Big Island Hawaii finally!

We enjoyed our first class flight on Alaska Airlines to Kona, though I used most of my miles on the upgrade, it was truly worth it!! Got to Kona airport around 11pm, got rental car and some how made to our hotel without getting lost! Stayed at the Kona Seaside hotel, really nice people, they had saved us a parking space right by the front door as I had requested handicapped parking for Mike. Got to sleep at around midnight. It was heavenly to sleep with the louvered windows all open, no AC on, just the ceiling fan! Drove Hwy 19 around to Hilo, found our Condo, nice owners! Nice condo! Nice view!  I had placed an ad on Craigslist and was able to have this condo lined up when we got in, $1000/month but it is right on the Hilo Lagoon with a very pretty park. Got groceries at Walmart, not so nice. We didn't get the Subaru we had sent our $100 deposit on, the car was real but I think the owners were addicted to drugs, they couldn't manage in 3 days to get to Hilo from Honolulu. So I gambled and lost. Bought a Mercury Sable instead, $2000. So far it gets me to work and back!!

View at Kona Seaside, first palm trees!

Kona Seaside pool

Even the crappy white bread at Walmart is expensive! Some foods are not too over priced but bread is ridiculous here!

Bought all this at the Farmers Market down town Hilo for $7, at the grocery store one tomato was $1.

The locals have interesting tattoos!

Richardson park,, first trip to beach/ocean, sat and watched the turtles! Can you see him smiling?

Hilo Medical Center

Random Gecko, they are almost everywhere!

I survived Black Friday at Walmart, here's Hawaiian Santa!

View from my lanai

This is 10 minutes from us! Lifeguards and bathrooms!

Really calm and inviting, will bring my snorkel next time

 !

Carlsmith park lagoon

There is danger in paradise!

Mike read that there is a $100,000 fine for feeding or harassing the turtles!

Another lagoon at Carlsmith park

No turtles today, waves were huge!