Sunday, August 30, 2009

Maui, Day 1

What a trip!  For some reason I started having a panic attack yesterday morning and I took a Xanax before setting out.  Got the cab, got to the airport with 2 hours to go, no problem.  Then it turned out we were at the wrong airport.  New cab, photo-finish.

At the airport, I saw lots of people with yellow t-shirts and a banner standing out where the planes came in and more people in yellow shirts inside.  We got to the gate next to ours and saw:

Click here to download:

IMG_0003.mov (31101 KB)

A group was welcoming World War II veterans with balloons, cheers, band music.  Very touching.  I imagine that they might be coming for Ted Kennedy’s service but I didn’t know.  When we went by Arlington Cemetery, there were lots of cars already waiting at 9:30am.

Taking that video, we spent time we didn’t really have.  We got to our gate and boarded right away.  As soon as we sat down, they closed the doors and announced that we were taking off.

We’re finally here but I’m so discombobulated.  The planes took forever – we were in those tiny seats for about 12 hours total and got here about 11 our time, 5 local time.

Got to the car rental desk and got our car rented – surprise!  a blue PT Cruiser nearly like mine at home (but not as nice)  We were accosted by a timeshare salesperson who would take $100 off the rental price if we went to a presentation so we’re doing that on Tuesday.  We already own some of that timeshare in Virginia and I never intend to come back to Hawaii – too far – so those should be a cheap sales pitch.

Thanks to GPS we found our place pretty easily.  Turns out there is a gate, so Tom had to call the manager to get the code.  Then we got in and our key to the unit was in a lockbox.  We haven’t yet seen an employee here!  No front desk, no manager, strange.

Here’s looking at the building – only 12 units – looking from the ocean:

First thing we did was check wi-fi and take a couple pictures.

Looking out off our balcony, over the pool:

 

And

We went out to Subway and got sandwiches for dinner, then “early bed”.  It was only 8 here but it was 1 my time.

I woke up early (this time) to the chirping of birds and sunlight.  Then Tom’s cellphone rang.  The caller didn’t know it was 5:30 am.  He probably thought it was 11:30.

After setting up Tom’s internet connection, we went out to find COFFEE!  I could feel a caffeine withdrawal coming on.  On the way, I took this picture out the car windshield:

Driving around Maui

Found a Denny’s and had breakfast, then Safeway for grocery shopping.  All these places seem like home.

All this wore me out, so it was naptime!

Maybe I’ll see the actual ocean tomorrow!  LOL

PS: I forgot I set up another account to autopost pictures here so I didn’t need to repost them in this.  If anyone reads, any images will be separate!

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