Day 7 - Honolulu

As we entered the Honolulu Harbor this morning, we noticed a Holland America ship berthed where we are very accustomed to tie up - immediately adjacent to the Aloha Tower. That was disappointing. I had hoped to leave the ship to visit the many shops within Tower Square. As it was, we docked about 3/4-mile east; it meant a considerable walk.

After leaving the ship, we made that walk. I had a picture made as my personal reminder that I had, indeed, decided to leave Golden and make the hike to the Tower. Second disappointment: we found sad evidence of how the economy is playing here, as throughout the country. Most of the shops are closed, empty hulks. The walkways throughout Tower Square still provide picturesque benches for resting from long walks, and an intersection filled with folks with their computers taking advantage of free WiFi.

One open business grabbed my interest. I insisted we snoop in a chocolate shop where we found some amazing looking truffles. I really hope they will taste as good as they looked. I selected two each of three flavours - gouging Dan's wallet to pay the price of $2.80/each. He grumbled a bit. On the way back to the ship, though, I managed to repay him, in part. Along the sidewalk, at about the halfway point of the walk, I spied and picked up a dime, which I handed to him. Then, inside the terminal building at the ship another dime caught my eye. He has that one as well.

There are times when we meet people with whom we have cruised on previous occasions. This trip is one of those times. We found two ladies with whom we have traveled at least twice before - Carmen and Jo. For several years, Carmen and I have shared this or that via email. Dan is happy that we've renewed the acquaintance because, to help fill his time -- and to keep him out of the casino -- they will be playing Gin together.

I am looking forward to visiting Nawiliwili tomorrow, and enjoying my longtime favorite beverage - a Mango Dream.