Crater and cocktails

The plan worked. Monday morning found us well rested and excited to put our time in Honolulu to use. So we went to the mall.

After a very successful morning shopping (total haul; 1 x hair straightener, 1 x SIM card, 1 x jacket) we got on a bus out to the Diamond Head Crater national park.

At the hotel we were warned to wear running shoes, not thongs, definitely not high-heels. The bus dropped us outside the national park area, and we paid our entry fee of a dollar. Including the two-fifty for the bus, the walk is a great, low-cost afternoon in Waikiki.

The way up

The path wound back and forth the inside of the crater. It was steep in places, but not difficult going, especially after seeing the walking paths in Norway. Things only got tough when we got to the stairs to the bunker, which are pictured later on.

It was busy in both directions, with a lot of tourists taking advantage of the view. And it was easy to see why.

Bunker on the right, Waikiki on the left. Sky above.

The island put on a little show for us as well, with the clouds sitting nice and low on the mountains for better photos.

After the walk up it was nice to break for a while and get some photos.

Directly below the ridge was a lighthouse and the beautiful reef.

Everywhere we went the waves broke far from the shore and travelled all the way in

The combination of natural structures and the aged military infrastructure made the walk quite interesting. Running up the stairs, ducking through tunnels and into bunkers broke up the trip.

The way to the top

Ali in a tunnel

That night we returned to the not-our-hotel pool for cocktails at sunset. Ali was smart and ordered a pina colada, which was delicious. I was silly and ordered a maitai, which was mostly rum, with some spice rum added for colour.

Every drop was worth it for the view.

It was a gorgeous evening, with music, dancers and drinks.

History is funk.

The best part of Pittsburgh was leaving.  I don't say that to sound rude; I don't know that much about the place and we didn't stay long.  We left at dawn, and as we headed north we were able to watch the mist burning off in the valleys beneath us.

The view leaving Pittsburgh.

We made for Michigan, our destination for the day being the Ford Museum in Detroit, and a night in Ann Arbor.

The club disembarks for breakfast.

My skepticism regarding the great lakes ("Really, how great could the be?") was completely abolished when we reached the banks of Lake Erie.  It goes on forever.  I have seen smaller seas.

A lighthouse on Lake Erie.

The coast of Lake Erie

I was also skeptical about the Ford Museum, but it was on the Talk's must-see list, so we drove to the outskirts of Detroit.  I am glad he won on this, because the museum was very much worth our time.

Regan's Lincoln

Kennedy's Lincoln

Eisenhower's Lincoln

Franklin Roosevelt's Lincoln

Teddy Roosevelt's carriage.

Bugatti

The name of the museum is quite deceptive, as it is not dedicated to the life and times of Henry Ford.  He founded the museum, and named it for Thomas Edison.  The name was changed after Ford's death.

Canadian snow plow.

It's a museum dedicated to American spirit and ingenuity.  There was a fascinating section on the American war of independence and the civil rights movement.

A massive train.

I spent the most time in the aerospace section, reading about the pioneers of flight.

The recreated Wright brothers plane, with original canvas.

We were all enchanted by Ann Arbor.  It was our first college town of the trip, and it got us hooked.  Everyone was so friendly, Ann Arbor itself is beautiful.  The concept of a whole town built around a university campus was completely foreign to us, but once we had seen it it made total sense.

I think we will seek them out as we continue to travel.