pieds nus en été: travel

Last weekend, we visited TO. The big city.
Our primary reason for the visit was to meet our new niece, Lily.

First pic of the three cousins together!

Margot really liked Lily's little feet.

We also tagged on a visit to a Blue Jays game, the team of the year! The Jays are on fire this baseball season!

Before we headed into the stadium, we had to fuel up with street vendor hot dogs (they are double the price in the stadium). Yummy!

Our Blue Jays gang: Nathalie, Margot, Simon, me, Jonathan

The stadium was brimming with electricity. They won 10-4 with 3 home runs. It was an exciting game!!

We also had a nice little picnic on the beach in the city: The Scarborough Bluff.

Jumping in the waves

Overall, it was a fun-filled Labour Day long weekend. Summer is coming to an end...

I came back from Maui changed. Changed because I now have experienced the "aloha" spirit. Aloha means much more than hello, goodbye, welcome. It's an attitude; a way of life. A simple, open, generous and smiling spirit. I can't put it into words.
You walk a bit slower in Maui… (maybe it's because everyone wears flip flops ;)

It's always a bit challenging writing a post after a trip. There's so much I want to share: pictures, thoughts, observations… Where do I start?

FORMAT of TRIP:

We only stayed on the island of Maui. Why did we choose that one? Because it seemed like it was the most varied in terms of beaches, hikes, and things to do with Margot. It's also not as touristy as Oahu (Honolulu, Waikiki Beach).
10 full days.
Approximately 13-hour flight from Toronto (12-hour for the return flight).
We rented a car. An awesome hatchback silver Nissan Versa (my next car!)
Accommodation: 5 nights at a rented cottage (VRBO) in the North/Upcountry of the island, 3 nights at a condo on the West side of the island. (plus, our first night at a motel near the airport)

AWESOME!

The Beaches

The beaches are absolutely stunning! They look exactly like the ones you see in guidebooks and on posters. Soft sand, blue water, infinite horizon. The waves are constant and merciless.

We went snorkelling and saw many tropical fish and corals! When exposed to this underwater world, steps from the beach, you can't help but feel this world bursting with colour and life. I have a new-found appreciation for marine life.

pic taken at the Maui Marine Centre
Some of the fish we saw while snorkelling at Kapula Bay

pic taken at the Maui Marine Centre (a.k.a the Aquarium)

The Vegetation

One of the things that I was looking forward to was seeing lush vegetation. Maui didn't deceive me!

We went on a few really nice hikes upcountry and saw some beautiful trees, plants and flowers.

Hidden gem on the Waihoe Spring Trail

Burst of vibrancy!
(Gingers)

Interesting shapes
(Heliconias)

Nature playing with the colour palette
(Bird of Paradise - a type of Heliconias)

Giant leaves

Fun texture

Iao Valley

Breadfruit (looks like limes)

Firecracker
(Scarlet Stamens - Bottlebrushes)

The official flower of Maui
(yellow Hibiscus)

Papaya tree in our backyard

Banana tree in our backyard

The smell of the yellow gingers is intoxicating!
(this is a ginger too)

Delicate
Plumerias

Pink Plumerias

Maui smells fresh, with a hint of papaya in the air (and probably a bit of salt water being tossed around!)

Fun Moments

Swimming in a waterfall on the Road to Hana (a costal, winding road with 600 curves and 54 one-lane bridges)

Eating out-of-the-oven banana bread from Auntie Sandy's Best Banana Bread Stand (on the Road to Hana)

What do you do on the afternoon of your 10:45pm flight? Why, go to the movies! (The Hawaiians groaned at a joke made about Hawaiian pizza).

Watch a free Polynesian Dance show at the mall. (we saved $300!)

Eating shaved ice. Let's get one thing straight: this isn't a snow cone with crushed ice. There's a big scoop of ice cream at the bottom, finely shaved ice drenched in three delicious flavours, with a drizzle of sweet coconut milk. Delicious!!!!

Enjoying a typical meal: 2 scoops of sticky white rice, a scoop of macaroni salad and meat. I had the Aloha mixed plate, which consisted of the above + island grilled fish, shoyu chicken and teriyaki beef.
Simon had the Laulau - pork, beef and taro wrapped in luau and ti leaves (you don't eat the leaves).

Cheers! Finally: a Mai Tai (I preferred Simon's Nutty Mango)

Feeling free and small, surrounded by so much nature!

Our visit to Haleakala (The House of the Sun), Maui's dormant volcano.

It took us about an hour to drive up (the car was on low gear all the way down). Luckily, it was a clear day and we had a beautiful view of the crater (it's usually cloudy). We decided to hike a bit in the crater. Warning: it takes you twice as long to make your way back.