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Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Monday - Snorkel Catamaran Cruise Off Waikiki Beach

Diamond Head Volcano from our boat

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. 



The pink hotel is the Royal Hawaiian
The low white hotel is the Moana Surfrider.
We stayed there last trip.
The low white hotel is the oldest

The Royal Hawaiian is so pretty and peaceful

Diamond Head and paddle boards

Two boats were at Turtle Valley

The clouds come from the windward side

Waikiki Condos

Canoe racing is a big deal in Hawaii

These clouds disappears as they come over mountain

We are about 1 mile off shore

The color striped building is Hawaii Hilton Village.
They set off fireworks every Friday.

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