When I arrive in a new city, I make a beeline for the nearest outdoor market. It’s a great place to check out local produce (and buy it, if I’m renting an apartment and can cook on my stay), get a quick lunch, or buy a souvenir.
My very favorite thing to do when traveling is eat foods I can’t get back home. You will never find me in a McDonalds in another country. When Max and I visited Maui, we stopped at a roadside stand selling pineapples, coconuts, and all manner of citrus. I sucked the coconut juice straight from a fresh coconut. It was heaven.
Whenever I see this photo in my slideshow, I immediately exhale and feel relaxed. It takes me back to the Italian yoga retreat I attended just outside of Lucca in Tuscany. Each evening, the 10 or so of us would walk up to this grassy spot nestled among grapevines and lay out our mats. While I tend to practice yoga with my eyes closed much of the time, I kept them open because the Tuscan hillside was simply breathtaking, particularly at sunset. This photo is a reminder to me that I don’t have to be on a mat in Tuscany…
When Max said that the one thing he wanted to do in Maui was ziplining, I had two thoughts: “Really? He’s not a very adventurous kid. He hates rollercoasters.” “Crap. That means I have to do it too.” Max asks to do specific things so rarely, so I had to honor his request. This picture reminds me of what happens when we let go of our fears. Great things! I wouldn’t have seen Maui all the way to the sea from above the treeline if I hadn’t been brave enough to let a 20something strap a harness on me and…