Welcome to paradise

My trip to Honolulu takes 33 hours. Including a good 14 hours layover in Panama. For inexplicable reasons, it is always the case on long trips that you feel totally dirty in no time. So it is absolutely necessary to avoid any effort and associated sweating. Well, 14 hours in the airport air-conditioned to what feels like 15 degrees protects you from any perspiration, but it is also quite boring. So out into the adventure. My first thought that it might not be so hot proves to be foolish. After 30 seconds, beads of sweat appear on my upper lip at 31 degrees and 80% humidity, rapidly spreading to other parts of my body.
In Panama, they use US dollars, which is strange in my case but quite practical. So I go to the Panama Canal, which is much narrower than expected. Ships that want to cross Panama by sea need to plan for 8-10 hours and, if I understood everything correctly, pass through three locks at three different locations and have to pay between 125 and 800 thousand dollars depending on their size. I stroll along the impressive beach promenade, slowly getting used to being alone again. Nevertheless, the little stopover is definitely worth it.
On the last flight from Houston to Honolulu, which lasts almost 9 hours, I have been awake for 24 hours and am so tired that even before we reach cruising altitude, I drift off to the dream world with my mouth wide open, spending about 3/4 of the flight there. After hours of seeing nothing but water to the left and right, front and back, we finally catch sight of the Hawaiian Islands. Completely absurd, in the middle of nothing. Hawaii consists of 8 islands with funny names, of which 6 are inhabited: Big Island, Oahu with the capital Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, and the uninhabited islands of Niihau and Kahoolawe. The stewardess welcomes us with the words 'Aloha, welcome to Honolulu and welcome to paradise!' and reminds people who want to get married to remember to pick up their gift package from the airline.
Honolulu is also often referred to as the New York of the Pacific and offers paradise-like amenities for Americans. Wide streets for big cars, towering hotel blocks, a beach with a sunset suitable for photos that is easily accessible without much physical effort, exorbitant prices for healthy food, so that you are practically forced to eat fast food. The ocean breeze, the surfers, the palm trees and flowers everywhere, and the friendly Aloha and the Hawaiian shirts of the salespeople give it all a special flair, so I slowly realize where I am right now.
I have a confession to make, due to various circumstances (including a persistent cold, heartbreak, and a 33-hour journey), I decided shortly before my departure to cancel my $33 hostel dorm room, located away from the city center, with cold water and self-check-in. Instead, I checked into a hotel room at Waikiki Beach. This way, I could stroll along Waikiki Beach, slowly let myself be Americanized again, and recover from the exertions. Decadent, I know. But eating a burger in a queen-size bed, watching Sex and the City, and having a breathtaking view of the city... worth every cent. It's a good thing the Americans thought of constructing a table that allows you to dine from your bed. From tomorrow, I will continue to Maui and the cozy hostel dorm room.
Small Hawaii know-how:
- Hawaii has about 1.4 million residents, including about 350,000 in Honolulu
- Hawaii is actually spelled Hawai'i and pronounced with two "i"s, so not "Hawei" but "Hawai-i"
- Similarly, Waikiki is not stressed on the second "i" but on the last "i", so "Waikikiiiii"
- Mahalo means thank you, and since we are in America, it is used at least three thousand times a day
So mahalo for reading and see you soon!