Blog 5 of January

It's Sunday, December 29th and the vacation continues

  Yes it was an early start today.  We left our condo by 6:30 a.ma.  Our destination, Hanauma Bay.  This place is know to get busy and parking can be difficult.  By 7:30 we had grabbed our gear, watched the instructional video (mandatory before entering the Bay), and found our section of sand on the beach.  The sun was just peaking out of the few clouds in the sky, which made the wind seem a little chilly.  But once the clouds blew by, and the sun was out, we had our paradise weather back.
   Patrick and Ethan decided to create some sand art.

 First was the castle, which turned into a sleeping/tanning was for Patrick.  Then Ethan lost interest in the norm and built an amazing turtle.

He built is close to the water edge, so it was easier to get the wet, wet sand.  And in order to protect his turtle, he made walls; intial, secondary etc to protect his turtle as long as possible from the waves.  Little did he know that these safetly walls would be mistaken as sand chairs for people needed to put on or take or their snorkle gear.  The wall survived this gentlemans use, and the turtle survived until we left.

   We all did some snorkellying out in the bay.  Ashley's day was made when she seen her turtle.  By the time we left around 4:00, the beach was packed, and we were tired.
   We walked the long trek up to the parking lot and took in the gorgeous veiw from our day.

   When we returned to the hotel, it was early enough that we headed to the Cheesecake Factor with hopes of getting in.  thankfully there was only a 15 minutes wait.  The food was great; the portions large (again doggie bags for a few of us) and the cheesecake was good (Auntie Anne's is always better).  Everyone did get I'D' (ok not all over us, so Bill ordered whatever Patrick wanted and they "shared".  Ashley had her Mai Tai.

   Patrick and Bill headed back to the hotel, and Ashley Ethan and myself took our last trek through the international Market Place.  Ashley bought a beautiful mauve jade bracelet.  I'm kicking myself now for not getting one for me.
  And for those who are on top of this trip, you  have probably figured out that Bill didn't go for his run today, and yes the rested of us noticed too.
Till the next day
Stacey