When I’m traveling I’m definitely a tourist, but when I’m visiting friends or family, I become a temporary resident and integrate myself into their lives . We may go to the movies, shop at the grocery store, wait for the repairman, or walk in the neighborhood. Since they seldom go to the tourist sites, it is a treat for them as well to “play tourist” when I’m here.
Yesterday we went to the Kahala mall to see “The Greatest Showman,” a musical with Hugh Jackman, then strolled the mall. This is a people’s mall, without the Prada, Tesla and Louis Vuitton stores; it has, among other stores, Macy’s, Long’s Drugs, and See’s candies. Some of the smaller stores were closed because it was New Year’s Day..
Ed, the former aviator, was wearing his classic aviator glasses as he posed next to the sign. At this indoor mall, many of the families used the chairs to rest in between shopping excursions. This is a family place. We stopped at Whole Foods for take out food for dinner, supplemented by a lovely green salad.
We decided to take the scenic route home when I realized that I hadn’t seen the water yet. Since we were in the Kahala neighborhood, we drove by some of the fancy gated mansions and to a lookout point to see the ocean.
We headed down to the main part of Waikiki beach, past some charming historical homes that looked like they belonged in the East Coast instead of the middle of the Pacific Ocean..
We drove down Kuhio, then back down to Kalakawa, the main drags of Waikiki, to see the glasss and concrete. Every time I visit, the area has become more “modernized”, with more stores and less charm. The original open air International Marketplace is gone and has been replaced by white buildings. I was only able to glance out the window of the car, but it didn’t look very appealing. We drove by the zoo and listened to the bird sounds, and I was able to see the white sands and palm trees of world-famous Waikiki beach.
We will return for a stroll sometime in the next four days..but today we need to wait for the washing machine repairman. There will be time..
