Ok, so, apparently I don’t want to sleep in vacation! 2:45am seems like a good time to get up…oh brother.

Well, after a fashion, about 5:30am, I had had enough. Let’s just say, I’m not so spoiled by hotels to not stay in lesser hotels, but I still have standards. I had to go outside to warm up! The a/c, even when turned off, didn’t turn off. The shower dripped and as we found out when we were going to take showers, no hot water. It was only for the night and it was on the water.

I quietly snuck out of the room and went to sit by the pool and then by the ocean, the pool is right there on the ocean, but I wasn’t sitting on the sand. The waves were lapping at the shore, so peaceful, it makes you think it’s what sound machines record to help you sleep.

I sat there and watched the sunrise, slow, steady, awakening the world. The people working in the restaurant were arriving, eventually patrons started arriving for breakfast. People walking, ruining, stand-up-paddleboarding, even one man collected seaweed, this was the silky grass kind, I asked what for and he said it was great bait for fishing, go figure!

I walked a bit, sat in the giant chair a bit, walked, sat in the sand and finally, it was time to see if PSM was ready to great the day. And he was!

We got ourselves together and went to The Kracked Egg for breakfast and worked on our next destinations, making sure we have placed to stay when we get there, stuff like that!

Then it was off to see more of Guam! So much history, much of it military and so rich and sobering and important.

We started at Asan Beach, War in the Pacific National Historic Park. The wide field, as you look at it, time realize it’s a killing field, what it must have looked like. You can stand next to a bomb and realize the awesomeness of it all.

There were tributes to fallen heroes, prisoners of war and the opportunity to see that no matter what, we survive as a people and can find peace.

We continued walking and on the way to view an abandoned pill box, this amazing tribute to each branch of the military.

We hiked up a hill thru the brush, much warmer up there with no ocean breeze!! Then down the steps to the pillbox.

For those of you who don’t know, “Pillboxes are concrete dug-in guard posts, normally equipped with loopholes through which to fire weapons. The originally jocular name arose from their perceived similarity to the cylindrical and hexagonal boxes in which medical pills were once sold. They are in effect a trench firing step hardened to protect against small-arms fire and grenades and raised to improve the field of fire.”

The next step was the T. Stell Newman Visitor Center. It was a museum of World War II, Guam’s involvement, Japan, the US, war stories, propaganda, news, support, men, women, children, horrors, heartbreak and hope and survival.

I was awed, saddened, inspired and exhausted from the experience. And most humbled. No more words.

After, we drove for a bit and then stopped for lunch at a local place on the water, can’t beat the view!

Next, it was a search for snorkeling fins, instead of paying to rent them each time. Got some great advice from a woman in the dive shop, she’s from where we’re going next and she gave us some great advice and suggestions on where to go and what to do!

Now, it’s off to the airport! Hang out in the United Club, thank you PSM! and wait for our flight… we’re going to Palau!

Palau is an archipelago of over 500 islands, part of the Micronesia region in the western Pacific Ocean.

I don’t know if you remember me telling you that we only had our flights to and from Guam booked, in JJ and PSM style. So, the other morning, we go on the phone with United and they booked us to a few islands! Palau is first and we cannot wait to explore!

We are staying at the Palau Hotel, center of town and that’s all we know. Oh, except we have to see the giant clams in milk, I’ll take pics!

The hotel is nice, well recommended. It comes with breakfast, bathroom in the room, what more do you need? We got here and got upgraded…a triple! That means threr single beds!

I love all the little touches in the room and over the hotel.

Then it was time for food! One of the only places open, Tori Tori Japanese. Friendly staff and good food!

Tempura for me, a whole fried local red snapper for PSM, some edemame and a “real” Japanese eggroll, ha ha!

What an adventure today! Can’t wait to see and share what tomorrow brings!

Again, can’t believe I’m waking up in Guam! It’s been on my list for years, nope, no reason, just curious and here at are!

I would like to say I slept in, I really would! But who cares, I’ll sleep when… don’t know, don’t care!

Breakfast, pack up, then snorkeling! We packed up because we’re actually staying another day so we needed to find another hotel. No big deal, not much luggage, shorts, tshirts and bathing suits don’t take up that much room. Although, more than we expected. We each have a backpack and a carry on, the one we didn’t expect is the roller bag, it’s filled with our snorkelling equipment! Our new masks, waterproof bags, flippers, they needed their own bag, go figure!

After breakfast get over to Fish Eye Marine Park, for snorkeling. http://www.fisheyeguam.com/about1_en.html. PSM was here last year and snorkeled, he saw fish and sea turtles, one actually hit him!

Unfortunately, this time, no turtles, apparently they were giving the divers a hard time, so they were relocated. Oh well, we’ve seen them at home, all good. What we did see were lots and lots and lots, did I mention lots of fish! No idea what they were, except the crocodile fish, they mentioned them and to keep distance, they have some serious teeth!

One of the things they did was give us squid to feed the other fish. So, first, I apologized to the squid, it was already dead, but I still apologized. You have to keep your hand above water or it will get bitten! Good advice!

You break off little pieces and throw and they come swimming! You thought I was going to start they start running! Ha ha! It was so cool!!

After snorkeling it was sight seeing the rest of the day. We got in the car and drive. You can drive the entire island in about half a day, we proved that!

The first stop was The Latte of Freedom, no, nothing to do with a cup of coffee, cheeky monkey! http://www.guampedia.com/latte-of-freedom/

The Latte of Freedom was built by donations of pennies from Guam’s children. It symbolizes Guam as a free nation. It was a vision of Governor Bordallo, just as the Statue of Liberty welcomes people to America, he wanted a symbol of welcome in the Pacific.

It is in the shape of the monolithic structures of the ancient people of Chammoro. Fabulous and what an amazing view of the city, the ocean and the reef!

Next, a drive up the coast and along the way, stomachs started speaking and what did we see…Jeff’s Pirate’s Cove and it turned out, with a cafe!

Lunch time on the water, what a view! We actually had to move, it was too windy and funny enough, the wind was a bit toasty. It was windy everywhere, but better one table back and to the left!

Hummus with pita chips, Greek salad with falafel and a parrot fish salad. Luckily, it did not talk back!

After lunch, back in the car, happy to let PSM drive as he’d seen all this and wanted me to be able to just look out the window. Sigh…

On to Talofofo Falls. The cable car was not in service do it was in the back of a pick up truck going way fast down the hill for us! You knew he was coming because he honked the horn most of the way as a warning, it was different!

There were two falls, upper and lower, both charming and beautiful on their own way. To get there, you cross a suspension bridge, no, I did not shake it with PSM on it! I waited until he was across!

Admired the lower falls, then hiked a very short bit to the upper falls. Saw religious tributes and met a very fat duck, a rooster and some crustaceans.

Then back up in the truck/ cable car and back on the road! We stopped at a park with a statue of Our Lady of Camarin, she stands watch over the people of Guam.

The Merizo Bell Tower was used to call people to worship. It was built after the time of Spanish colonial tansitional period, it’s still referred to as the Spanish Bell Tower.

Next was a stop at the remains of Fort Soledad. Historical, but also an amazing view! You were able to see the remnants of the fort itself, the walls of some of the rooms and defunct cannons that, unfortunately, some people feel is a good place to dispose of their trash.

We drove down the hill we were overlooking to drive through London Bridge. What? I know you’re thinking it, just like everyone else! Apparently, the mayor wanted to raise tourism, so naturally, what do you build? London Bridge!

But… this led to the spot where Magellan landed! Immortalized by the lighthouse liking structure. If you look up and to the left, that’s where we just were!

This was across from the San Dionisis Church Ruins. Spectacular!

Next was a Vietnam Memorial. Breathtaking! It reminded us of the Waimea Canyon on Kuaiu, can you see it?

Our last stop was Tollai Talaifak, Talaifuk Bridge. It’s an old Spanish bridge that has stood the test of time. There’s not much left, but you could take it across the stream if you wanted to.

Back on the road, happy hour was calling! We checked into our next hotel, had a drink and put our feet up for a moment and enjoyed their happy hour and the start of Sunday, then grabbed the keys and went back to The Beach Bar, just in time for their sunset! And a drink!

Just as we got there, people were lined up with their cameras at the ready! Can you blame them?!

Last adventure of the ready… in search of food! Someone I work with, he recommended Meskla Dos, his sister and b-i-l own it. A veggie burger!! I’m set!

I had the veggie burger and PSM had a shrimp burger. We shared onion rings and sweet potato fries and a Rogue IPA for PSM.

After that, it was a walkabout, needed to walk off dinner! Talk and then head to the hotel, we have more to explore tomorrow and…off to our next destination!

See you tomorrow!

It’s day two of our vacation.. we’re in Guam! And a fine Sunday morning it is!

Ok, I told my body what time it was supposed to be! Apparently 245am was a good time to be awake! Oh well. Np, not time to start the day, pretend to sleep, that’ll show ’em!

We got up, had breakfast, went back to the room to get ready for the day! We are staying on the ocean, what a view! So calm and peaceful!

We put on our swim suits, went down to get towels and went straight to the water! We had new snorkel gear to try out! These are the full face masks with the breathing tube attached. Sexy, right?!

Fish, fish and more fish! I used my Go- Pro, I’ll share those later. It was so much fun! Loved the new masks, except when your nose itches!

After snorkeling, we walked down the beach, all the way down this part of the island, past different resorts and hotels. We went over some ruins, a stone bridge and a fundraiser.

Paddles Against Cancer, “Hundreds of passionate paddlers and their super supporters glided across Tumon Bay waters today for the 9th annual Paddles Against Cancer event at Matapang Beach.

“We went into one of the malls on the main drag, yes I said one of many, and booked a snorkel excursion for tomorrow. Fingers crossed there are some sea turtles, PSM has great luck last time!

Aren’t these beautiful!

Next was lunch and the a walk back to the hotel, happy hour was approaching and I our future! We were going to walk to the hotel, sweat a little so we could detox for the upcoming tox!

Along the way, we saw Guamzilla. His sandy colored belly represents the sands of Guam, the scales on his head are waves of the ocean, his green color is the green jungles of Guam, there are circles on his leg representing the islands of Guam, Rota, Tinan and Siapan. Love it!

What a walk! We definitely sweat! A lot warmer on the street side, can we go back to the beach?! Back at the hotel, shower, get dressed and head to happy hour!

We went to The Beach Bar, where PSM has enjoyed a free happy hours and sunsets when he was here last. Can you blame him?!

We had a great server, table and view, what more could you ask for?

After an amazing sunset we headed to get some food at a restaurant that was highly recommended, Proa, for a real taste of local food.

We had corn chowder, eggplant salad, short ribs and panko crusted bananas for dessert, yum!

I loved on the menu where it said you ask your ‘proa-fessionsal’! The food was good, atmosphere very nice and it lived up to its reputation!

Ok, I’m beat, how about you?

What’s tomorrow’s adventure?! Stay tuned!