Laura's Travel Blog: Beach Day!

We woke to a beautiful sunny Sunday! He headed out (at what we thought was an early time) to the beach and eventually managed to get public parking about 6 blocks from the beach (and at the very end of the beach, no less!)

On the walk to the beach we passed a fire station and decided to stop and get our blood pressure taken (all fire stations on Oahu offer free blood pressure tests during the day when they are in the station.) Once we were cleared for a day of relaxation (both of our blood pressure came back as normal) we headed to the beach. The fire fighters recommended a beach to the left of where we were going so a quick stop to add the lei that Anna gave me to one of the beach statues and we were off to find a great place for a swim.

We found a great, mostly empty place, imagine our luck! And now imagine a rocky shoreline that explains why there was no one in the location we were. It wasn't too bad... really, it made for some rather ungraceful entrances into and exits from the water... besides that the water was cool and refreshing and was the first time Anna was really in the water since she arrived here.

I then promptly fell asleep on the beach... Awesome... even more awesome is that I didn't get burnt! We then decided to go to Duke's for drinks and maybe lunch. As we were walking there, there was a St. Pat's day parade! We took a few pics and hurried along. Unfortunately, the parade ended and hundreds of people flooded into the sidewalks and apparently Duke's. It was a 20 minute wait or we could try to grab a free table in the bar area as they came available. So Anna and I hovered over the tables that seemed to be close to be done only to score a table for six! I had the fish tacos and Anna had the shrimp beet salad. I have to admit is was shockingly awesome... it's a great little place but I was expecting pub food and was pleasantly surprised.

We then decided to head to Ala Moana shopping centre to do some souvenir shopping and get a few additional things. Anna scored some great things for her place (another pillow, waste bin, etc.) and I score big in the shoe lottery! I got two new pairs including one that's name is actually Sexy Black! As I was trying on the shoes I ran into Mel and Mel from my tour in Jordan / Israel! I knew they were in Hawaii but so far we had been unsuccessful in getting together! Thank god for happenstance! It was really nice to catch up and hear about their vacation time here.

We then hit Sam's Club and Wal-Mart for a few souvenirs and a few addiational items that are great to buy when you have a car (i.e. laundry soap, a gigantic thing of toilet paper, etc.)

We then headed back home to shower and get ready for a St. Patrick's day party! We drove out, parked, and joined the party! And we lasted about 15 minutes before we realized this was SO not our scene... a couple of sips of Guinness and we realized we rather be home. So we left.