Aloha Feeling

That was a not too long ago: sunset over the Pacific Ocean, looking towards Australia and Japan, taken from our apartment's patio. Birds of all kinds still give an evening concert, crickets are clittering, a little waterfall is making soothing noises,,, and we are happy.

Contrast: horror scenario yesterday in SLC: snow storm coming in, United Airlines mails a severe weather warning,,, How do we get to the airport, how do we get to Hawaii? Watched the Superbowl and tried to catch some sleep, but without much success. We left the motel at 4 am, fearing the snow and ice on the roads (about 10 in. of snow overnight!), but it was not that bad with our heavy car, and, it was only a 3,5 mi-drive to the airport. First, our plane was supposed to leave on time (surprise!), but then: thorough de-icing and suddenly the runway was shut down because of the icy conditions. Sat in the plane and waited. Waited. Eventually, a new runway was snow-plowed and ready to go. To make a long short: with about 1:45 hours delay we eventually were in the air (pic above shows Reno and Lake Tahoe). Never have seen so much snow before in an airport, couldn't even see through the plane's windows...

For the remainder of the day all went well, from San Francisco (we fortunately had enough time to change planes), we flew in a "retro" (Continental) Boing 737-800 (pic) and felt like sardines, chin to knees in a cattle wagon for almost 5 hours to Kona/Big Island. Had a time change of 3 hours in total today from SLC to Hawaii, 11 hours now to Europe. We arrived at our final destination 45 min. early, would never have thought this morning, that we'll make it at all!

Boy, what a difference when we exited the plane on the island!!! Humid, 86 deg. F. (30 C) despite of clouds, an airport (pic) without real walls, as always on Hawaii, Aloha-Feeling and "Hang Loose"-mood! Got our luggage, picked a midsize rental car (no Jeep, no Mustang, just a plain Nissan Sentra) and knew that we were on Hawaii, when we started our drive from the Airport towards Kailua-Kona: slow-going traffic, 45 mph max!

Apparently, we made a good choice with our first Airbnb apartment in Kailua-Kona: roomy, tastefully decorated and furnished, clean and quiet, luxurious, and, surrounded by sort of a tropical garden with bamboo, palms and ferns, plus tropical birds (and normal chicken), making noise.

Drove out again to do some grocery shopping at Safeway. We had completely forgotten, how expensive Hawaii is, should have bought stuff in Elko! Paid $ 5 for a local Dole pineapple - wondering, how they can sell them in Germany for 1-2 Euro a piece,,, - and restricted ourselves to the pure basics: beer, milk, yoghurt, fruit, granola, juice and frozen pizza for dinner as an exception. Too tired to still drive into town to eat.


Spent the rest of the evening on the patio, unfortunately it got dark at about 6:15 pm, but I was still sitting outside in a sleeveless shirt and shorts.