Submarines and Blow Holes

Maui Arrival

Let’s go for a ride in a submarine! Sounds like a pretty simple statement when you’re on vacation and near the ocean, especially in Hawaii. Well, that was supposed to be our day on Sunday. Take a tender ride from the ship, stroll around Maui and then take a ride on the Atlantis submarine. That’s not what happened.

While sitting and waiting for the tour time, more and more people seemed to be showing up. I’m thinking … is this submarine big enough for me and the rest of these people? Then the Don Rickles wanna be narrator, in an ice cream suit with shoulder boards, shows up to “brief” us. Right after he opened his mouth, I began to wonder if this was something I really wanted to do. Then I confirmed with Hillary; she had the same thoughts. The final straw, however, was when the women (from our ship) sitting behind us asked why the submarine was not nuclear powered. At that precise moment, Hillary and I both stood up and looked for somewhere to get a beer!

Blow Hole

Next day and a new port. Welcome to Honolulu. Previously we decided to take a short bus tour to see some of the highlights. Hillary and I have been here on a previous cruise. Note to selves, never violate rule #2 which is never take bus tours! Our driver is probably a very nice guy and … it is difficult to concentrate on his commentary showing us where Nordstrom’s and The Cheesecake Factory are when one can also hang a slab of beef in the bus! Apparently, if our driver turned the air conditioning from frigid to warm, the windows of the bus would fog over. Hillary and I did prefer that he be able to see where he was driving, however, enough was enough when the fluid dripping from my nose froze! The icing on the cake though was the “bathroom stop” at a Hawaiian trinket store very well hidden behind the Burger King and selling all things China.

After using an ice pick to extract ourselves from the bus, all was not lost. We grabbed an Uber and we finally made our way to the Hale Koa and the Barefoot Bar to sample their amazing Mai Tia’s. I had two which was probably one too many. They are great drinks and I’m no spring chicken.

B-17 in Hanger 79

To cap off the Honolulu trip, Azamara had their Azamazing Evening at Hanger 79 on Ford Island at Pearl Harbor. It was amazing to be in such an historic place.