This morning we are up at 6 am for our flight to Honolulu. We have already checked in, uploaded our vaccine QR codes the form to obtain our Safe Travel Hawaii QR code, so once we have dropped off the hire car, we can go straight through security to the gate. Here, we are offered the chance to show our QR codes to obtain a bracelet, thus negating the need to wait in a hour queue in Hawaii. Sounds like a no brainer, although it feels a bit weird when the government official applies the wristband. In the past, wearing such a wristband meant festival access (in my youth) or hotels (in middle age). Now its proof Ive been vaccinated against a virus. At least it will be something for my scrapbook. It has to be said, daughter no 1 is not fully onboard with the constant need to collect tickets, brochures and other souvenirs of my travels. Although she is more onboard than daughter no 2, who tells me that when I die, she intends to use my not inconsiderable pile of scrapbooks to create a funeral pure.
eat our high end breakfast of bagels and cream cheese, which we purchased yesterday in Target, at the gate. Then its time to board. As its technically part of the USA, its easy to forget quite how far away Hawaii actually is from the mainland. From San Francisco, the flight is almost 6 hours. Shortly after take off, drinks are served. The man next to me orders 2 double whiskies and a beer – its 9.30 am. We make do with soft drinks until we hit Waikiki - then itll be mai tai oclock. But first, a long flight to endure.
Were travelling with Alaska Airlines and its like theyre trying to give us a little taste of Alaska in plane form. The cabin temperature is so cold that I shiver all the way there. Arriving in Honolulu on an Alaska Airlines flight is a bit like having a hot flush. All of a sudden its 28 degrees and Im ripping off my layers in a panic to cool down.
Our non festival, non hotel wristbands allow us to pass through the airport swiftly and soon we are on a bus to Waikiki, via Honolulu. The first
part of the journey is far from the exotic island paradise Id envisaged. We drive through streets lined with tents and tarpaulins and lots of homeless people before reaching the more affluent area of Waikiki. We alight from the bust after a 10 hour journey, during which we have eaten a bagel and a bag of crackers. First stop is, therefore, a food court where we buy teriyaki with rice. Im asked what side I want. Im thinking the choice will be something live vegetables or salad. Im offered pasta or potatoes. I ask for potatoes and get pasta.
We check into our hotel – our wristbands, which were not allowed to take off before reaching the hotel, exempt us from a 10 day quarantine. There are some very fancy hotels in Hawaii – this isnt one of them, but its perfectly pleasant and even has a heated toilet seat – because lets face it, when its hot outside, nobody wants their bottom temperature to drop rapidly when they sit down to do their business.
After weve eaten our carb fest, we walk to Waikiki beach for a swim in the lovely warm ocean. The power of the
waves exceeds my own swimming power, so much as I try, I cannot manage to swim forwards – it takes all my effort to avoid swimming backwards. We follow our swim with a brief wander along the strip, but its been a long day, plus theres 2 more time zones to acclimatise to, so we buy sandwiches and mai tais from a general store and return to the hotel. Daughter no 1 moans briefly about not getting to explore more, then falls asleep. At 6 pm.
