Ahhhh.....

Greetings from Maui! I tell you, if any of you out there get the opportunity to come here, not only should you say yes, but you should quit your job so that you have enough time to truly appreciate it.

The first day we arrived the weather was a little rainy, but since then it's been *gorgeous*. Pretty much sunny and mid-80s every day, but unlike back in the midwest where heat like that is typically accompanied by awful humidity. But here it still seems really nice even when it's warm! Plus the air smells like candy!*

Sunday we drive around getting our bearings. We went to the ocean center (a small aquarium), drove up the Iao Valley (steep cliffs and lots of greenery) and had great seafood for lunch* down along the harbor.

Monday we woke up at 2:30 to head up to the top of Haleakala (the tallest mountain on Maui) to watch the sunrise. It was the most beautiful sunrise I've ever seen, but the winds were crazy - like 45 miles per hour. So we watched the sun rise and then headed back down to about 6500 feet** and then mounted bikes we had rented from the tour company which we then rode back down all the way - about 20-30 miles all told and since it was all downhill it was like we were riding gravity-powered motorcycles! Totally sweet. About halfway down we stopped for brunch at this great little restaurant called the Kula Lodge that had a great view. I had a great breakfast and also about half of the GF's bananas foster pancakes with macademia nuts. Mmm....

Today we woke up and went down to the beach to practice snorkeling before we head out on the main snorkeling trip on Friday. We were only there for about 20 minutes (with plenty of sunscreen on) and then a big cloud swept in to provide some extra protection. It was kind of like mother nature was worried we'd get sunburned even with the SPF 50 and sent the cloud in to take the bullet for us.

Tonight is the luau! Mmmm...pig-thats-been-roasted-all-day...

* Seriously. Candy.
** The peak is around 10,000 ft

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