Month: January 2024

Debbie was awakened at 3:30 AM by some cocky rooster (get it – a pun) taking roll call. He would call out and somewhere nearby another rooster would answer. This went on for 30 minutes. Debbie prefers to think of it as chickens spreading the news that she is on the island but there is going to be a problem if this roll call stuff continues every night.

On Tuesday, the group took a driving tour around the Princeville and Hanalei area. Debbie mostly gave stink eyes to the chickens but there are just so many.

So, let’s address the Puff the Magic Dragon rumors. When the three grew up, it was a popular song sung by Peter, Paul and Mary. Puff lived by the sea in a land called Honalee. The rumor was that the song was about marijuana in Hanalei. However, the author says that it was written in 1958 before this drug was available so the answer is no. There does seem to be a high number of old hippies around so think perhaps they did not have the song rumor cleared up.

Jerry and Joyce want to assure Larry that they are doing the best that they can to keep Debbie off the Old Hippie path. She has started wearing sandals and humming “Puff the Magic Dragon” and they feel that she knows more words to the song than she should. They let her make a 70s play list but no one knows how to play it so they are encouraging her to continue.

First blog of 2024. 

HHR (Hard Hitting Reporter):  What  did you send out earlier this week?  Do you need help telling the date? The year?

Debbie:  Yes, technically it was written in 2024 but took place in 2023.  I really don’t need your help.  When have you ever fact checked anything before?

HHR:  Where is Larry?  I am sure that he wants to know that I am here.

Debbie:  Well, if you had asked then you would know that Larry did not go on this trip.

HHR: So you went to Hawaii alone?  Don’t you dislike getting up early or being around lots of people?  Have you had any issues? Soo, how is your trip?

Debbie:  We don’t need to talk about those details.  My flight went to Honolulu and then I was scheduled to go to Lihue on Kauai.  But when I got to Honolulu, none of the monitors showed my flight number.  I landed in terminal G and thought that I needed to go to terminal A.  I started to trot to the terminal.  I could have taken a bus outside but didn’t see anyone and this is Hawaiian time.

HHR:  I saw it but wouldn’t call it a trot. I started to call someone to help you.

Debbie:  My story so it was a trot.  There were no airline employees anywhere in the corridor or at the desks.  It was deserted except for passengers wandering around looking for gates.  I was worried that I was going to miss my connection.   I kept trotting.

HHR:  Are you in Honolulu?  I am sure that Larry would have known what to do.

Debbie:  Yes, he would have trotted beside me and followed my directions.  I called United and they told me it was at Gate A14 which I had been to before but still no United or Hawaiian air flight on the monitors.  So I reversed trotted back to A14.  I was able to find a Japanese Airline Flight to Lihue.  By the time that I got to A14 there was an announcement about the flight.  Most of the passengers were wandering aimlessly looking for the flight.  We finally found an agent loading the flight from a hidden area.

HHR:  Is it true that trotting  makes you cranky?

Debbie:  Yes and other things and/or people.

HHR:  Did you make your connection?

Debbie:  Yes, I was happy to land in Lihue, find my ride awaiting, and hear the melodic sounds of chickens cackling.

Turns out that the foursome did have a new best friend. When the group opened the door that morning, there stood their new best friend with a cart. We didn’t know his name but will call him, Marcus. He got us over the bridge and to the bus station. Debbie happily skipped along behind the cart on the way to the bus.

Many of the Venice workers come into the city on bus every day and the buses come every few minutes. As they stood waiting for the bus, they noticed that people were queuing up in a different bus line to go to the airport. Upon further investigation, they discovered they had bought tickets that stopped at every stop on the way to the airport. So they bought a second express ticket and went to the airport.

After arriving home, Debbie and Larry agreed that they had enjoyed the Italian trip and learned many things. They also discovered the gift that the British woman had left for Larry. He came home with Covid. He has since recovered.

Today is the last day before the group left. They had problems to solve. How to get their bags across the canal. Yes, yes there were bridges but you had to drag them over the bridge. There was no rolling over the bridge. If you remember there was issues with the weight of the bags. They decided to hire a porter to meet them at the apartment the next day at 5:00 am. Joyce found a porter and struck a deal for 5. Now the trick was would he show up and become our best friend?

They saved the last day for a visit to the glass island. Cultural moment: The island of Murano is known for glass-making. Ferry-loads of visitors explore the Museo del Vetro which tells the story of glass and to shop for souvenirs. So that is what they did. They rode a ferry to the island, went to the glass museum, and shopped.

They did not get invited to the second floor or back room where the really expensive glassware is. The last time they were in Venice, one of their friends got invited to the top floor with the $5,000 chandeliers. The cheap girls are too obvious.

Here’s a final fun fact – a church on the island supposedly houses the bones of a slain dragon.  If Debbie had only known this.

This day was slower. The group had hit the big items. So, they decided to hit some Venice museums. It was truly a shock for Debbie and Larry to find themselves in a museum agai. (The entrance fee may have already been included on another ticket which explains a lot for the Cheap Girls.)

They rode the bus taxi up and down the canals. Larry stood by the window with the wind blowing in his hair. He stood next to a coughing British woman who he saw again in the museum. She gave him a gift.

At lunch, Joyce partook in a aperitif especially prepared for her. Debbie does not do orange colored drinks. Debbie instead hit her favorite place.

It was an easy day in preparation for the next day of shopping on the glass island.