The Surfer Dude had promised to take us to a beach where we were sure to see turtles, so he came to collect us at around 4.30 and took us to the other side of town, near the airport. After a grim series of warehouses and factories came an older part of town, with colourful houses on stilts engulfed in the usual vegetation. We came to the Carlsmith beach, an absurdly beautiful spot. It was a still, circular beach with little sandy coves scalloped out of the rock, still waters fed both by the sea and cool springs with immense waves just past the arch of rocks protecting the bay. On one side there was a little mangrove lined marsh which opened up into a quiet but fresh emerald green pool. There was a single turtle swimming around, very curious and unafraid about humans in the water, and poked some people in the belly with its nose. The sun set, with little fanfare, and that was the end of our time in Hilo. An idyllic stay, far away and in a relaxed, beautiful place.
This morning the Surfer Dude took us to the airport and we embarked on the very long flight to San Francisco. We arrived around 9 and the airport was very confusing, poorly marked, but eventually we found our luggage and my aunt and came to the house.
It is very cold here. I think I spend a lot of time complaining about feeling cold.