Maui, Baby! Part 1

Day One: travel day and meeting up with Netty.

It was a little worrying heading to Maui facing the effects of Hurricane Lala, which had passed by the islands the night before. Power was out across the island. Annette's phone was dead, and the power outage map showed that our condo area was also without power. I forged ahead, though, and boarded the plane. My flight hadn't been canceled!

I finally reached her – by landline! – during my layover. Power was restored a few hours later.

Clear skies!

I made it to our condo in time to dip my toes and enjoy the Maui sunset. NeNe the Nanny had one more day of duty.

Sunny afternoon!

The next day, I drove back to the airport to collect my daughter and say hello and goodbye to the family she works for. It was heartwarming to walk up to a sweet one-year-old, all the way in Maui, who is yelling, "Gaba!!"

That afternoon, we hung out in Kihei. It was a must to grab some poke for lunch at Tobi's, finishing our meal with a shave ice. We walked around and shopped, had a liliko'i milkshake, did a little grocery shopping. 

Though shalt not waste a drop of Liliko'i

Before dinner, another Maui sunset at the Maui Sunset.

Tuesday we headed to our secret beach. Ok, the secret is out: it's called Palauea Beach. It's a little hidden gem, not many visitors, and the visitors that do go are mostly local. 

This tiny crab was so good at camouflage on the lava rocks!

When the wind picked up in the afternoon, we headed back to Kihei and thrifted at the Rainbow Attic (technically a "consignment boutique" vs. thrift store). Annette found several cute dresses and I scored a fun pair of Chico's pants for $10. Sweet!

Annette's dress is from Rainbow Attic

And guess what? A Maui sunset at the Maui Sunset! 

Dinner at a food truck topped another Mauiffic day!

Greece! The Cats of Greece

 It's true. There are a lot of cats in Greece. Most of them want to make friends. At least, when they are done with their naps, they do.

And this concludes our travelblogue of Greece. You will be spared a compilation of videos. My computer does not want to do it. You can thank me later. 

Thank you for coming along! 

Greece Part 9. Last port o' call! Sicily and Mt. Etna!

Balcony sunset

Our last port of call: Messina (Sicily), Italy.

Another fab excursion! We took a bus to Mt. Etna and explored a crater. 

The colors tell the story of the oldest to youngest lava flows.

The colors also tell the story of the mineral content! Here's some iron-rich lava 

A bit windy!

Afterwards, we had a fabulous Italian lunch and wine tasting at the Oro d'Etna winery.

Leaving Sicily...

We had a sea day. 

*representative photo. Not the actual sea day 😉

and then debarkation!

I bought a tour to use up some of my time in Barcelona. It was a bus tour with airport transfer. The guide was the worst of the bunch, but I got to see a little of the city. We stopped at the museum of art to take in the views (but not the museum itself), and then they let us out to explore the gothic district and the touristy market area.

Last day brekkie -- I was on my own, as Trish had an earlier flight and got off the boat at first opportunity. 

That's what they call me!

We had a few pictures taken of us on the ship.

I was cracking up at the traditional ship photographer that contorts you all ways to get "the" shot. 

Stay tuned for one last post!