Our Trip Tally...

We're home! And as most know, at the end of each trip, I share a written, somewhat concise summation of our overall travel experience. Knowing how crazy life is going to be, after almost two months away, I thought I'd offer a brief look at our adventure by-the-numbers, for now.

  • 51-Days away from home
  • 37-Nights on a cruise ship
  • 22-Hours spent flying on 2 planes
  • 24,000-Miles traveled via various forms of transportation
  • 480,000-Steps taken by each of us
  • 8-Islands and 4 countries visited
  • 1-Carry on suitcase and one backpack each
  • 10-Loads of laundry
  • 16-Months of planning/anticipation
  • 38-Blog posts
  • 1-Realization... I have slowly evolved into an introvert!
  • Immeasurable- Unforgettable memories made.

... for now!

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Honolulu in 19,197 Steps...

After clearing immigration, we hit the ground running and headed to Waikiki for a day of exploring and enjoying.

We had absolutely no plans and most of the day to accomplish whatever we could. How fun to have no schedule or pressures. We really embraced the 'island vibe'.
Diamond Head is one of Hawaii's most iconic geological features and a significant natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resource. It always makes for a picturesque backdrop. I regret not bringing my swimsuit. The water was heavenly.

How scenic is this coffee spot?

The flowers of Hawaii always delight!




A stroll through Ala Moana Park is a stroll through history. Built on reclaimed swamp land in the 1930s as part of a larger development effort in Honolulu, it was officially dedicated in 1934 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and nicknamed "The People's Park". So scenic.


When I win the lottery, I'm bringing my family to this pool. What a fabulous spot. Man!
This is the saddest Little Free Library I've ever seen. Oh how I wish I had extra books.
These drinks belonged to some ladies from Nevada. I thought they were just so islandy!
Lunch was at Hale Koa Hotel which means House of the Warrior in Hawaiian. It is an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) resort hotel and only military may stay there. BUT anyone is invited to have lunch overlooking the Pacific.
It seems we found ourselves on a statue tour. Here is one of Honolulu's most famous, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, a Hawaiian competition swimmer, lifeguard, and popularizer of the sport of surfing.
We learned of Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, a much loved prince of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi until it was overthrown by a coalition of American and European businessmen in 1893. He later went on to become the delegate of the Territory of Hawaii to the United States Congress, and as such is the only royal-born member of Congress.



Queen Kapiʻolani reigned from 1874 until her husband's death in 1891. Deeply interested in the health and welfare of Native Hawaiians, Kapiʻolani established the Kapiʻolani Home for Girls, for the education of the daughters of residents of the Kalaupapa Leprosy Settlement, and the Kapiʻolani Maternity Home, where Hawaiian mothers and newborns could receive care. Wow.
We were surprised to find Kāhi Hāli‘a Aloha, The Place of Loving Remembrance. This memorial is the first of its kind to offer permanent and dignified protection to generations of Hawaiian ancestral remains unearthed and/or repatriated from museum collections across the nation. It is a burial mound which now contains about 200 iwi kūpuna (skeletal ancestral remains) many found during excavations while building.

Waikīkī War Memorial Natatorium was dedicated in 1927 to honor 10,000 citizens of Hawai’i who served in World War I. Isn't that a staggering statistic? The natatorium was conceived as more than a war memorial. The salt water swimming pool once served as a living memorial for people to take part in its long history of indigenous swimming traditions and its Olympic legacy. Sadly it is in terrible condition for being one of only a few ocean-water natatoriums left in the world, and the only one of its kind in the United States.


We happened upon these dancers in the park. What a Hawaiian thing to discover.

We ended our brief visit to Honolulu at the wonderful Queen's Surf Beach dining at the Barefoot Beach Café.
The fresh catch of the day was swordfish and it was amazing.
“And then it happens
all at once and unexpectedly.
That is how things happen, I suppose.
You pack your bags
and find yourself walking yourself home.”
― Shannon L. Alder

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Our Final Days at Sea: Recap

As we complete our cruise, I just had to share our last few days.

This was our balcony view... such spectacular scenes from the open seas happening on a daily basis.
The remaining headliner shows did not disappoint. Meet talented, funny, Lance Ringnald. In 1988, Lance was 18 and earned the distinction of being the youngest male member of a U.S. Olympic Team in twenty years. He is a two-time Olympian and veteran of three World Gymnastics Championships teams and numerous international competitions. He has turned his athleticism and showmanship into a cruise show that was so entertaining.



The Rat Pack Reloaded was a welcomed repeat for us. This show reminds me that I was born in the wrong decade.
There is no way for me to fully explain Sonic Odyssey. Dancing, singing, costumes, and so much talent were some of the components of this amazing extravaganza.
It features the incredible Earth Harp created by William Close, an installation artist, musician and visionary who has developed over one hundred new musical instruments.
Have you ever seen an instrument that’s so large that the audience experiences it from inside the instrument? If not, then meet the Earth Harp, an instrument that turns the environment into an integral component. It’s been named the “longest stringed instrument in the world” by Guinness World Records.

Showcasing a variety of instruments, created by Mr. Close, we loved when il maestro played this violin-filled dress. WOW.
Both Steve and I deemed this our most favorite show, to date. WOW.
Art auctions filled various afternoons. Can you imagine coming home with this piece?
My last art craft was one that truly made me sad due to it ending. Angela Noble has been a creative goddess who inserted herself in my cruise itinerary and I will miss her inspiration, encouragement, and delightfulness so much.
We made paper bead bracelet, a skill I never knew I needed to know.
A unique offering was a Behind the Scenes Backstage Tour of the Royal Theatre. This is a state-of-the-art venue for entertainment, featuring advanced technology for lighting, scenery, and sound. And we got to learn how it all works.



Days at Sea are never boring and are, at times, pretty eye-opening. What fun.
Sunsets, sunrises, quiet spaces, serenity on the seas. We enjoyed this final phase. Tomorrow, we explore Honolulu for the day. Aloha!

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