Friday, Dec 23
To avoid Calgary winter as much as possible, and with few family in town, we're spending Christmas in Hawaii.
We got up early this morning and got to the airport. The line-up for US customs reached through the designated area, around behind the check-in counters and down almost to the Tim Hortons before domestic security. This represented about a 2 hour wait. After about 45 minutes, we were called to the front due to being the next departing flight to keep on schedule. By the time we made it through customs, and security and our gate, it was boarding time. We walked right onto the plane, and then had to wait for about 2 thirds of the other pasengers to make it through. We ended up leaving about 45 minutes late. Coincedentally, right behind us was one of Rob's mountain bike buddies with his family.
That plane was one of the 3 oldest in Air Canada's fleet. No seat back entertainment, and ash trays in the arm rest. I had discovered this when checking in, so we brought lots of books, movies and games to keep ourselves entertained on the 7 hour flight. We landed in Maui, collected our bags and took them to check in for our inter-island flight. The line-up for security there was so long, and we landed so late that we decided not to leave the airport. Instead we had lunch behind security again and got on another flight.
We landed in Kona slightly after 4pm and got the shuttle to the rental cars. We had booked a "standard SUV", and were given a Chevy Acadia. It's got AWD, and non-sliding doors but it's a minivan in every other way. Yuck. But apparently there is always a shortage of rental cars in Hawaii, and Christmas time is especially bad, so we had no choice. We couldn't even pay extra for the Cadillac Escalade because it was reserved.
We're staying at the Royal Kona Resort. It was built in the 1960s and not had much renovation since. It's very old-school, kitschy Hawaii. We love it! We booked an "ocean view" and they gave us a corner unit with a wrap around balcony and 2 walls of windows with sliding glass doors. The neighbours are going to LOVE us. One way faces the pool and ocean, the other direction faces the luau pit and the other tower of the hotel.
We went for a bit of a walk up the street, the main core of the tourist district. Lots of pub restaurants, gift shops and tour agencies. Then we drove to Target and Costco to stock up on drinks and snacks before heading back to the hotel and passing out.
To avoid Calgary winter as much as possible, and with few family in town, we're spending Christmas in Hawaii.
We got up early this morning and got to the airport. The line-up for US customs reached through the designated area, around behind the check-in counters and down almost to the Tim Hortons before domestic security. This represented about a 2 hour wait. After about 45 minutes, we were called to the front due to being the next departing flight to keep on schedule. By the time we made it through customs, and security and our gate, it was boarding time. We walked right onto the plane, and then had to wait for about 2 thirds of the other pasengers to make it through. We ended up leaving about 45 minutes late. Coincedentally, right behind us was one of Rob's mountain bike buddies with his family.
That plane was one of the 3 oldest in Air Canada's fleet. No seat back entertainment, and ash trays in the arm rest. I had discovered this when checking in, so we brought lots of books, movies and games to keep ourselves entertained on the 7 hour flight. We landed in Maui, collected our bags and took them to check in for our inter-island flight. The line-up for security there was so long, and we landed so late that we decided not to leave the airport. Instead we had lunch behind security again and got on another flight.
We landed in Kona slightly after 4pm and got the shuttle to the rental cars. We had booked a "standard SUV", and were given a Chevy Acadia. It's got AWD, and non-sliding doors but it's a minivan in every other way. Yuck. But apparently there is always a shortage of rental cars in Hawaii, and Christmas time is especially bad, so we had no choice. We couldn't even pay extra for the Cadillac Escalade because it was reserved.
We're staying at the Royal Kona Resort. It was built in the 1960s and not had much renovation since. It's very old-school, kitschy Hawaii. We love it! We booked an "ocean view" and they gave us a corner unit with a wrap around balcony and 2 walls of windows with sliding glass doors. The neighbours are going to LOVE us. One way faces the pool and ocean, the other direction faces the luau pit and the other tower of the hotel.
We went for a bit of a walk up the street, the main core of the tourist district. Lots of pub restaurants, gift shops and tour agencies. Then we drove to Target and Costco to stock up on drinks and snacks before heading back to the hotel and passing out.
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