Our first day consisted of a LOT of flying and a lot of trying to stay awake until a respectable time at night. As far as traveling goes, it was pretty stress free.

Although it was 11 hours of flying, it really didn't feel like that. We got lucky and when I had booked our frequent flyer tickets for this trip, first class was barely anything additional. It was a no brainer. I think the extra space and free food made it much more of an enjoyable day. I spent the first flight planning and second one watching movies.

Arrival and pickup of the car was super easy. Josh's only request for the trip had been a Jeep. I obliged as I knew I was eyeing a few hikes that required off roading. Also the SUV rentals are substantially cheaper than cars right now. We had rented a cheaper 2 door but they were out so we ended up with a 4 door hard top. He was quite happy. No pictures yet which is shocking.

We had landed a bit early and weren't supposed to arrive at our house until 4 so we took our time. It's pretty much one road around the perimeter of the island. We wandered slowly and stopped at JC's Flowers to get ourselves leis. ($10) We saw some places along the road that you could get them too. JC's seemed to be well before Kapa'a so we had to backtrack. It's a little convenience store with flowers in a stand up cooler. We saw the guy hand stringing them right there so they were fresh. Couldn't pass it up on our first trip to Hawaii!

Once we had our three essentials (guidebook, camera and lei) we started for the North Shore. It was really cool to see everything for the first time, the climate of the different sides of the island can be felt clearly. After passing the one lane Hanalei bridge we were quickly in the heart of Hanalei. As we went over the bridge Josh explained that their is a 7 car courtesy rule. You take turns seven cars at a time. This is a good time to mention that I have no clue which facts Josh is telling me are true. While I was planning our hikes and dinners, he was reading about the island. With that being said, he had also been reading the Hunger Games and admittedly is now getting the two mixed up. As we drive through the island he tried to tell me about mockingjays in Hawaii... Take our "facts" with a grain of salt.

We easily found our Coco Cottage. This might be one of the best finds I've made thus far in travel planning. Hawaii isn't cheap... Our cottage is cute as can be. A block walk to the beach (Hanalei Bay - the houses right where they filmed Descendants) and half a block walk to the restaurants and shops. The cottage is cute as can be and has everything we need. Did I mention it was super cheap?

We got unpacked and although it was only a but after 4 I was getting delirious. Our bodies thought it was 10 and we had been up since 5. We headed to the grocery store for a few things. I was shocked by sticker prices and it was starting to rain so we just grabbed essentials and decided to do dinner out.

Tahiti Nui was right at the end of our street and the number one place I had wanted to try in Hanalei. I thought it was too early to go out at 5 but we grabbed one of the last tables. Live music apparently starts at 5. It was pricey but they had the yummiest passion fruit margaritas. Our bill for a ginormous Greek salad (enough for 3) a large meat pizza and three pretty strong yummy margaritas was around $65 I think.

Included in that is the entertainment though. The first guy was the nephew if the owner who played the ukulele and sang. He had a great voice. (T and R at 5) After him he was joined by his uncle and another fellow. Their trio had performed and recorded the Cowboy song for the movie the Descendants. They happened to have a small film crew there that night to film the performance for their upcoming DVD. It was a fun time. The only downside was when the lady of the house came over and asked us to give up our table within a minute if signing our bill. There was a girl doing a Hulu demonstration in front if our table so we had been been waiting for her to finish so as not to be rude.

It was 7:30 when we headed back to the cottage. Josh says I was asleep by 7:45...

Saturday was by far my favorite day in DR. We woke up early for surfing. We were meeting two of our buddies and I really thought one had a 50/50 chance of showing and the other about a 1% chance. (The latter was trying to jump in the water while we were at the marina the night before and went on to the casino afterwards....) Two others were added to our group at dinner.

When we woke up Josh called the front desk to give them the name of the guys picking us up so we the guards would let them in the gate. We got to the front of the hotel right on time only to find out that the other couple in our group had to vouch for the driver as they had made him sit in his car outside the resort until we showed up. So much for that call.

Daniel was waiting for us. He looked and sounded like we should have been neighbors in Venice Beach, not DR. Throughout the day we heard all about his family history and how they were like surf royalty in this country. His little 6-year old sister is already a surfing champion in her age group. This 23 year old guys seems to have the life. He teaches surf lessons and hits on girls all day.

After about 20 minutes and much calling and searching, both of our guys surfaced. I was amazed. All six of us climbed into the SUV and we were on our way to Macao Beach. Daniel gave us more lessons about Russian Weddings and brothels run on the other side of the country. You couldn't make up this kind of stuff. Apparently there is a whole group of Russian photographers who live in the area just to photograph the Russian brides. We didn't really figure out if they were mail order brides or not. Very sketchy.

So we show up at Macao Beach and it was completely different than the other day we were there. Gorgeous. I mean the beach was always gorgeous but there was no one there. It was extremely peaceful. No ATV's or guys selling stuff. We went over to the surf hut and got our rash guards on.

Daniel introduced us to his uncle and then we got some quick lessons on the sand. They gave us different pointers then I had gotten before. Simple common sense stuff but it seemed to work. 1. Don't jump up. Walk you feet out. 2. Paddle with fingers together. 3. Keep your hands even on the board. 4. Have your toes right near the end of the board. 5. Bend your knees a lot. 6. Don't let go until your feet are in the dead middle.

After some sand practicing we were off. Wow. That was quick. After my first two tries I wasn't sure I was going to get this. Each of us was assigned a coach. It was a large group of local surf guys. Most didn't speak English. Daniel said that they are working on that with them right now. After a couple misses they took me off my short board and gave me a longer one. My coach would have me jump on my board. Get me situated and turn me around. He's say "Ready?" I'd say "yes" and then he would give me a push and start yelling "Get up! Get up!" It took me a couple times but then I got up. Apparently I was turning my body sideways before I was up (like I was trying to snowboard) so they head guru (Mr. Uncle) came and helped me one on one. With two tries with him I was up and actually riding a wave!

Now I know the pictures look like we weren't riding anything, but I swear I was! This sport is exhausting. I wasn't even paddling and I was in pain for 4 days afterwards. We surfed for an hour then took a break. Then we went back out for another 1 or 1 1/2. I promised to end on a high note and after I got two really good waves that I rode almost all the way in I called it a day. I didn't want any repeats of when I was 17. (If you haven't heard the story it was traumatic. I sliced my friend's dad's face open with a board and he had to have plastic surgery)

After we had all finished we hung out at the surf hut for a long time. The guys got some beers and marina boy hit on a girl from Germany. We looked at all the pictures the photographer had taken and I convinced Josh to shell out the $50 to get us a copy. They guy took loads of pictures and we figured we could make copies for everyone in our group. Daniel finally asked us if we wanted to go back or just hang out all day. I think I would have liked to hang out all day but we finally agreed to let him take us back.

Hands down it was my favorite part of the whole trip. Would highly recommend to everyone.

We got back to the resort and headed for lunch. Josh and I ate the buffet quickly and then Josh said he needed to take the nap. He was done with his sun for the trip. I grabbed my book and headed down to the beach. I had discovered the night before that breeze under the the thatched beach umbrellas was perfect. I found a chair and umbrella unit that was shaded and spent the afternoon finishing my book.

Dinner that night was planned for the Surf and Turf at 7. We spent a frustrating hour talking to concierge trying to find out who was on our reservation with us. Basically, we were going to let our friends come eat with us if one of the other couples wasn't coming and forgot to cancel. After they told us over and over again that they didn't have that information, the head of concierge called us back to give us the names. Gotta love service. During our rant we had mentioned the horrible room service (4 missed deliveries - breakfast that morning never came either) so the room service head called us. He asked Josh what order he was waiting on and when Josh said no it was yesterday the guy put him on "hold" never to come back again....

So we get to dinner about 5 minutes early. The hostess tells us we aren't on the list and we can come back later in the night to see if there is room. (This is with a half empty restaurant) We tell her no she's mistaken we have a reservation and all of sudden she finds it. She then tells us the other 4 in our group aren't here. We can sit down but can't eat until they are here. We sit, not having a clue who, if anyone, is supposed to join us. Thirty minutes later I was getting mad. The restaurant is now 1/3 full. Josh tells the hostess we will sit at a 2 top by ourselves. Partly because our marina friend has met Miss Delaware and has invited her and her mother to join Josh and I for dinner, although they have already eaten. We got to our table that won't fit 5. Our dinner folks never show up.

So the waiter comes to take our order and half through Josh's entree order the waiter starts looking all over the restaurant. Josh stops talking and starts looking around too. Then the waiter leaves the table and starts talking to another waiter. Josh and I look at each not even sure what to say. The waiter comes back and continues to take Josh's order like nothing happened. It was definitely one of the strangest meals I've ever had. Food is so-so. I told Josh not to get the ribeye and he didn't listen. It wasn't good.

Marina boy wanders back in the restaurant and joins our table. We realized we were now his wing couple. In the middle of a conversation he turns and starts talking to the two girls sitting next to us and minutes later Josh and I have our table back to ourselves. We finished dinner and passed Miss Delaware and her mom on their way back in looking for our friend. We didn't stay to watch how he managed that one.

We ended up heading back to the room and packing for our trip home the next day.

This was my day of relaxing. Josh made plans to go golfing with the guys in the morning so I planned to relax at the pool all day. He had to leave early so I was out at my cabana by 8:30. Another think I like about the DR over let's say Vegas is that you don't have to pay for cabanas. They were so comfy....

As Josh was leaving to catch up the guys we set me up. I took down the iPad (hoping wifi would work out there but it didn't) my new Sophie Kinsella book (if you are interested in my review see our normal family blog), water and some snacks. We had already run out of sunscreen so I had Josh go with me to the poolhouse to use some of theirs.

The day was pretty uneventful. I spent the next 8 hours alternating between my cabana, my lounge chair in the pool and to the open-air restaurant for lunch. I can't remember the last time I had 8 hours during the day to myself to just be quiet. I loved it. I didn't quite finish my book but came close. (I finished the next day) The boys got back midafternoon and Josh joined me in the cabana for a while before he had enough of being outside. As the afternoon came to a close we headed to the room to get ready for dinner.


Dinner is a bit of a tradition on this night. A large group of us gets together and goes to a surprise location that is always amazing. This year we loaded up a private bus and drove 45 minutes in some direction. We ended up at a marina with a very pretty outdoor restaurant along the slips. I actually can't remember exactly what I had but it was delicious. One of the best meals of the trip. We had a great time relaxing with our table.

The ride home seemed shorter. However, I did notice us crossing a lot of yellow lines and I swore we were driving the wrong way at one point. The folks in the back of the bus kept us entertained with sing alongs the entire way. Luckily, the bus stopped at our resort on the way to take folks to the Hard Rock Casino. It was past ten and we were surfing in the morning so Josh and I literally ran off the bus before anyone could try to guilt us into going out. We were out like lights.