Our Guamazing Adventure

Spent most of today on base, trying to work through the housing office process. Turns out that base housing operates much like the government -- a lot of people, pretty slow, and you never really know what you're going to get. But, occasionally it can surprise you too, so here's hoping!! It looks like we'll be holed up at the Marriott for another 2-4 weeks. It's a great location, but I am ready to have a dresser... although I am digging someone making the bed and washing the towels everyday. AND, if it ever stops raining there's a sweet pool. We took a little different route today, and HOLY SHOPPING!! Reason #27 to get a job --- duty free stores, but still a little out of my price range! Pics below. Heading back to base in about an hour for the mandatory "pre-deployment meeting" for everyone going on Detachment 1 (they call it DET-1), and their spouses. Chris will leave for "the boat" in 2-4 weeks (for 6-10 months), so we get to go fill out power of attorney and will paperwork tonight (wah, wah -- Debbie Downer). Nothing like signing your husband's will to get you geared up for his deployment!!! And then I remember the shopping, and my lil heart is JUST fine :)

So day 1 in Guam!! Pretty amazing! I'm hoping maybe it won't rain tomorrow?? The rainy season here is July to November and it torrential downpoured today!! BUT, the island is BEAUTIFUL. We went up to the AFB for lunch and base is awesome! We're going to live there, and the housing is very nice. After lunch we took a tour of the island -- it's kinda small!! -- we drove from the very northern point (Anderson AFB) along the west coast to the very southern point, then 1/2 way up the island on the east coast, and then across the middle back to our hotel. We went 35 mph just about the whole trip, stopped at multiple stoplights, the Navy Base (southwestern part of the island), a McDonald's, and alongside the road long enough for Chris to get a coconut, and it took us just over 2 hours. Tiny!! But we were both amazed at the incredible cliffs and rolling hills; there is so much undeveloped land, it's unreal!! Now it's back to the Marriott; Chris is taking a nap and then it's out on the town with our friend Pat from San Diego who got here last week and his gf who is in town visiting. Should be fun!! Some pics from today:


Bear rock -- pretty self explanatory.



Taken on the AFB



Also on base



Shrine to Santa Maria Kamalen -- the statue is in the Basilica, but the shrine is at the Southern part of the island:
Oral tradition relates that Santa Maria Kamalen, Patroness of the Marianas islands, floated into the shores of Merizo escorted by two crabs with lit votive candles on their backs over three hundred years ago. Made of ironwood, which does not float, her arrival by way of sea was a miracle in of itself. It is told that the statue was brought in by a fisherman who presented her to the Spanish Governor. Legend relates that the fisherman drew near to the statue repeatedly but it drifted away. It was until he fully clothed himself that the floating statue could be approached and touched. Our Lady was housed in a proa shed or camarin until she could be moved to the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Agana where it sits in a perch above the church's altar.



Lots of crosses like this along the coast





Very American!!






Everyone hearts Guam






Taken from the "highway"




The bucket is to bait the infamous brown tree snake





One of the many resorts

We made it to Guam last night around 5:40p local time and so far so good!! So flipping HOT here!! We are both going to lose alot of weight just sweating! From the plane, the island looks beautiful. It's pretty small (5 miles by 22 miles) but very lush!! So many cliffs, crystal clear water, and just so green!! Chris's sponsor and his wife, and two other Navy wives picked us up from the airport and took us to dinner at California Pizza Kitchen -- good transition meal!! There's no base housing available yet, so right now we're staying at the Guam Marriott... not too shabby!! We went to bed about 11:00 and woke up about 4:00 this morning... my body is so confused as to what time zone it's in!! We're going exploring today, so more to come with all that this tiny little HOT island has to offer! Aside from my family, I think my biggest "miss" will be Target. Or Starbucks. Or a good steak....

We are FINALLY en route to Guam!! We got to Oahu on Tuesday and are having a blast. Tuesday night we went to bed around 5p and woke up a little before 5a on Wednesday... oops. But, Wednesday we toured Pearl Harbor (amazing!), rented Outrigger canoes (hilarious) and spent some time at the pool and at the beach. We totally lucked out with the hotel--- staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village (thanks Priceline) and it's fabulous. This morning we got up early and went to breakfast at the Hale Koa (military resort next door) and then went deep sea snorkeling with dolphins. I'm slowly conquering my fear of the ocean, but I will say the first time they threw me off the boat I panicked, burst into tears, tried to drown Chris and subsequently swallowed a few gallons of salt water. At least my
sinuses are finally clear. Once I realized I wasn't going to get eaten by sharks, and that the giant turtles were afraid of me, it was a blast!! Tomorrow we are going hiking and then to a Luau... should be fun! I'll post our underwater pictures once we get them developed. Too fun!