Hawaii Dec 27, 2013 to January 7, 2014

Jan was surprised on Christmas morning with a trip to Hawaii.  She shed a couple of tears and then started panicking.  We were not leaving until Dec 27, but there were no hair appointments or shopping trips to prepare.  I wanted to have a suitcase packed for her and take her out for breakfast and then to the airport with her knowledge but the girls advised against it.

We arrived late on December 27, 2013.  Scott and Robyn picked us up from the airport.  After checking in, we went to Denny's for a bite to eat - A Superbird sandwich.  When the kids were small, we spent a lot of time at Denny's in the middle of the night as their schedules adjusted to the time change.

We got up the next morning and headed for the beach in front of the Outrigger and Duke's which we have done numerous times before with our kids (and pre-kids as well).  Very little has changed other than all the Jack in the Box restaurants in Waikiki are gone - so sad.  We arrive don the beach to see Guy and Diane - old friends of my parents (who went to Waikiki every year) - it was great to see them again.  We had not seen them since we brought my dad to Hawaii for one last trip after he was diagnosed with cancer.  Guy reminded me of my dad's morning ritual of swimming in the ocean to the "wall" by the Sheraton and I continued this tradition for numerous mornings.  To be honest, it was a bit sad to be back with out my mom and dad.

Most of our days involved getting up early and being at the beach by 8 am.  We would then go for lunch at Duke's - our favourite Waikiki restaurant … and then out for dinner with Robyn, Scott, JP, Barb and Andrew while they were still there (we stayed a few extra days).

JP and Barb had rented an SUV and we spent one day with them driving around the island.  We stopped at the blowhole, Kailua Beach Park where we saw a turtle in the water, Jack in the Box in Kailua, Chinaman's Hat, Fumi's Shrimp Truck, Turtle Bay Resort, Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay on the North Shore to see the major waves and Matsumoto's General Store in Haleiwa for the best Shave Ice on the Island - this concoction starts with a scoop of ice cream, covered by shave ice which is flavored with 3 different flavors and then covered in evaporated milk.

We spent one afternoon going to the Outlet Mall and even went to see Anchorman 2.

We had some great meals at Chuck's Steak House, Ocean House Restaurant, Hula Grill, Jack in the Box and, of course, Dukes.

We had a great relaxing trip … Aloha!

Off to Hawaii ...

It has been quiet on the travel front since our return from Las Vegas.  Jan was very surprised on Christmas morning when she opened up her gift of pajamas and inside were tickets to Hawaii.  Mele Kalikimaka and Aloha … we will be in Waikiki from December 27 to January 8.

China?

Jan and I went to a presentation last night sponsored by the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce for a trip to China next year.  Who knows ...

Off to Vegas ... August 15, 2013

We are off to Vegas today for some trade shows and a little R and R ...

Our Trek Home - August 5-8, 2013

On August 5, we start our trek home at 6 am by taking the ferry to Skiathos (1.5 hours).  We had breakfast in Skiathos and then hopped on our 2:30 pm flight to Athens (45 minutes).  Too late to get a connecting flight out to Rome so we stayed at the nearby Holiday Inn Airport Hotel.

On August 6, we had a 4:15 pm flight out to Rome.  We arrived about 6 pm and went to stay at the nearby Courtyard Marriot Airport Hotel.

On August 7, we had a 9:50 am flight from Rome to NYC.  we arrived at the airport at 7 am.  At 9:30, we were informed that the flight was delayed because the arriving plane had to stop in Geneva due to a medical emergency.  We were told it would leave about 1 pm.  At around 1 pm, the departure board showed a 3:30 pm departure but no announcements so we had to rebook our connection from NYC to Edmonton to leave the next morning as there would no longer be any flights out when we arrived in NYC.  At 3:30, we were told the flight was cancelled as the plane arrived from Geneva but the defibrillator had been used and no spare was available and the plane could not fly without it - but it apparently could fly from Geneva to Rome without it.  They shuttled us to a hotel where we spent the night. I spend an hour on the phone with United trying to rebook our connections.

On August 8, up at 4:30 am to catch a 5:30 am shuttle to the airport for our 8:30 am flight.  Utter chaos as 250 people try to get on the first bus that arrives.  We ended up on the second bus.  Our flight eventually leaves at 10 am.  Flight time: 9 and one half hours.  We arrive in NYC to find out our NYC to Toronto flight has been delayed.  No problem, we still have an hour to make our connection.  No such luck, storms in the Northeast US and we sit on the tarmac for one hour to obtain alternate flight route and then take an extra one half hour flying an alternate route.  Can't make our Toronto to Edmonton connection.  We arrive in Toronto and have to rebook to Edmonton.  We finally arrive home at about 10:30 pm.  So glad to be home!

Alonissos, Greece - August 2-4, 2013

Last few days of our trip had us relaxing by the pool and swimming in the Aegean Sea.  We did a little bit of snorkeling.  We got up late, had lunch at the pool bar and had a nap in the afternoons.  We went for dinner at Archipelagos (our favourite restaurant) each night and got big hugs as we were leaving from our new friends at the restaurant.  After dinner, we would go back to the pool bar and sit until the early hours of the morning with Kosta and Bessie.  This was the perfect ending to our Great European Adventure.

Alonissos, Greece July 29 - Aug 1, 2013

July 29, 2013 - Sat around the pool.  Had a sandwich, greek salad and beer at the pool bar.  Sat around the pool some more.  Went for dinner to town.  Had a drink with Bessie and Kosta.  Went to Bed.

July 30, 2013 - We rented a car and drove around the island.  We first drove to Agios Dimitrios beach.  Beautiful - the water is crystal clear amazing.  We then drove to Leftos Gialos beach and had some lunch and swam a little bit - saw a jelly fish and we decided to move on.  We then drove to Tsoukalia beach which had very few people but the water was a bit dirty so we drove all the way back to Agios Dimitrios and relaxed for a while.  We then drove to the Old Town in the hills and explored for awhile - what a view!  Went for dinner at Ostria Restaurant (Kosta's sister's place) and then back to the hotel for a drink with Bessie and Kosta - turned into several drinks and 4 am.  These Greeks ...

Crystal Clear Water

Agios Dimitrios Beach

Leftos Gialos Beach

Old Town

Old Town View

July 31, 2013 - Sat around the pool.  Had a sandwich, greek salad and beer at the pool bar.  Sat around the pool some more.  Went for a swim in the ocean.  Went for dinner to town.  Had a drink with Bessie and Kosta.  Went to Bed relatively early - midnight.  Big day tomorrow ...

Sunrise

August 1, 2013 - We went scuba diving today.  Jan and I took a Discovery Dive which gives you a basic lesson and then a dive.  So proud of Jan for doing the dive - yesterday she put her ears in the water for the first time in a long time - today scuba diving.  It was fantastic!  We dove to a depth of 6.6 metres.  The other 2 participants bailed - one at the beginning and the other about 1/2 way through.  Vaggeli was our instructor and he was OUTSTANDING.  Had lunch in town - lamb chops and fried feta cheese.  Back to our hotel for a nap and woke up at 9:30 pm.  Still full from lunch so we just went to the pool bar for a drink or 2.  To bed at 12:30.