Day 12 - We awoke in port. Our breakfast view from the Lido deck was towards Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head. It wasn't long before we'd walked out of the port area to the road in front. We knew the direction of the beaches and which side of the road would get us there. Unfortunately, we turned left to a bus stop rather than right and wasted a good half hour at least. When in the right place for the right bus, we happily paid $5 for a day pass. If we'd been a little older, it could've been had for $2.
I have old scanned pictures from Oahu. Coming to this island was one of our first long-distance flights after we've moved to Vancouver. We must have come, on some now-defunct charter airline, in 1998. So although the basic layout of the famous, sandy strip of beach remains the same, I'm sure lots changed. When young, getting to new places is 'the' goal but when older, returning seems as nice too. At least the ABC Stores are still as common as ticks on a bear.
Had I not made the decision to title days on this cruise with the name of each port, I may have entitled this post: 'Chicken in a Tree'. Strangely, in the middle of crowded highrises, we saw a chicken at the side of the road. It was having a hell of a time trying to get to the other side. After several close brushes with speeding cars, the chicken flapped like mad and flew up into a tree. It wasn't a coconut tree. It seemed content sort of lurking above our heads at the bus stop. For all I know, it's still there.
I love how the dark, onerous clouds hovering over the mountain magically transformed into a fluffy white as the wind blew them toward the city and beach. Is that why Diamond Head looks as though it's been plucked from Phoenix, Arizona? I absolutely know I will end up Googling the prices for a condo in this paradise after this cruise. I am equally sure, the prices will come as a shock and make me feel silly for even looking.
