bennybear

@0106 the whales are pretty awe inspiring, we’re fortunate that we can watch them right from our condo. I think Hertz is right in the Courtyard Marriott right at the dock. There’s some pretty decent cacti gardens by the old airport, really near the port. You only need about half a hour to walk through them, There are some major ones by Hilo as well when you’re over there. South of Kona there’s some Greenwell ones and just generally a very different landscape, maybe visit a coffee plantation. some photos from the old airport gardens

Ooh, lucky you! In January you will likely see whales even on a snorkelling trip or from the shore. I think snorkelling is one of our faves, I think Debbie @dfish went on one this year. The snorkelling at Kahuluu Beach Park is usually excellent, as is Kealakakua Bay where we used to see the spinner dolphins as well. Not sure you will need wet suits, the water is usually pretty warm. We just wear reef shirts. Kahuluu has beach access, but it is rocky so you need beach socks that will go in your fins. We also enjoy seeing the city of refuge that has been posted, and two step next door offers good snorkelling as well. You could also rent a car, and see a number of things. Beautiful beaches north, botanical gardens etc. I’m happy to answer questions, really depends on what you’d like to see and do.

@JazzyV so glad things went well! Wishing you continued improvement! I’m not sure why the sunsets are so amazing either. I’ve never seen such incredible colours. And we live by the Rockies, so they can be quite spectacular here too. We have a friend that was in the USN as well, who says you can’t beat a Kona sundown! That little spider was there for two months. He hardly moved and we tried hard not to disturb him or her. I loved the little face and the ziggy zaggy, lol! Here’s a few more, including a green flash which we see quite often but rarely capture on film.

Literally have thousands of photos of Kona! So a few faves from this year.

Good morning and thanks.all! Gotta love a spritz! And Kona, are winter escape for over 40 years! @cunnorl happy birthday Charlene! @marshhawk Happy 70 th, wishing you both a fabulous day! @VMax1700 glad the Bay of Biscay was kind! Sorry to hear you have a medical evacuation. @AncientWandererso glad you are njoying your cruise! Shirakawa go is exquisite! Our Italian spritz!

I see Debbie already answered you. Thanks for asking, it really helps keep things a bit shorter. The other trick is called multiquoting and you click on the little plus sign beside “quote”. Both really help those in the West read through more quickly and I really appreciate them.

Welcome @shadow 123 My first dog was named Shadow. Welcome home @JazzyV now just take it easy! May the healing go well! @RMLincoln we knew what you meant! And you had a great excuse! Praying all goes well tomorrow! @kochleffel Happy Passover, I don’t like ginger beer so I think I’d try your version of the drink. @ger_77 hope you don’t have to wait too much longer for good news for Maurice! @Cruzin Terri sending lots of gentle hugs! So hard! @marshhawk hugs! Lots of hugs!

Good morning and thanks all! @StLouisCruisers thanks for stepping up to keep us going! @JazzyV prayers for a great outcome! @Cruzin Terri so sorry to hear you had to cancel, but sometimes the tough decision is the best decision. @Rowsby happy birthday! Just a FYI, we had a Novavax Covid booster and zero side effects! Felt like a miracle! We’ve visited Mykonos three times, but once we couldn’t tender in, and another time the ship was listing badly due to the meltemi winds.

Not late at all, a couple of months a year we’re on Hawaii time, lol! She’s our lovely granddog! Mahalo!

@rafinmd thank you for your good wishes! We can’t believe it either! @VMax1700thanks you so much, enjoy your cruise! @crazyforcats thanks you for the good wishes! @JazzyV prayers for tomorrow and a restful night!

Gotta love serendipity! Must have been an interesting show. Love the “almost inspired me” I’d like to walk the Camino del Santiago, Maybe?

Bon Voyage! Love it, the inaugural Merry Widows Cruise! Enjoy!

Thanks also @Cruising-along@Sharon in AZ @JazzyV so appreciated! Prayers for Amber! And for you @JazzyVthat all shall be well! Some photos from beautiful Shirakawa go in the mountains a short journey from Kanazawa

Good morning and thanks all! A special thanks to @JazzyV for remembering our anniversary! What a surprise to see all the mentions! It is actually 51 this year, last year was the big one, but as it was just prior to my surgery we really didn’t celebrate until later. @cat shepard@StLouisCruisers @grapau27@smitty34877@Quartzsite Cruiser@Haljo1935@puppycanducruise@superoma@dfish@ottahand7 @RMLincoln@cunnorl@marshhawk@Nickelpenny@ger_77@DeniseT. Th aka for all the kind comments, so appreciated, hope I don’t miss anyone! Such great memes! Mr Bear says thanks, lol! Bon Voyage @kazu and @VMax1700 @sailingdutchyhappy birthday Tony! Kanazawa is a fabulous port, to visit the beautiful village in the mountains with the thatched roofs and for one of the top three gardens in Japan! We had a fabulous sendoff, the captain came and watched as well. IMG_1660.mov

The biennale is amazing and so worth visit, there are pavilions from different countries in the Biennale gardens as well as spread through out Venice. There are huge warehouses filled with art in Arsenale. Some private villas are open with exhibits. It will take several days to see most of it. A few photos from a few years ago.