Puppy Years (just OK) then play a little bit on the Nintendo when suddenly Mauna Kea rises from the endless ocean.
A short time later we land in Honolulu. It's an open air island and the warm island breeze greets us as soon as we step out of the gate. So nice! I duck into the nearest bathroom and change into shorts and a t-shirt before we do anything else .... I am going to enjoy this weather as much as I can!
We pick up our car from Alamo -- some kind of silver Mazda SUV -- and struggle through traffic to our hotel. It takes us a few tries before we 1) succesfully located the hotel, 2) enter the correct garage, and 3) find our allocated spot. Signage must come at a premium here or something ...
We lug all our stuff upstairs only to find out the key doesn't work -- probably because they told us the wrong room number haha. But hey, the view is worth it! It's nothing fancy but we can actually see the ocean from our room!
The elevator has great views towards the mountains.
Of course we want to see it up close so we walk down the street to the nearby Hilton Hotel. They're supposed to have one of the nicest stretches of sand in Waikiki.
Diamond Head in the distance.
Yep, I did go into the water of course.
A guy in traditional garb runs past lighting all the torches, stopping here and there to blow on a shell ... this is all part of their sunset ceremony.
Tropical sunset
For dinner we walk to the Price Court Hotel across from our hotel where we enjoy one of the fanciest buffets ever. I'm not too fond of most of the stuff (not sure what all of it was either haha) but the sushi and tempura is fantastic! Totally got my money's worth.
Then it's off to bed!
Mileage for today: 8.2
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