Guam, USA

The Beach at Tumon Bay

Flags flying on the Tahitian Princess


Friends asked us to join them in renting a mini van from Hertz at Guam. After the pilot was onboard the Tahitian Princess and we had arrived at the dock, it took a while for everyone to clear US Immigration. The ship securely keeps passports most of the time at the Passenger Services Desk on Deck 4, so when it is time to clear immigration onboard, they just take them all to the room chosen for the activity. This time it was the Cabaret Lounge on Deck 5. So we arrived early to wait in line with memories of waiting on the QE2 from about 6:15 am to 9 am. This time the lines moved very quickly for us. Within a very short time of arriving in line, we had received our passports, had them checked by the US staff, given our newly-stamped passports back to the ship, and received our landing card for going ashore.

Our group of 6 people got together in a short time, walked out of the gate area to the waiting 3J Hertz shuttle to be driven to our waiting van. The driver pointed out sights along the ride, such as the beach where US troops landed to reclaim Guam in World War II. We got into the nice, new, well-air-conditioned KIA van and headed off to the first stop: the US Post Office. Many people took advantage of US postage rates to mail home packages to reduce the weight of luggage on the flights home. This Post Office was just like the one in Delray Beach on Military Trail in season, under-staffed and overly busy, which meant it took about an hour to complete everyone’s business. Meanwhile, one of the 6 went on a coffee mission and Jerry and one of the others walked the mile back to Hertz to retrieve the wallet the woman had dropped in the Hertz shuttle.

Once all back together again at the Hertz office we headed off to K-Mart. Many people from the ship were also there stocking up on supplies. We bought some toothpaste, bottled water and most importantly, shorts for Jerry to fit his new size. Shopping completed we headed off to Tumon Bay, an area of upscale high-rise hotels and shops.

The Outrigger Hotel at Tumon Bay was recommended to us at Hertz, so we parked our van in their garage and walked through the Hotel to the beach. Another gorgeous South Pacific beach lay before us. We walked to the Beach Club and used the bathroom to change into our suits. The weather and the water were perfect. The beach is powdery white sand up to the water, where there are a couple of feet of broken coral and rocks to pick a path through, and then shallow, warm, delightful water of the lagoon. Most of the other tourists were Japanese and very young.

After swimming and changing, it was back in the van and a drive past Gucci and all the other shops. We had a little trouble finding the right road, but then we were on our way to Two Lovers Point, where the story is that a Romeo and Juliet pair had jumped to their death over the cliff into the sea rather than be forced into other marriages. It was a pretty spot with a lookout with a view of the bay and the hotels below. The cliff is indeed straight down to the ocean.

Back in the van, past Micronesia Mall (Macy’s is the anchor store), and back to Hertz to pick up a driver to take us to the ship. We had a lovely day for $23 each. The sailaway was especially nice, with balmy breezes and happy passengers talking together as the sunset.
The Top Ten Reasons You Know Guam is the USA

10 Stars and Stripes is flying
9 Vehicle license plates say Guam USA
8 Car makes are Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and Lexus with a few BMWs and one Chevrolet
7 Driving is on the right-hand side of the road
6 The Post Office is understaffed and overcrowded and is running out of mailing supplies.
5 Everything is bi-lingual with Japanese replacing Spanish
4 Currency is US $ but no one has any and everyone is using credit cards
3 Businesses are Kmart, Macys, Burger King, KFC and Mobil
2 The highway is 3 lanes in each direction with a center turn lane
1 It just feels like home.