Presidente Inter-Continental Los Cabos
September 2007 
Sharing memories from my latest trip to Los Cabos/Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Los Cabos is located at the tip of the peninsula, about 30 kilometers west of San Jose. This was a “me” getaway, plus I wanted to see what the Intercontinental had for everyone.
This is an all-inclusive resort (very excited about the Free Drinks!). They have a wonderful walking type veranda, if you will, that stretches behind the lobby down to an outdoor eating area and two restaurants. There is a particularly nice area to sit with a nice cool drink in your hand to people watch and relax….right outside the lobby area lounge. (Also, the night bartender cooks up some marvelous concoctions)
A land all inclusive is a little different than a cruise…the drinks are free (and the food too). I’ve been on both and found that the service and the food were both excellent at the Presidente Intercontinental – the outdoor “theme” nights and buffets were outstanding!!
The resort had 3 different pools. The adult pool was a favorite - very quiet and relaxing, particularly if you are there minus children. This is a great resort for families as well, so the adult portion is a very nice hideaway. The swim up bar was a nice treat…a certain times they also had a “pool waitress” - what could be better than swimming and having a drink? Nothing, you really feel like you are in the lap of luxury with “yourself” as the star!!
I would sit by the ocean on a Resort lounge chair on the beautiful the sandy white beaches and just listen to the waves under the stars, the sounds of the ocean are more than relaxing, very hypnotising. I was there during a hurricane that was coming up the coast so the ocean was at it’s finest. I thought I was a little crazy for being out there when I knew a hurricane was also around (it was further away) but I’ve always like the ocean during turmoil. I’ve lived in the Islands during fierce storms and in Japan during monsoons, so I am used to rain. I took some ‘night’ photos but found out the stupid flash wasn’t working (could be I forgot new batteries).
I had a junior suite garden area room in the adult section with my own hammock right outside. The room has a Mexican tiled bathroom with shower. It was a huge room with a king size bed, safe, TV, dresser for clothes and a closet. It had a half wall with louvered panels you could shut to keep out the early morning light, and on the other side was a step up to a “lounge area” with a loveseat by the window, a few steps over was a table and 4 chairs beside the patio door. Great for escaping into a book…with water at hand. Approximately 50’ away was the pool, a walk across the grass, drop the towel, into the pool. Part of the time I hung out in the hammock relaxing with one of the 5 books I took along, and watching a wedding one day on the beach, the riders and their horses on the beach, and people having a good time. I was fortunate to meet my neighbors – a family from Canada who mother was visiting from Poland.
Another couple I met over breakfast one day was also from Canada – he was a minister from Ottawa – he and his wife were on “holiday”. Very nice people. At the buffets at night, while watching the “themed” evening entertainment, conversations in French, German, Italian and those mixes of Canadian and English accents were all around. The Aussies were in abundance too.
I also took a taxi into Los Cabos itself one afternoon to do some walking around, okay, yes—a little shopping as well, plus salsa & chips chased with a glass of beer. I tend to pick up things for people when I travel, great Christmas presents because they mean a little more than going to Walmart. I meandered around, walking down streets and found the “old town” section of Los Cabos by accident just because I was walking, enjoying the weather and had no map!! When I got ‘mixed up” the people were great in getting me back on track.
I found a great shop for ceramics, actually two of them and bought things for me and for others in my family. Then a “sale” sign caught my eye from the window of a local dress shop. I had to walk up some stairs, into this little shop and found some marvelous dresses for me and t-shirts for my grandkids. (Not the usual touristy ones that say I was here and missed you type). On my way back to the cab stand, I stopped and purchased a Mexican hand woven blanket for my wall. Then I stopped at a local outside place and had a bite to eat which wasn’t hard to do since I was hungry from my mini shopping-walking experience and it was hot. I had set aside some money for this trip so my credit card got a little workout. Using credit cards on vacations is always a good idea as you aren’t carrying money around with you and the rate of exchange is bank oriented so you get the correct rate of exchange at the time you are spending. You don’t have to rely on the locals to give you the correct exchange rate.
There is a protected turtle sanctuary outside in a big “cage like” setting, possibly 75’ x 250’ – I am not sure of the measurements but it wasn’t a small area…well, small to the overall area of neverending beach but as far as turtle protection it didn’t seem so (to keep people away from the nesting grounds) that I walked to several times while I was there. I went at different times hoping to see a turtle and some hatched ones…..but they weren’t cooperating while I was there.
Cabo San Lucas was a short cab ride away (well, about 30 minutes)….or a local bus ride, which is a great way to get to know the locals. I have been to Cabo many times and it’s always fun to go down to the Marina, sit with a bowl of chips and salsa and a beer or margarita to watch the tourists, the locals who try to get the cruise ship people engaged in buying their wares. There are great duty free shops to buy perfume and cosmetics as well as drinks and souvenirs. I also like to go into the local vendor hideaways and bargain – the ones in both Cabo and Los Cabos were fun. I was there off season so got some deals.
BARBADOS JUNE 2006 
Almond Beach Village Resort. This resort has it all for singles, couples, families. What makes it even nicer is that the family section is very removed from the adult section.
We had a patio room. You can walk right outside your door, sit at the table, read a book, watch people in the pool or walking around the resort. We were in the adult area so it was quiet. The room was very big and spacious. It had an armoire type place where the TV resided. With the closed doors you weren’t aware that there was a TV in the room. We had, in the room, a couch, coffee table, and a table with 2 chairs as well. Another friend had a balcony room with a different view…she was up higher so got a view of the ocean.
You walk into the resort with the welcoming desk and committee handing you a drink and a towel for your hands. This is an extremely welcoming touch. While you are sitting re-grouping and getting acclimated, the concierge is doing paperwork and obtaining the key to your room, then he directs a resort employee to take you to your room. This kind of hospitality is great because you don’t have to guess where you are going and along the way you get a running commentary of the area. On the way to the room we walked by the private Italian restaurant – you did need to make reservations to eat there and there was a $20 per person reservation fee. We ate dinner there one night as a huge group and had so much fun…our waiter was a riot. The food was top notch.
Continuing our pathway to the room, we strolled by one smaller pool that had a bridge over it, people having fun in the water and reading books by the side. Then we went by one of the many outdoor wedding places, on to a huge pool area with a swim up bar with many pedestrian bridges going over the pool at different places. We rounded a corner to find Our Room! We went into a hallway, our room was the first one, a corner one, which is always nice.
The main outside dining – you could be under cover or out in the elements (which is where I prefer to be) for breakfast, lunch and dinner, had buffets with tons of food, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, steaks, hamburgers, the usual breakfast fare. Our first day consisted of breakfast then out to a mini van where we were whisked around the island by our own private driver who was born and raised on the Island, educated in England, and really knew his Island, making it ours as well. One of those places was the St James Church - few tourist activities places take you out to that part of the island. I am glad we went, it is a beautiful place , the sunlight coming through this window is phenomenal.
We were lucky in having him because we got to go to out of the way places that not many tourists go plus getting first hand information on all areas. Everyday we took a few hours in the morning (from about 10-2) to get to know a different part of Barbados and it’s people. The other part of the day/evening we spent snorkeling, diving, reading on the beach or in the pool and, of course, shopping for marvelous rum and ceramics, plus dresses.
It was fun and I want to go back every year!
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE Rhapsody of the Sea (ALASKA) October 2004
Alaska – the Last Frontier! I was able to go to Alaska, cruising the Inside Passage, going up to Juneau, visiting Skagway and Ketchikan, cruising the Hubbard Glacier, back to Vancouver and home to Seattle. Again with good friends who made the trip even more enjoyable. We all had dinners together at a larger table so we could also meet other like minded individuals, which we did.
The only thing we signed up for that we could not do was the Tram in Juneau – I think the weather was so bad (foggy, with zero sighting area at the top) you could not see anything so there wasn’t any point in going. Instead, we went into the shops of Juneau and took advantage of off season/end of season sale prices with Russian amber and other Russian jewelry and artifacts from the Siberian Straits. I purchased some books of not only Alaska but the frontier people and Eskimos and the way of life in the land of light and cold. Russian history has always been a favorite as well as books (romance and history alike) of the people who came over to Alaska from Russia beginning in the 17th century to fish and live and later cut down trees and make homes for them and their future relatives.
Cruising the Hubbard Glacier –  beautiful blue ice (take a Warm windbreaker, you will need it to stand out in the cold even on a nice day), where you hear the cracks or calving of the Glacier. You can stay in your cabin if you have a balcony and see everything and have a hot drink (more than one) delivered to your cabin, or stand on any of the open decks. The ship makes three complete circles of the glacier so there is plenty of time to take pictures, listen to the sounds…the ice is very very blue and very beautiful.
Cruising back down the strait, you see homes here and there (not many) and fisherman out in their boats trying to catch the elusive fish, which for the most part is not only their dinner but also their livelihood. We went in and changed for dinner which was nice because we were finally getting warm again.
On two different nights there were the magnificent ICE sculptures – huge sculpted pieces that took up whole tables done by artists for everyone to see. The lines were long but well worth going into. The crew also had fruits, cheeses, crackers, wine and more out for Cruisers to partake of. If it wasn’t a night of ice sculpting, then it was the night of Chocolate – same thing, different night and a wonder to behold.
Ketchikan – a medium size village town, home to various Salmon fishing charters and also home to the huge, beautiful totem carvings. If you decide to, and we did, you can go up to an old hatchery, where they take you through the hatchery itself, explaining the work that used to go on and showing you where the fish were kept after catching, and old museum and a general type store attached that had books, wall hangings, notes, and more.
 We then got on a bus to make a stop at the totem pole place, where we saw how the carvers made the totem poles and what the different ones signified in carvings and paint. It is very exacting and historical work, you have to know your Alaskan history to do this. All the carvers are native Alaskan. We toured the outside totems and also the museum. We then got back on the bus that took us back to Ketchikan and the dock. The tour of the hatchery and the Totem makers took a good part of the day. We got back to the dock/wharf, did a little shopping, went back to the ship to get ready for dinner and go over all that we had seen and purchased during this very enlightening, educational and historical day.
Skagway – we walked around town a little and ended up at the train station as we were going on a train ride up to the Yukon Territory turnaround point. Little did we know that we would be going over wooden trestles high in the mountains (no steel for these people!). The train was small but fun. They gave us all free water with their Railroad labels, some of us kept them and brought them home as souvenirs (yes, I was one of those). The little train started its climb up into the mountains…the scenery was astoundingly beautiful. Then….someone saw the train trestle….yikes, they were correct…wood all the way through. Over a huge canyon that seemed like it went down forever. Excitement pounded but we went over it and on up to the top of the mountain, taking lots of pictures, everyone moved for everybody else when they wanted a certain photo. Got up to the Yukon Turnaround, where we could get out and walk around for a short time. Which all of us did to take in the scenery and use the facilities. Then, back on the train to go back down to Skagway. On the way up you saw hills and green…on the way down it was peaks and valleys and lots of space in between. We got back to Skagway with an hour or so to while away. I found an artist in a small shop who did glass work and purchased one of his pieces of art to take home. In talking to him, we found that he was leaving Skagway and going back to the lower 48 after the winter. He had been there for a long time but had a lot of business in the domestic 48 and in Europe and, due to the winters, he found it was easier to go back and work and ship things that it was to stay. It was kind of too bad, because he really seemed a part of Skagway.
Part of the beauty of the trip was in the cruising up the inlets to Juneau and to the Glacier, it was so quiet and peaceful. Out on the Inside Passage you saw dolphins racing alongside the ship playing in the water, they are so sleek and beautiful to watch. I have always enjoyed British Columbia, this is the second time from a cruise standpoint, plus friends to enjoy it with who haven’t seen the “English” side and feel of it. I have always felt as if being transported to England for a short time while there. Going into the big mercantiles you almost “feel” the spirits of the trappers of long ago who drop off their pelts..anyone who reads about the Pacific Northwest, Mounties, Trappers, etc., knows what I mean. They are a “presence” as you would have to be to have survived in those times and climates.
Disembarkation, passports and customs are always such a fun part of travel, but we all got through it and went our separate ways to home, armed once again with email addresses, home addresses, cell numbers and the like. We are all the ones who still do Christmas cards….a great way to keep up once a year and really feel connected, unlike the connection you feel on the internet.
Pat, Bob, Joe and Ali
HONG KONG TRAVEL - September 2005
When one thinks of Hong Kong, visions of sampans, old Chinese junks, the tram to Victoria's Peak, the shopping stalls at Stanley's Market come to mind. The mixture of culture and people who live and work in the area is momentous. We stayed on the causeway which enabled us to take the Ferry over to Kowloon sev eral times to shop! (That's where Stanley Market and the other marvelous places are). We ate an American baked potato with cheese one day at lunch, other days over the 10 days we were there, we ate Chinese, Japanese, McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken as well. I love the local food (except for raw fish, have never been a fan), am a real fried rice person.
A Tour bus was arranged for the group to go up to Victoria's Peak and it managed to suffer a "problem" which meant we could either wait ...forever...for another or walk the rest of the way up the road. So we walked, adventurous people that we were! Had an ice cream cone when we got there, that was a real treat. There was an artist who was selling large canvasses of junks in the harbor which of course I had to buy a couple of.
We went to the Fire Opal Mine shop, stone walls, walk thru a tunnel and you actually think you are in a mine! The jewels are breathtaking (as are the prices - but nothing like here in the States, so of course, we saved money and bought there!)
The Jumbo Restaurant, a landmark floating palace of food, was an experience. On the dock prior to going out there is where I got the photo of my Hong Kong Cat - in all my travels, I seem to be gaining a photo of a cat. I now have one in Mexico, Hong Kong, Europe, Barbados to name a few. We took, prior to dinner, a ride to the "floating village" which comprised of sampans and families who live and work in those waters. Living Space is at a premium.
One of the tours we took was out to the Land Between - that was an experience as it seemed like an old western ghost town that was no more that we see from time to time here in the West Coast. In these really old dilapidated buildings one found a family here and there in a mostly deserted area, gardens that had not seen water for years.
The interesting ride out there was on a 6 lane highway (if I remember correctly), as we went by these huge high rises, the guide was telling us that sometimes a family of up to 12 all lived in a tiny shell of an apartment, certainly nothing like we have here...close to a very small studio size. Imagine.
One night we left the Metro Hotel and walked down the streets to see a dragon dance at 2:30 a.m., a celebration (this was in September) wth little kids, grandparents and parents all involved in the early morning hours. Very safe place for women alone to go.
I, along with my riends, certainly did a lot of walking, picture taking, sampling of different foods and drinks and shopping while there. I am an enthusiast of Asian culture anyhow and this was great.
Pat
CARNIVAL MEXICO CRUISE (ELATION) September 2005
One of many trips to Mexico and we took it aboard a Carnival Fun Ship! There was food, chocolate, fruit, entertainment after dinner in the many tiered plus 5 tiers of balcony seating of this Fun Ship. A bunch of us made a dinner date for private dining (which cost each of us an advanced reservation fee of $20 per person and well worth it) with a six course dinner with superb wine and coffee with our dessert.
There were numerous art shows and sales and I won a print! It is always great fun to win something (especially when you tend not to), I brought it home – a vision of Tuscany and framed it. My friends the art lovers bought a Peter Mann for their new living room in California.
Ports of call included Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.
In Puerto Vallarta we walked the Old Town streets, had a beer and chips with salsa at an outdoor cantina that my friends knew of….great salsa~~~.  We also had a later lunch at the Sheraton, sat back and viewed the ocean after eating the most marvelous food – being the afternoon and knowing that there would be a big dinner on the ship, we kept it light, well fairly light…there is so much good food you want to taste it’s hard to just do fruit and salad. After eating and having a great margarita, we took a tour of the Bougainvilla with its huge rooms and living areas, baths that seem like they are outside (on the top floors) with bedrooms that are separate by a hall on some of them from the living area with great Mexican colors and touches. The only not good taste came from all the Time Share Salespersons, it seemed like they were on every corner or every five feet and they don’t understand “NO”. But the shopping was fun, the old church was fun and took great photos! The people are warm and friendly.
On to Mazatlan – it seemed like the ship was traversing a long narrow inlet to get into Mazatlan itself to the dock. On the left side there were rows and rows of cars waiting to be shipped out to the States, they were economy/compact ones in all colors. Very few ever stayed in Mexico as most people cannot afford them. On the other side of the ship we saw what appeared to be a little island with small residences, lots of animals and some larger villas scattered here and there.
We got off the ship and went walking into the old port town of Mazatlan to the shops and the street beggars, which seem to be everywhere in Mexico, but I noticed the most in Mazatlan and 95% of them appeared to be under 5 years of age. Very sad and disheartening. We bought tickets to see a Mexican dance, rather troupe, of men…one of them climbed a pole, then hauled the others up, there were 4 of them, hooked to the main person and they were let down to hang and sway to the music….no OSHA net for these guys and, trust me, they were high off the ground.
No one fell, but sometimes your heart was in your throat watching them. Then the women came out and did some cultural dances. This all took about an hour and was well worth the money we paid to see it. I think it was $10 or so per person. We wandered back through the tunnel, where there were, of course, more vendors with more things to sell us to take back to the ship. (You forget when you are shopping that it all has to go back home with you!).
We had lunch at one of the resorts by the ocean waterfront. We got to talking to the ex-pats from the States who either lived there full time or came down from Michigan (for one) for at least six months out of the year.  We took pictures of the paragliders, ate some more marvelous Mexican food topped off with more Margaritas! 
I took a picture of another Cat…I am building an album of Cats in Foreign Places…I now have Hong Kong, Mazatlan, Barbados, Pacific Northwest (the overall ruler) and somewhere in some box I have England, Czech Republic and Vienna (Austria). The Mazatlan stay was not as long as Puerto Vallarta nor as long as the Cabo one would be so we really had to hop back to the ship as our conversations were so good we forgot to look at the time.
Back to the Ship, dinner, entertainment, browsing in the art galleries and playing in the Casino! During our time at sea, we stayed by the pool, ordered “pool drinks” in take home glasses, read and did some more people watching. Or, because we all had balcony cabins, stayed in our cabins with a good book and a glass of wine…that’s the way to get rid of a couple of nice hours in the afternoon. There was the internet café (what would we do without it??), the ice cream and pizza place, a private wine tasting with good cheese and crackers that was fun with good friends.
We came into Cabo between 6 and 7 the next morning. I was on my balcony looking out at the famous “Los Arcos” Rock when tons of game fishing boats went out – there were so many I literally lost count. I watched them and within 5-10 minutes they had completely disappeared over the horizon. That was something you don’t see every day.
Cabo San Lucas is a tendered port, which means the ship isn’t docked but is rather anchored at sea. Then, everyone who wants to go ashore gets in line to get on a tender. This is a procedure that takes time, but these guys are so good at it, you don’t feel as though you’ve been in line long. Then you are off the tender, on land again, taking a stroll (well, long walk) up to the Marina if you are going to chill out in Cabo, which we were. Others had made plans to go on hikes, horseback excursions, water excursions and a tour up to Los Cabos to see the old historic places there. We walked all over Cabo, to the inside Mall, the outside vendors – which I liked better because they seemed friendlier and would bargain more, which I felt is more the spirit of the area. There are time share people there as well…..but not at all pushy like the ones in Puerto Vallarta nor the ones up in Los Cabos at the international airport! We shopped, puttered around, got some fingernail polish that changes with the sunlight and T-Shirts from a company whose colors do the same. Because Cabo was the last duty free port, we bought liquor to bring home. When you buy there, and go back to the ship, you have to give it up to the Ship’s crew who wraps it with your name and cabin number and you get it back when you disembark back in LAX, San Diego, or San Francisco, whichever port you took your cruise out of. Rules are Rules.
Back to the Ship for the last night on board – the dinner, the entertainment, the fun. The kids screaming down the pool slides having fun. People up at the disco dancing the night away, new friends gathering with old friends in the various lounges all over the ship, swapping phone numbers, addresses and emails with promises to keep in touch, email photographs and making plans for the next cruise together.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA and THE CZECH REPUBLIC - DECEMBER 2005
This was the year of the quick, uncharted, unplanned getaways! However, it is one I won't forget. I met my son in Europe to travel to Brno, Czech Republic.
I got to see Vienna (not as much as I wanted but, still), took a train ride from Austria up to Brno in the Czech Republic, about 4 hours or so away, where one really feels and begins to know the difference in countries and customs. Vienna is more up to date and very 20th century and parts of the Czech Republic, other than Prague, ae still steeped in World War II, it seems. Parts of the country still have the "bombed out" look and feel left over from the War.
On the train, every time the train stopped at a new town, and there were many - the local gendarmes (police) came on, you had to get out your passport and show it and the ticket, after awhile, I just wore the passport holder around my neck. One feels like the movies of the 40's and the war look....it's almost how you felt.
Austria was green, verdant and gorgeous. Going into the Czech area, you at once felt the tremendous lack of money and seeming overall depression. The countryside was bland and houses in great disrepair.
Arriving in Brno, getting off the train in a large, very noisy old train station was another one of those experiences that stays with you for a long time. My German is shaky after all these years but I found that I understood a little at least in Austria...the Czech language...nada as to understanding.
We stayed in a 5* hotel in downtown Brno, which was about on par to a 2.5* here in the states. Very small, but clean rooms....the bath was lovely, as it had a clawfoot big tub to soak in (I loved that). The hotel had an internet connection which was found by the front desk in what could only have been an old closet - a very small closet. The concierge staff was very nice. Breakfast was buffet every morning...eggs, fruit, hot cereal (it was winter time) bread and Czech pastries with coffee, milk, juice and even Tea (great for the English/Irish in me!)
One night we walked over to a Hofbrau type house/bar/underground place - which was very local and very good. One of the really nice things was the outdoor Christmas market bazaar as it was the "time of the year" - from this unplanned trip I managed to get a lot of nice handmade Christmas presents to take home since my Christmas shopping was interrupted. There was local mulled wine, nice warm and went right to your head (I guess it helped with the local purchases). It was an experience and fun to barter and spend.
There was basically no snow practically the whole time we were there. It was very very cold. One day it did snow tho, and it was beautiful....once it started to snow, it didn't quit! Or at least that's what it seemed like. (And, did I take boots? No, just tennis shoes and dress shoes.)
One day I walked up to the local castle - beautiful view from almost the top of the city and an old world castle to boot.
Took the train back down to Vienna, got a nice room on a main street of the city. We walked out and hopped on a bus for about 2.5 miles, got off and got a polish (German) sausage (best I've ever had) from a trolley, similar to the cabooses (i.e. Dutch Brothers) that sell hot coffee here, and walked to the outdoor courtyard mall of downtown Vienna - cobblestone streets with no cars, just people. We stopped for hot chocolate and pastry (in a storefront that reminded me of the look of a Subway or Baskin Robbins), then stopped at the Mozart chocolate place where they sold Mozart memorablia and chocolate! We went to a few places that had Bavarian crystal, lots of tourist type things. I wish that I had more time to just spend a few days in Vienna alone and then be able to go out to explore the countryside and mountains. I would have liked to have seen the outdoor amphitheatre (Sound of Music origin), the Schoenbrun Palace and so much more. No time.
Caught an early mornng flight to Munich where we got caught in a winter blizzard and ended up waiting (inside, thank you) for the storm to pass. Got back to Detroit a little late, went through customs and waited for the West Coast departure and home for Christmas. I got into Portland late at night, staying at the Sheraton. Come to find out that there were a lot of teenagers there that night for some sort of musical they were doing in downtown Portland...but they were all in a super Party (Loud) mode....I was in jet lag mode. After finally getting to sleep, I slept through to 1:00 p.m. and had to be at the train station to go south in one hour...did I fly or what. I made it with all my stuff and was home that night by 10 p.m. The end of a long 12 day trip. I was more than ready to light and not leave again for awhile. But I loved Austria.
CRUISE WEST (Portland Vancouver Mini) Spirit of Portland September 2002
This is the essence of Small Ship Cruising, the food is excellent and the staff is very knowledge, helpful and fun on a 2 night Going Nowhere cruise. The cruise was fun, we went up the Columbia River for a couple of hours – seeing the landscape of the Pacific Northwest from the Columbia River is very different from flying in over Portland in the Sky or driving on the Interstates or even driving up through the Gorge.
The lounge which, aside from the dining room, is the largest common area of the ship, has a plethora of books, movies, DVDs – very comfortable places to sit and read, have a conversation or play some board games with new friends over coffee, tea or your favorite drink. No casinos on the ships, they are more of a National Geographic Explorer type, my partner in crime was a little disconcerted by that because he wanted to be able to say he had gambled on the High Seas! But then again, he loved the history and ambiance of the lounge and the books that abounded. On any given long cruise they usually have a specialist on board giving education talks abou the places they are cruising to, whether it’s the Galapagos Islands or Inland straits of Alaska or even up the Columbia Gorge to Idaho seeing the country of Lewis & Clark’s expeditionary forces trail.
The food, drinks, and people we were able to meet and experience two short nights with were rewarding, even on a short NoWhere Cruise.
Pat and Crime Partner and good friend, Phillip
Hawaii (numerous trips as well as living) Maui, Oahu, Kauai
Going to Hawaii, to me, is almost like going home as my family lived, worked and played there for almost 3 years (we were a military family at the time). Honolulu was “home”, yet Maui, Kauai and the Big Island were there as well.
Honolulu is a great tourist mecca with the US Armed Forces bases (Army, Air Force and Marines) and the history that goes with Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona, the Memorial, Schofield Barracks – history, movies and more. The Polynesian Cultural Center is fun, you can learn basket weaving and make your own to take home, see shows at the Luau that take your breath away, learn how to wiggle those hips in a hula and so much more. The North Shore has its share of storms and surfers, especially during the championships, they come from all over the world. But the waves and sound during winter wave season – it is something very powerful not to mention beautiful.
The International Market Place is its own little Stanley Market (i.e., Hong Kong) in the middle of downtown. There’s also Ala Moana and Pearlridge shopping center for the Mall enthusiasts.
If you are service connected, go out to Hickam and play golf on their great golf course, try out the putting green, sip a few drinks in the various NCO and Officer’s Clubs. Go out to Kaneohe and body surf or boogie board at Bellows which is near the Marine Corps base on that side of the Island. It’s a great place to get away, take the family and chill out – BBQ, whatever, if you want to get away from the tourist crowds.
I was also sent to Maui from time to time for my boss, who had a condo in the Kihei area at the time. He rented it out and wanted it checked out every now and again which gave us a weekend away a couple times a year. Since I’ve been back for friends’ weddings and my own trips..I’ve been known to do the tourist things like snorkeling and seeing the giant turtles at Molokini in October, watching the sunrise and then the sunset from a balcony in Kaanapali in a high rise condo; driving up the road in our rented convertible to Napilii Point, going into one of the exclusive shops in Napili, of course not intending to get anything but then coming out of there with something.
I’ve been back many times for weddings of friends, vacations, business trips and always enjoy my time in the Islands.
We also did the Atlantis Submarine trip –  it was fun, but remember that you are in an enclosed space way under the water, submarine style. If you are claustrophobic at all, stay on top of the water.
Also, the drive to Hana, the marvelous places in the Hana area to stay and the dear windy road. My most favorite place, away from the tourist crowds is Makawao home of Hot Island Glass (www.hotislandglass.com) right on the main street. There are also bath and beauty stores, one off the main road where you can get a simply fabulous lunch and then go shopping in the back who has Hawaiian Classic Perfume (and body lotion, etc), their main store is in Kihei as well. These are just two of my favorites to go back to. (I tell all my clients whether they are going on a land vacation or a cruise for a Maui stopover about them.) There is also an art gallery about 2 doors down from Hot Island and a jewelry store on the same side of the street. Their names skip my mind, but you will find them as I think there’s only one of each. Also, a couple clothing stores.
Then, there’s Lahaina – Kimo’s for a beer and sandwich, people and paragliders to watch. There is a flea market across the street (on the corner) near Hilo Hattie’s in the Lahaina Mall on Thursdays….on a dirt strip of land, but well worth going to. There are many luau’s on Maui to choose from, almost all of them have special deals which you can get from the resort you are staying at. Or, look in the Island book you are given for Aloha bucks and more.
Maui and Kauai now have zip lining available for everyone, not just the tourists go. Also, the Ocean aquarium on the Kihei side of Maui – don’t miss that. We got to walk through am open fiberglass looking tunnel with sharks, mantas, all kinds of fish and huge sea turtles swimming all around us….we were the strangers in this underwater world, not them. There were lots of little kids darting all around (like the fish) and loving the experience. Being able to really enjoy that through the sights and sounds of little people is remarkable.
If you can do so, rent a convertible or jeep – sure, you might get a little misty from the rain forest sprinkles, but they usually don’t last long and everything dries quickly. You can see so much more of any of the islands. Horse back riding is also available – the freedom you get from the back of a horse is so gratifying. Even if you have never ridden before, these people will help you and guides go along, you are never alone.
Do stroll down the streets off the main track…you will find hidden gems everywhere….maps, plants, and more.
Honolulu also has the Dolphin Experience at Sea Life Park. Whale watching is plentiful in January and February…as well as October through March on the shores of Maui, Lanai and the Kaneohe side of Oahu. If you are a diver and don’t mind diving among the sharks, you will also really enjoy diving with and being near the great Humpback Whales found on the Kaneohe side. For their size, they move like huge graceful ballerinas.
Aloha, Mahalo – beautiful words of welcome and thanks!
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