We had a few days before catching our Cessna flight to the Big Island to give Ken's brother, SImo a blitz tour of what we saw in Maui the previous year.
All in On the Road
The Aquarium
Last week we visited the new aquarium. Toronto's only one. Franchised by Ripley's (believe it or not). It is a monstrous building poorly camouflaged into the concrete of the waterfront's 'entertainment' area.
Revisiting Coney Island & Brooklyn Pier
Some priceless Baywatch-type moments were captured as New Yorkers flocked to the beach in style and numbers collectively raising the sea level.
Ise Peninsula, Japan
Our brief visit to the Ise Peninsula felt otherworldly. We drove in (and out) through the most impossible fog and heavy rain but this didn't dampen the magic.
Hiroshima + Miyajima, Japan
"The rainy season is coming early" we heard people say when we reached Hiroshima. And so it was, wet and a little grey but not without bursts of bike-friendly sunshine.
Hiroshima, Japan
The last leg of our journey took us as far south as this infamous city. It proved to be so much more than a history lesson.
Kyoto (Arashiyama and Moss Temple)
We had four of the most comfortable sleeps in Arashiyama, a beautiful suburb of Kyoto—a far cry from the North American definition of that word.
Takayama + Kyoto, Japan
We reached Kyoto via a night's stop in Takayama, a mountain town where we (finally) biked through rice fields, hiked the surrounding hills and found a surprising nod to Americana.
Nama Chocolate House, Kyoto
I'm going to start with the sweetest part of Kyoto. Kind of like eating dessert first.
Nagano, Japan
This is just a small taste of Nagano: the town with the most delicious savory pastries, eye-popping topiary and colourful parking garages—or at least that's what stood out for us.
Northern Alps, Japan
Even a mere glimpse of mountains makes my soul want to dance (see photo evidence). This is probably because Toronto lies in a particularly flat area of Canada, so I often play a game with myself and pretend that especially pointy clouds are mountain outlines in the distance. To my delight, Japan had no shortage of mountains—gently rolling hills, snow-capped peaks, and green summits dotted with pines.
Tokyo Waterfront
We had a very vague plan of attack when it came to exploring the vast waterfront. The only thing that was a must, was the visit to Tsukiji fish market—the biggest seafood market in the world.
Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
I feel we owe the Tokyo neighbourhood of Shimokitazawa a love letter, or at least a thank you note. It was the first (and last) stop on our Japan journey and we immediately felt at home.
Weekend: Ottawa
The biggest snowflakes I've ever seen, a cozy brunch at Hintonburg Public House plus my first Beaver Tail.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
My mind has been wandering lately to a place from my childhood and from my dreams. I got to share it with Ken last year and together dip our toes into the unnaturally blue magic that surges through the waters of Plitvice Lakes.
Chicago
One of the best things about Chicago, besides the awe inspiring towers, is definitely the food. Here's a quick recap of what we filled our bellies with.
Chicago Architecture
If you're an architecture buff, or just love clean, modern lines don't miss the Architectural Boat Tour and a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright's Studio in Oak Park.
