Up before dawn, we sat with really horrible in room coffee on the balcony and watched the rising sun burn away the misty cover over the mountain before our eyes.
It was nice to move everything out of our cases and put it all away. Once that chore was done we quickly showered and ready to work out. We walked to the nicely outfitted gym for a 20 minute stint on a stationary bike and had some fruit infused water. We helped ourselves to a second cup which we carried as we strolled in amazement to Swan Court for a breakfast buffet. The walkway was stunning with magnificent flowers, waterways and black swans and flamingos.
Even Lar could barely do justice to the buffet! I enjoyed a bowl of yogurt and muesli, covered with walnuts and dried mango. Next trip I got some excellent cheese, fresh fruit and a small scoop of scrambled eggs, toping it off with an apple blintz. We’ll need a couple of more visits to the gym each day if we continue to eat like this!
After breakfast, we returned to our room, changed into swim suits and walked leisurely to the pool. We took a few dips throughout the day, lay in the sun and through a couple of short sun showers – or “spritz’s” actually, and read, slathered in sun screen. Funny how a little melanoma can take the fun out of laying in the sun! We met and chatted with a nice couple from Alberta – he is in the Navy, having one more year before retirement. When they noticed us reapplying sunscreen, they offered very kindly to switch seats with us, theirs being more in the shade. We took them up on it. However, the heat was building up, and I suggested we head up for a shower. It was about 3 and we had 4:30 reservations for the luau.
We took a slow pace back to our room, taking pictures and window shopping through the hotel. Once back in the room, I was showering while Lar was sitting on the balcony. Suddenly a rainbow appeared over the mountain and he took a picture of it, but suspected it wouldn’t turn out as the camera died immediately. Over the next hour we sat and watched as the first rainbow dissolved to be replaced by another down the mountain chain, one after another, coming out of the mists that were rain clouds studded along the way.
We dressed and went down through the hotel to attend the luau. The lobby is just amazing to me…..there are few places throughout that are not opened at some point to the outdoors. I adored every walk through we made, and it never got old. One area is a long room with various seating arrangements, one wall is a water wall, lighted and soothing.
The luau was much different than those about which I used to read. But it did feature the traditional roasted pig and poi. There were music and dancers, stories and fun. We shared our table with two young newly wed couples, one from Japan and one from Michigan. The Japanese couple took a real shine to Lar and insisted on pictures taken. They were sweet. Afterward, we walked in the dark and sat a pool side. The sky was like black velvet with millions of holes punched in for light….seemed close enough to touch. And the ever present soft background of Hawaiian music, whispering, lulling.
Sunday, up at 7 – again, overcast skies with heavy mist on the mountain tops. Made a pot of truly hellish in-room coffee – heavy taste of iodine, but containing the much needed caffeine. Although I have not missed computers/internet at all, Lar decided I should try to get on line on the TV (as advertised). I was able to reach the right place, but the keyboard was unresponsive. He suggested I use the phone to call down for assistance. I picked up the phone, dialed “O” and nothing. Dead line. I then tried the hand set by the bed. Nothing. By now, Lar decided I had to be kidding. After all, maybe I do have an occasional problem with computers, but I am usually able to use the phone!
Finally found a third phone which worked and they promised me another keyboard immediately. The main reason Lar wants to connect to internet is to see if we are able to upload our pictures onto my Costco account…ensuring their safety.
After the entire day, getting a replacement keyboard, speaking with someone with no knowledge of computers at all, we have only a non-responsive split screen. We can see partial words that tell me I have e-mails…but can’t get to them.
We were however able to get Costco’s number, we called and found they are unable to put my pictures onto my account…can only do so via internet – which I do not have.
At the hotel they want $9.99 per cd to save pictures. Costco says they will do for about $2.99 so we put that on the list with the scrap book store for places we want to go. I am very anxious to get into the scrap book store….where better to get the things I need for scrapping this wonderful trip?
After Sunday breakfast at Swan Court, we took another stroll, read in our room for while and then set out for the super market. It was about 1 and ½ miles away, an easy drive. I was fully expecting outrageous prices, in as much as everything has to be imported, but in reality wine was about the only item we found much higher than what we expect to pay at home. We bought bottled water, chips, snack bars, hard candy, yogurt and cheese. And three bottles of wine. Also picked up some post cards. Riding in the convertible was such fun in the beautiful weather!
Later we mailed our postcards, strolled with the camera – you don’t get far…photo ops at every turn! Our travel package included a free dinner at the restaurant of our choosing, so we checked out the one we’ve chosen Cascades – good thing! As we discovered they are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday one of which we would have gone. So we decided to go that very night. While Lar made the call on the hotel phone for reservations, I stepped into the Hawaiian Quilt Shop. We met and talked with the manager, teacher, Germaine for quite a while. She was originally from the Pittsburgh area. Some twenty years ago she was in AZ teaching needlepoint and in a short span of time she lost her mother, had to put down her 17 year old dog and discovered her serious beau was not only cheating on her but was also actually engage to another. She experienced what she calls a “meltdown” and came to Hawaii on a whim with nothing. She was, at first, nearly at the point of sleeping on the beach. But after 20 years it is obvious to see what living in Hawaii has done for her in her peaceful, centered countenance. She seemed sincere in her wish that we would move to Maui, enabling me to become her student of the lovely, intricate art of Hawaiian quilting.
Once back in our room, I called “O” again and they said they would send an engineer up to help with the internet. When Arne got to the room, I was relieved. Our problem would be solved and we would actually have the service for which we were paying. And then he said, in broken English “I know nothing computers.” He says there was a storm that blew out all the connections and that they haven’t fixed them all. He will have the charge cancelled and will have someone come to fix it all tomorrow.
We arrived at Cascades early, thinking to sit in the outdoor lounge with drinks, reading until time for dinner. However, the maître d' informed us the best table in the place, on the point, was open and we should be seated before someone else took it. What a table! What a view! We did take some pictures, but as it was quite dark, they have not done it justice…we hope to return to take some photos during the day. We ordered a bottle of Razors Edge Shiraz – So. Australia and very much enjoyed it. Our meals were the seafood mix – one of the recommendations of our server – and it was just delicious! A Maine lobster tail, a piece of fresh mahi that tasted llike no mahi I’ve had before, two large prawn – so large I cut 3 full pieces off each before finishing the last from the tail. Also two scallops that were actually scallops, tasting the way scallops tasted back in the mists of time when I adored them. There was also a round of perfect rice and a very light, almost sweet touch of sauce on the plate around the rice. I meant to go back another time to check the menu for description or name of that sauce…never did it. Added to all of that luxury were warm whole grain dinner rolls, a constantly filled water glass and total relaxation. We reminisced about our trip so far, what we’ve learned about wines, how much fun we could be sharing with friends and family. Lar then said exactly what I was thinking, “it would be so wonderful if we could take each of the grandchildren on trips like this!” Then came a competition of each thinking where in the world we would take each one. Some of the ideas (like taking Ian – who bounces – somewhere with rubber trees!) got us really laughing.
Several times during our stay in Maui, I thought of our mothers and how much I wish we could share it with them – very different ladies, they would each so thoroughly have enjoyed it in very different ways. We vow to take a lot of pictures for Lar’s mom and he will go and tell her of our time here.
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