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Diamond Head Volcano from our boat |
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View from our condo - the boat is where we snorkeled |
It is Tuesday morning and I am typing this at our airport gate. It is 10 AM - and we leave here at 11 AM. Monday we went on a catamaran cruise to go snorkeling in Turtle Valley. Lulu wanted this badly - but all boats were already booked online. I suggested that we just show up at 3 PM and take our chances. We went to the marina and waited boat side. At 3 PM - we were in luck and we hopped on without paying. The guy said we could pay later.
The weather was perfect - maybe 80 - a mild breeze - partly cloudy skies. The catamaran was very stable - we rode outside and got some nice pictures. Once we got to Turtle Valley - we all wore masks - snorkels - fins - and vests. As much as I wanted to - I did not take my iPhone in the water. It is supposed to be waterproof - but I was afraid of dropping it into the 20 foot deep waters.
Lulu loved this. We saw thousands of fish - and about 8 giant turtles. We were just off the coast of where our condo was.
The boat has 31 passengers - the captain said that 20 is ideal - but the boat owner likes to take 30. After we came back - I ran to get the cash - $65 each. If I did it again - I would have been better prepared - maybe with a plastic camera bag or a GoPro camera. You are not supposed ot touch the turtles - but they were within 3 feet of me. There were lots of colored fish - most of them were shorter than a foot. We did not see any dolphins - sharks - whales - or barracudas.
We were very close to surfers that just paddle out there on their boards. I would suggest that as a cheaper way to visit these turtles.
We also shopped a little in Ala Moana Mall - had lunch there. We ended our evening about 9 PM with a visit to the International Marketplace. We had a chance to sit in the Tesla Model S and the Tesla Model X. The dealer is in the Marketplace.
Jet Lag - it is ironic that we are now adjusted to the times zone. We went to bed at 9 PM last night and woke to the alarm at 6 AM. Now we fly Tuesday from 11 AM to 6 AM - Honolulu to Los Angeles to Orlando. Then we drive home to Tallahassee.
I have been retired 15 years - this was a vacation from a vacation. We go to Europe May 22 to Aug 5. Greece - Germany - Denmark - England.
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The pink hotel is the Royal Hawaiian
The low white hotel is the Moana Surfrider.
We stayed there last trip. |
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The low white hotel is the oldest |
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The Royal Hawaiian is so pretty and peaceful |
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Diamond Head and paddle boards |
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Two boats were at Turtle Valley |
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The clouds come from the windward side |
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Waikiki Condos |
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Canoe racing is a big deal in Hawaii |
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These clouds disappears as they come over mountain |
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We are about 1 mile off shore |
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The color striped building is Hawaii Hilton Village.
They set off fireworks every Friday. |