Day 87 Hawaii

Day 87 Honolulu, USA

Our day began with breakfast on our balcony whilst we sailed past the southern reaches of Oahu. We watched as we slip passed Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach on our path to Honolulu Harbour.

We both had one of the best days in Honolulu yesterday. I went shopping and Paul enjoyed that fact I had gone shopping. Why you ask?

As we had visited Hawaii two years ago, we decided this would be the first and last opportunity to just do as we wished without having to take in the unique appeals of this port. Paul and I hit the shops first thing in the morning then after a yummy lunch at Bubba Gump's, I continued to look around the shops while Paul sat back at a Mai Tai Bar to imbibe the local thirst-quenchers. I checked out the local department stores; Maceys, Sears and Nordstrom.  And between each store I would return to join Paul and his current table companions for a Mai Tai or Pina cola.

It is very common to meet up with our ship board friends when we are ashore. Most people, passengers and crew, who aren't on a tour, will fan out from the ship to go to the closest/convenient shopping centres, stores, pubs, or restaurants. While we were in Hawaii, we caught the free shuttle bus to Wal-Mart, then walked across the road to Ross Dress for Less before heading to the Aloha Moana Shopping Centre. In each area we would see and speak with many people from the ship. Paul enjoyed his visit to the Mai Tai Bar, not only were the drinks made with a bigger than usual measure, the waitresses worn plunging necklines and short hemlines! He never sat alone for long; several fellow passengers came along at different times and joined him at the table. Believe it or not, I managed to return to the ship with little shopping!

Our departure for Tahiti had moved back 3 hours, allowing us the opportunity to return from our day out and freshen up before heading ashore to have dinner in Waikiki, this time with Brian and Ros and Roger and Merrilyn. We were fortunate to meet a shuttle bus driver who not only took us to the famous beach area but rang a beaut. sea front restaurant and booked us in for our meal, plus pick us up afterwards for our  return to the ship. As we enjoyed eating our dinner in the balmy tropical night, we heard the sound of the sea lapping on the nearby shore. After dinner we strolled onto the flame lit beach to view the coastline fringed by high rise hotels and apartments.

Our balcony on the ship overlooked the floodlit Aloha Clock Tower so when we went to bed I could see this famous icon through our partly opened curtains.