Homecoming

 All the 6 o'clock alarms went off and it was time to start the day. Ricky was sleeping hard which is unusual for a travel day. We were out the door before 7 and headed to the San Jose Airport with empty bellies and no coffee. 

Check in was a breeze. A real contrast to the ordeal yesterday.  We found our gate quickly.

The best food option was Chik-fil-A. The line was long with lots of hungry travelers- me included. I stood in line for Ricky and I. 

Buttered biscuit with grape jelly and fruit. Where's the pineapple?!😋

Our flight was smooth and on time. We landed at Sky Harbor in Phoenix for a long layover. 

Thankfully we did have time for lunch. Ricky spotted this Mexican food place. It wasn't Tex-Mex, but we were glad to be able to sit down at a counter and eat.

                                Burritos!

We made our flight to ABIA without incident and just like that, we were back in Austin again. We grabbed our luggage off the carousel and raced out the door to catch the Parking Spot shuttle. Ricky hooked it up 183 N, racing the clock to get to PetSmart in time to pick up the dogs. We made it with 40 minutes to spare. Oh my, what a happy reunion!

The next day we took Ringo and Honey B to DQ for pup cups. They were so pleased!

We enjoyed our trip and are already planning the next one. It is so much fun to anticipate and explore, but like Dorothy explained to Toto, "There's no place like home."

Piko

 Last morning at the Andaz. We got down to the buffet before it opened to get a jump start on the day. They unlocked the doors soon after we arrived and we got served quickly.

       I tried the breakfast noodles. Not a fan. 

One last plate of pineapple! I will miss the Maui Gold.

I took one last walk down to the beach. It was already filling up and busy. 

The flight of stairs back up seems symbolic of the trip back home. The time change going back east is a challenge for me. 

I was introduced to the Hawaiian concept of piko on this trip. Piko is the complex understanding of connection. Connection to our ancestors, our God, our children, our family, the earth, all humankind. There are other symbols for piko. Most of the ones I have noticed are a swirl. The hotel staff wear piko pins that look like this basket weave. 

I love the concept of piko. It describes the connection I feel that keeps drawing me back to Hawaii and the Polynesian culture. 

One last look at Haleakala on our way to the airport. I could actually see the summit, which is usually hidden by clouds.

Ricky was notified our flight would be delayed about 40 minutes. We had the taxi service pick us up early, just to be sure we had plenty of time. We were in no way prepared for what waited for us at Kahului.

I have never seen that small airport so overwhelmed with travelers. There were not enough security checkpoints to handle the crush of people leaving. The lines wound through the airport and baggage claim area, like Disneyland lines for rides only a lot less fun. People were missing flights due to the long wait. 😬

We did make it to our gate in time, thanks to the delayed flight. No time for lunch. The plane was full of loud talkers and lots of young children.  Everyone seemed tense and tired due to the ordeal of the long lines and delayed flight.

We were thankful to land safely in San Jose and finally get to our hotel at 11 pm. I grabbed some takeout for a late meal and Ricky went to bed without lunch or supper saying he was too tired to eat. 

We retraced our steps, staying at the Doubletree Tree again so at least things were familiar at the hotel and I was grateful they were serving food late. I finally got in bed at midnight.

We set alarms and asked for a wake up call at 6 am. Last leg home tomorrow. 

Last Day in Maui

 As tired as I was last night, sleep was elusive. I woke up early, foggy headed and needing caffeine. 

We walked down to Mokapu Market and got  coffee and surveyed the breakfast choices. Coffee is expensive in paradise, $6 a cup. 

We opted for the Breakfast Experience at Ka'ana Kitchen again. 

These baby waffles are still delicious.  They taste like cake. We both had tasty omelets and I had more coffee. 

The line was long even early in the morning. We left with full tummies and another cup of coffee to go. 

                Art by Welzie in the hallway

                      Orchids in the lobby

                            Longboards

After breakfast I decided to take a walk along the beach path. Resorts lined one side and ocean views delighted on the other side.

                        Outrigger canoes

Sand sculpture of turtles on a paddle board. I was lucky enough to see a real turtle swimming near shore. 

These white blooms smell so good, like honeysuckle.

Tree trimming in progress. Landscaping is a constant to keep the grounds manicured.

We spent the rest of the day in or near the pool. We had lunch poolside.  The server was giving away these ice cream balls. Strawberry coated in some kind of rice pastry. Very yummy!

My beyond burger came on a purple bun.

                             Lazy pool day

               Last Maui sunset of this trip. 

Maui and Mama's

 This morning we got up and took the courtesy shuttle to Island Gourmet Market for breakfast. It was described to us as "an ABC Store on steroids." It was a grocery store,  liquor store, souvenir shop, and deli all in one. 

   Waiting for breakfast to be cooked. It is a popular place. 

We ate at a table set up on the sidewalk. I had eggs over medium and potatoes with a side of Maui Gold pineapple.  Ricky had a breakfast sandwich. It was affordable and good enough.

After breakfast,  Ricky called the shuttle to pick him up and I stayed to shop for souvenirs. I shopped IGM and walked all over the Shops at Wailea,  waiting for them to open.

Monk seal carved from Koa wood in a window at Martin and MacArthur's, a popular jewelry and gift store in Hawaii.

The monk seals are endangered here in Hawaii.

I was drawn to this store and waited until 11 when they finally opened. Cool art and gifts.

I really wanted this shirt. It was only $110. A little out of my price range for a tank top. 🙃

After shopping I went back to the room and we went down to the pool to cool off. It seemed really hot outside and the pool was refreshing. 

Back home in Burnet, there is a restaurant called Mama's Home Cooking. We eat there often enough. The food is fair and it is a down home place frequented by plain folk like us. Here on Maui, our favorite place is Mama's Fish House, a far cry from Mama's back home. Elegant, beautiful, excellent, gracious, the best restaurant on the island.  Ricky secured our reservation back in February.  

The taxi driver who brought us from the airport to the Andaz was our driver to Mama's.  He is friendly and personable and very talkative. He said retired from a career in radio in Los Angeles and moved to Maui, bought a house in Wailea and a boat and is loving life with his chihuahua, Nacho. He drives taxi part time just for something to do. We really enjoyed our conversation there and back again. 

Parts of Maui are so desert like. Very hot and dry.

We drove through the center of the island, in the valley between the two volcanoes, Haleakala, "house of the sun", and Mauna Kahalawai, also known as "hale mahina", "house of the moon." My pictures can't capture how massive they are. We passed by fields of newly planted lime trees. Haleakala gets a lot of rain, and they irrigate the fields from the run off. 

                 Welcome back to Mama's. 

It is every bit as beautiful as I remembered.

                              Water lilies

Late anniversary celebration. Thanks, Ricky, for remembering and making it an occasion. 

I had a "mocktail" to celebrate. Strawberry guava fizz.

Warm bread and butter served with bisque

                     Ricky had Mahi rolls.

                I had upcountry green salad

             Ono with a side of blue prawns 

Tofu with caramelized onions. My food was delicious.  I wish I knew how they cooked the tofu. Best I ever ate.

Dessert was chocolate pie with caramel crust. Oh so good. They also brought a small dish of strawberry dessert as a gift for our anniversary. 

Another beautiful meal at Mama's Fish House. We will return!

We got back too late to see the sunset. We fell into bed full and tired,  serenaded by the music wafting up to our balcony from Lehua Lounge below. Another day in paradise.