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Our Family Trip to Paris in 20 iPhone Photos

March is a great time for a family trip to Paris and Paris with kids is always a good idea. Paris in Spring means it’s off-season, more affordable than a summer visit and the attractions are significantly less busy. I’ve been to Paris 5 times with three of those visits in March and three of those visits with at least one child (one of my sons, both sons or my niece).

In 2012, I had 6 nights in Paris and fantastic weather. Days were bright and blue and temperatures were in the mid-teens, one day hit 20 degrees Celsius. In March 2018, we didn’t luck out with the weather, but that didn’t stop our wandering. We had 5 nights and everything from sun to rain to snow, yes, snow (it melted quickly).

I have found that 3 to a 5-day family trip to Paris is the perfect amount of time. On our family of four trip to Paris, we stayed in an Airbnb in the Latin Quarter, my favourite arrondissement, near Place Saint Michel and Quai Saint-Michel. It is walking distance to the Notre Dame, the infamous Shakespeare, and Co. book shop, the cobblestone streets of Rue de la Huchette and the Seine.

We took advantage of a fantastic flight deal from Toronto ($321 CAD on British Airways) and visited Paris during my son’s March Break (also known as Spring break).

Note: If you’re Canadian and looking for flight deals, be sure to check out Next Departure on Facebook

The best days were without a plan exploring on the hop on hop off tour of Paris or on foot and feeling the vibe of the city. It’s that vibe, the cafes, the lights, the architecture, the cobblestone streets, and the je ne sais quoi that keeps bringing me back to the City of Lights.

Some highlights of our trip:

  • Hop On Hop off Bus
  • Eiffel Tower at Night
  • The Carousel near the Eiffel Tower
  • Walking along the Seine
  • The Lego Store near the Latin Quarter
  • Midnight run for gelato
  • Street Food

All photos shot on iPhone 7 plus.

paris airbnb
A view from a bedroom in our Paris Airbnb.
View from our Airbnb in Paris
The view from our Airbnb balcony in Paris
family travel to Paris, Notre Dame
My family at the Notre Dame in Paris
Some street art near Le Centre Pompidou, Paris
Some street art near Le Centre Pompidou in Paris
Latin Quarter Paris
Our neighbourhood on a late Saturday night and the cobblestone streets of Rue de la Huchette
Rue de la Huchette Paris at night
Walking back to our Airbnb after late-night gelato.
The Seine
The Seine
family travel Paris
My youngest son pauses to take in the view over the Seine.
Family travel Paris in iPhone photos
My family walking near Pont Neuf and the Seine.
Locks on the Pont Neuf, family travel
Love locks on the Pont Neuf in Paris
Paris ile de la cite
Waiting for a view of my family to walk through this garden, instead, this group appeared. After some research, I learned that this was a group of Knights Templar. I also learned that at the tip of this island, Île de la Cité, some Knights Templar were burned at the stake on March 18, 2014. This photo was taken on March 18, 2018.
crepe stand in Paris
Street food on Pont Neuf in Paris
Place Dauphine in Paris
Walking towards Place Dauphine in Paris
Place Dauphine
Place Dauphine is surrounded by buildings and cafes and there is room for kids to run. It’s a quaint oasis in Paris. Don’t miss this hidden spot.
Palais du Louvre
Palais du Louvre
Louvre Pyramid in Paris.
The first sight of the Louvre Pyramid in Paris.
Louvre Pyramid at night
Louvre Pyramid at Night, my sons in silhouette.
family trip to Paris, louvre pyramid
My family walking by the Louvre Pyramid in Paris
Carousel de la Eiffel
The Carousel near the Eiffel Tower. My sons enjoyed a ride, even my 12-year old 🙂
Eiffel tower shot on iPhone
My youngest son taking a photo of the Eiffel Tower with his iPhone 5s.

Disclaimer: The moment links below contain affiliate links. If you find value in something I have shared, I’d be grateful if you used my link to make your purchase as it helps with the costs to run this blog. And as always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to connect with me. Thank you – Andrea.

Moment add-on lenses for iPhone

Over the years I’ve invested in Moment lenses for my iPhone to capture wider views and macro details. In the last year or so I added a telephoto lens and an anamorphic lens to my iPhone photography gear.

Click on the text below for more info on Moment iPhone lenses and cases.

For more information about mobile photography and Moment lenses for your smartphone, read this article.

The best accessories for smartphone photography and smartphone video

Where to Stay in Paris with Kids

Paris Tours with Kids

Mobile Photography Workshops

If you’re in the Toronto and Greater Toronto area, I offer in-person private hands-on mobile photography workshops.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me

SUBSCRIBE to wanderingiPhone.com for staying in the loop – exclusive opportunities, photo tours, workshops, webinars, and subscriber discounts on mobile photography workshops, consulting and more.

Our Family Trip to Paris in 20 iPhone Photos | wanderingiphone.com
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Photographing Your Safari with a Smartphone

What if the only camera you own is an iPhone, Samsung of Google Pixel smartphone and you want to take safari photos? You might not see a smartphone on the best camera for wildlife photography lists, but does that mean you can’t capture great wildlife photography? Does it mean you should not go on a photo safari? Absolutely not.

With these smartphone photography tips, I’ll show you how it’s possible to photograph a safari with a smartphone. You’ll come home from your African safari trip with images you love, are proud to share and want to print.

BEST CAMERA FOR SAFARI?

An elephant on safari with Toro Yaka Safari Lodge. Shot on iPhone 11 Pro Max.

You might be thinking that great safari photography can only be achieved with bulky and heavy dedicated cameras, long lenses, f-stop this and aperture that.

I’m here to say that the best camera for your safari is the one that is with you. Please don’t miss out on one of the most incredible experiences because you don’t have what some might consider a safari camera or wildlife photography camera or worse, don’t know how to use it.

 

Photographing my first South African safari

On safari with Naledi Game Lodge in South Africa. Shot on iPhone 4s.

The first time I went on a safari in 2012, I photographed the wildlife, nature, and landscapes of the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa with an iPhone 4s. True story.

As a professional portrait photographer that worked mostly in the studio back then, I didn’t have a telephoto lens for my Nikon cameras, and I didn’t want to invest thousands of dollars for a once-in-a-lifetime experience as I wasn’t a professional wildlife photographer. The photos were only for my memories. Some of those photos are featured in this article.

Although I travel with an Olympus OM-D e-m1 mark III mirrorless camera and 40-150 mm M.Zuiko 2.8 pro lens with a teleconverter on safari these days, I always, always take photos with my iPhone too. Some of my most cherished wildlife photos have been taken with my smartphone.

Tips to photograph the wildlife, landscapes, and nature with the phone in your pocket, your smartphone.

On safari with Tours de Mornay in Kruger National Park. Shot on iPhone 11 Pro Max.

ON THIS PAGE I DISCUSS: (click on the link below to jump to the topic)

SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS

First, let’s start with some things to think about before you take the shot.

  • Make sure the lens on the smartphone is clean. Consider carrying a small lens cleaning cloth.
  • Tap your finger on the screen where you want to focus to activate the yellow square for focus and exposure (iPhone). The yellow sun icon will appear, drag up and down to adjust. For Android, tap the yellow sun icon and use the slider to change. ProTip: Purchase the ProCamera app as it will allow you to separate the focus and exposure. Tap the blue square for focus and the yellow circle for exposure.
  • The shutter trips after you lift your finger off (white circle button on the iPhone).
  • Keep steady. For sharper photos, slightly tuck in your elbows or lean against something.
  • Keep level and watch your horizon.
  • Photograph horizontally for a wider scene, photograph vertically for tall buildings, trees and close portraits (headshots). These rules can be broken.
  • If possible, use your feet to get closer. Zoom if you have a dual-lens (2x or 3x on iPhone) smartphone or an add-on telephoto lens for your iPhone or Android phone (see below).

ProTip: Use the + (up) volume button on your iPhone (some Android phones) to trigger the shutter.

WHAT TO PHOTOGRAPHY ON SAFARI WITH A SMARTPHONE?

Go beyond the animal mug shot: Capture the Details

Remember to capture your unique, safari story. The safari lodge you choose for your South Africa safari holiday might be one of the most luxurious accommodations you’ve ever stayed at. It certainly has been the case for me.

Photograph your room and the view, the environment and all the luxurious details – the bed, the decor, the grounds, and the surrounding area.

Photograph beyond the animal mug shot, show wildlife in their habitat and surroundings. This is something that should you do whether you use an iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel, Sony, Nikon, Canon, Fuji or Olympus camera for your wildlife photography. Focus on telling the animal’s story.

Capture the sunrises and sunsets, the landscapes, trees, flowers, insects, and silhouettes.

The natural beauty of South Africa is some of the best I’ve experienced anywhere. The Kruger National Park has one of the most diverse wildlife, landscapes, and fauna. It truly is a special park and is one of my favourite places in the entire world. For many, a safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and every detail deserves to be captured.

SAFARI PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS AND THE BEST COMPOSITIONS

  • FRAMING

Use literal, structural, architectural or environmental elements to bring focus to your subject.

When on safari with your smartphone, think of trees, the landscape, the sky,  and other animals to frame your main subject. Use the side view mirrors if you are self-driving in Kruger National Park or any other self-drive national park.

iPhone wildlife photography, an elephant in South Africa. Shot on iPhone 6s by Andrea Rees.
African elephant framed by the trees in Greater Kruger National Park, shot on iPhone 6s.
photographing animals in their surroundings on safari, shot on iPhone 5s
The buffalo that surround the buffalo in the foreground help to “frame” the closest buffalo. The tree and grass also frame it. Shot on iPhone 5s.
  • LEADING LINES

Leading lines help to guide a viewer through a photograph. They can also direct the viewer to the subject or focal point of the image. They can be straight, diagonal, curved or suggested lines.

iPhone photography, Shot on iPhone 5s by Andrea Rees in Addo Elephant Park
The line of the road leads to the tree. Shot on iPhone 5s.
  • RULE OF THIRDS

The rule of thirds is used to produce a balanced image. Imagine dividing this photo into 3 lines across and 3 lines down. The idea is to place the essential elements along the gridlines or at the intersections where the lines meet.

Make sure you have your grid activated on your smartphone to help you see it.

The rule of thirds works well with the idea of leaving space for the subject to look to or move into. Place the horizon along the top or bottom 1/3 for a strong compositional mobile photo.

Wild Dog on the hunt in Kruger National Park. Family travel in South Africa. Photographed with an iPod by my son DRH.
Wild Dog on the hunt in Kruger Park was shot on iPod by my oldest son, DRH. The wild dog is along the bottom 1/3 of the photo with space to move into. If you cannot achieve the rule of thirds when photographing, think about how you could do it when you crop.
Safari photos, composition in smartphone photography, shot on iPhone 4s by Andrea Rees.
Considering using multiple compositional elements in a single photo for a stronger image. The horizon is along the top 1/3 of the photo (rule of thirds). The road leads to the mountains (leading lines). The vehicle and trees frame the tracker (sitting at the front, framing). Shot on iPhone 4s.

FIND THE LIGHT

Light is an essential part of photography and is often overlooked. Light can make or break an image. It can also help tell a story. Use light to create the mood and feel of your image. Pay attention to the sun and where it is in the sky. The light within an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset is when the sun is lower in the sky and creates a beautifully soft and warm light for photography.

Natural light is fleeting and ever-changing so don’t hesitate to take that shot.

The harsh, shadow-creating light of midday can create some interesting effects. Don’t be afraid of it.

iPhone nature photography, shot on iPhone 7 plus in Kruger National Park. Mobile photography workshops in Toronto or on location.
Sunrise in Kruger National Park. Shot on iPhone 7+

SILHOUETTES

Silhouettes are a great way to capture images when the light has faded or to create anonymity in a photo. Take advantage of the opportunity to create a silhouette image. Look for animals or trees/dead trees with the light behind them. Shoot towards the sun. You may have to get lower and point upwards to separate the subject from the horizon.

iPhone wildlife photography, shot on iPhone 6 plus in Kruger National Park, South Africa by Andrea Rees.
A giraffe silhouette in Kruger National Park. Shot on iPhone 6+.
iPhone travel photography, sundowners in silhouette in the Greater Kruger Park. Shot on iPhone 6 plus by Andrea Rees.
Sundowners in the Greater Kruger on safari with Elephant Plains. Shot on iPhone 6s.

 

WHAT’S YOUR ANGLE?

Unless an animal is nearby, it’s difficult to capture the details with a smartphone. Tell the whole story and include the animal’s environment. Try a different angle, don’t be afraid to experiment. Look in the side-view mirror and capture what’s behind you. Capture the wildlife, road, trees, and mountains using the side view mirror.

iPhone wildlife photography, mobile photography workshops. Shot on iPhone 7 plus by Andrea Rees.
Zebra in Kruger National Park shot on iPhone 7+.
iPhone travel photography, mobile travel photography workshops. Shot on iPhone 7 plus by Andrea Rees.
Giraffe in the side view mirror, Kruger National Park. Shot on iPhone 7+.

 

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS: DETAILS

Capture the details of nature and your surroundings.

iPhone macro photography, shot on iPhone 6 plus by Andrea Rees. iPhone nature photography
Preying Mantis in macro. Shot on iPhone 6 + Olloclip 21x macro in Kruger.
iPhone bird photography, starling bird in Kruger national park on iPhone 6s by Andrea Rees.
A Burchells Starling at Lower Sabie Rest Camp in Kruger. Shot on iPhone 6s.
Breakfast at a hide on safari with Naledi Lodges in Balule Nature Reserve. Shot on iPhone 6plus.
My room at Naledi Lodges in Balule Nature Reserve. Shot on iPhone 4s.
South african photo safari with your smartphone, shot on iPhone 5s by Andrea Rees. African safari with family.
My oldest son on safari with Naledi Lodges in the Balule Nature Reserve. Shot on iPhone 5s.
My youngest son at the infinity pool at Naledi Lodges in the Balule Nature Reserve. Shot on iPhone 5s.

 

GO WIDE AND SHOOT A PANORAMA WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE

Check to see if your smartphone has a panorama option. You’ll find it in the native camera app on the iPhone. Hold steady and keep the arrow on the line. Tip: Tap the photo square to change directions.

Capture the view with a panorama. Taken at the luxurious Naledi Bushcamp lodge in Balule Nature Reserve. Shot on iPhone 6+.
iphone panorama photography. Shot on iPhone 6.
A panoramic view from a Naledi Lodges hide. Shot on iPhone 6

 

CAPTURE VIDEO WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE

Things to Consider:  

  • Put your phone in airplane mode when recording
  • Lock the exposure to avoid a change in brightness
  • Use a gimbal or mini tripod for stabilization.
  • Timelapses are a great way to show a busy environment – clouds, sunset/sunrises
  • Film close and wide shots, telling details, different angles
  • Film in motion (pan up/down, left/right) to move the story along
  • Film more video than you need, and cut (split) when editing.
  • Keep scenes to 2-5 seconds depending on how fast you want to cut to the next scene.

AN ENCOUNTER WITH A WILD AFRICAN ELEPHANT PHOTOGRAPHED ON IPHONE

An elephant encounter in Greater Kruger National Park. Shot on iPhone by Andrea Rees.

Sometimes the animals come to you, and you have to capture the moment with your iPhone. This elephant was too close to photograph it with my Olympus OM-D E-M1 mirrorless camera and M. Zuiko 40-150mm 2.8 pro lens (the full-frame equivalent of 80-300mm).

For the full elephant encounter story and video, visit here.

Read: Tips for Family Travel to South Africa


Disclosure:  This article may contain affiliate links for Moment products. It means that if you click on a link to purchase a product I recommend I earn a small commission. It is no additional cost to you. For more information,  read my full disclosure and privacy page. If you have any questions about the Moment lenses or cases, please do not hesitate to contact me.

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE ACCESSORIES

Did you know that you can get a telephoto lens for iPhone or Android phones?

In 2012, I had a telephoto lens for my iPhone 4s, and it looked ridiculous, but aesthetics do not matter if it does the job, right? I took it on safari with me and I did capture a few images with it. Unfortunately, the photos weren’t of good quality. The lens didn’t fit well so there was a lot of vignetting. I didn’t recommend that lens to anyone and never used it again.

I had the macro and wide-angle Olloclip lenses when I had the iPhone 4s and iPhone 6. Their lenses are okay, but not as good as I hoped they would be. The 2 things that bothered me about the Olloclip system are 1. I had to remove my case and 2. if I upgraded my iPhone, I had to buy new lenses.

I had been keeping an eye on a few different smartphone lens companies for a few years, and in 2017, I decided to invest in Moment lenses. I didn’t invest in the Moment system until I heard that they offered cases that the lenses could be attached to (around the time I had an iPhone 6s). I never use my iPhone without a case on it.

MOMENT ADD-ON LENSES AND CASES

There is no loss of quality with Moment lenses and the wide lens (1x). The best part is that if you upgrade your smartphone, you only have to purchase a new compatible case and not a new set of lenses like you have to with Olloclip lenses. The lenses rotate into the case and fit perfectly. With Olloclip or other clip-on lenses, you have to line it up and hope it stays. Moment cases are available for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Note, Google Pixel and One Plus smartphones too.

Moment add-on lenses for iPhone

photographing with a moment lens
Shot on iPhone XSmax at 1x, 2x (dual lens) and 4x with a Moment telephoto lens.

Click on the text below for more info on Moment Phone lenses and cases.

Moment Cases for add-on lenses

THE BEST ACCESSORIES FOR SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY AND SMARTPHONE VIDEO

I personally use these products listed below.


READ: Seeing the Light: Tips for Mobile Photography Portraits

St James Beach Cape Town
Dusk at St. James Beach in Cape Town, South Africa.

MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

I’ve been a professional photographer since 2003 and a mobile photography educator since 2013. I offer live virtual smartphone photography workshops on Zoom and in-person workshops in Toronto, Canada.

Take Your Smartphone Photography to the Next Level and create photographs of your travels, landscapes, nature, wildlife, and people with your smartphone.

I offer a public and private group 60-minute virtual workshop through Airbnb Online Experiences or for a private series of workshops (2 or 3 workshops), check here.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

AIRBNB ANIMAL EXPERIENCES

If you’re in Toronto or visiting the area and are into nature, birding and wildlife photography, I offer a birding/nature walk + photography lesson through Airbnb experiences Toronto.

I hope these tips will help you create cherished photos of your safari. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.


SUBSCRIBE to wanderingiPhone.com for staying in the loop – exclusive opportunities, photo tours, workshops, webinars, and subscriber discounts on mobile photography workshops, consulting and more.

Photographing your safari with a smartphone. Safari photos with moment lens  | wanderingiphone.com
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Family and Solo Travel Adventures of 2017

As we step into 2018, I’d like to take this time to thank you for following along and for your comments and questions on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and email. I hope that I’ve helped to answer all your mobile photography, camera and tech gear, and travel related questions.

I had some incredible family and solo travel adventures in 2017! I explored 2 new countries – Israel and Japan, returned to British Columbia, The Florida Keys twice, South Africa and Australia and visited new places at home in Ontario like Tobermory and Manitoulin Island, and we also saw the solar eclipse in totality on a spontaneous road trip to Kentucky and Tennessee.

We also returned to our favourite close-to-home destination, Niagara Falls. We spent time on both sides of the border. While my boys love playing the redemption games, we also enjoyed walking through Dufferin Island on the Canadian side in the Spring as well as chasing cherry blossoms, found some! In the summer, we ventured to the American side and visited Goat Island. It is a great place to visit as it gives you close-up views of both the American and Canadian Falls.

It was very much a year of incredible snorkelling adventures in the barrier reefs of the Florida Keys and Australia as well as the Red Sea in Eilat, Israel. My 7yo snorkelled for his first time, in Eilat and loved it. We ended our travel year with a trip to The Florida Keys where he embarked on his first open water snorkel trip. We went on 2 snorkel trips from Key Largo and one in the backwaters of Key West. Our favourite experience was our snorkel trip at Molasses Reef where we encountered sea turtles, Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks. He was over the moon with excitement and can’t wait to snorkel again. You can read more in my guide to snorkelling the Florida Keys here.

To recap and close out 2017, here are some of my favourite Instagram and mobile camera photos that were all shot on my iPhone 7+. In 2018, I look forward to continuing to inspire your family travels, solo trips and photography and show you more beautiful, nature and culture-rich destinations.

JANUARY

bahia honda tide
Moving tides at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys. A trip I did with my niece.

FEBRUARY

St James Beach Cape Town
Dusk at St. James Beach in Cape Town, South Africa. A solo trip to South Africa for The Heart of a Woman Project.

Penguins at Boulders Beach
Penguins at Boulders Beach in Cape Town, South Africa, Playing with portrait mode on the iPhone 7 plus.

MARCH

zebra in Kruger
A Zebra in Kruger National Park, South Africa. A self-drive trip I did with my South African travel writer & travel blogger friend Anje Rautenbach of Going Somewhere Slowly in March 2017. Check out her video here.

tea at mahane yehuda jerusalem
Tea at the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem. A family trip with my husband, 2 sons and father in March 2017, I travelled there after my trip to Kruger Park.

My oldest son and the Eilat Mountains in Southern Israel. We could see the Sinai Desert when we climbed a bit off the dusty road.

old town warsaw
Old Town Warsaw, Poland. A layover on my home way home from Israel.

APRIL

cherry blossoms canada
Found cherry blossoms in Niagara Falls, Canada.

Maid on the Mist in Niagara Falls. A family day trip from Toronto.

MAY

cherry blossoms Kariya Park Mississauga
On the hunt for more cherry blossoms. Found these at Kariya Park in Mississauga.

JUNE

Enchanted Forest
My son at The Enchanted Forest in British Columbia. A family trip to BC with my youngest son, father, aunt, and uncle to see relatives.

JULY

Beautiful art on the arena in Wikwemikong, the unceded territory on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. A trip with my best friend who was visiting Ontario from British Columbia with her family.

Balm Beach Ontario
Sunset in Balm Beach. Some of the most spectacular sunsets in Ontario happen right here, on Georgian Bay, traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg people. Balm Beach is our fave family beach in Ontario. A trip with my family and my best friend and her family who were visiting Ontario from British Columbia.

Tobermory Ontario
My oldest son on the rocks near the Big Tub Lighthouse in Tobermory, Ontario. My sons and I went on a spontaneous 2-night trip on the shores of Lake Huron chasing Aurora. We didn’t find her but found Tobermory.

Bruce Country Ontario
My oldest son in the canola fields of Bruce County, Ontario. This is part of the same trip with my 2 sons.

AUGUST

Manitou River Manitoulin Island
A peaceful spot by the Manitou River near Michael’s Bay on Manitoulin Island. A trip with my 2 sons and father to take in the annual Perseids meteor shower.

Sunflowers in Caledon, Ontario. Random Sunday drives with my husband and 2 sons.

clarksville tennessee for the solar eclipse
A spontaneous road trip to the USA where we experienced our first solar eclipse in totality. We found this spot in Clarksville, Tennessee by the Red River. This was
the light about 30 minutes before totality. The birds flocked, and the cicadas sang. It went to darkness and planets you don’t normally see, were seen. Hard to describe the feeling but we were in awe.

SEPTEMBER

Lakeside Park Oakville
Revisiting one of our favourite family parks in the Greater Toronto area, Lakeside Park in Oakville. September was all about back to school and TIFF. At the end of the month, I returned to Vancouver to visit my best friend before my trip to Australia and Japan.

OCTOBER

Heron Island Queensland Australia
Reef walking at low tide in the Great Barrier Reef off Heron Island in Queensland, Australia. Heron Island is a Coral Cay with the reef as your playground. I saw sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, many species of fish and sea cucumbers. I even found Nemo’s cousin. It was a return to Australia but this time as a solo traveller and my first time exploring Queensland and the GBR.

koala on the great ocean road
Rainforest views on Grey River Road in Kennet River. This was my favourite stop on the Great Ocean Road. Can you find the sleepy koala?

The 8 remaining limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles. This is probably the most popular stop on the GOR drive and worth seeing in person.

The 5-story Yasaka Pagoda in Kyoto, Japan is surrounded by quaint narrow streets lined with cafes, restaurants and a variety of shops. Loved wandering through here after most people had left the area.

NOVEMBER

palm tree bahia honda state park
A broken but not battered palm tree at Bahia Honda State Park after Hurricane Irma blew through. A trip to the Florida Keys with my oldest niece and 2 sons.

sombrero beach views in Marathon Florida
My boys enjoying a sunset swim at Sombrero Beach in Marathon, Florida Keys.

So not a winter person but I can appreciate the beauty of snow especially with a setting sun. No travels in December.

VIDEOS

Wishing you many photographic opportunities and travels that fulfil your soul in 2018.

First experiences and happy memories of Hawks Cay Resort

After driving the palm tree-lined road of Hawks Cay Boulevard, past the Calm Waters Spa, the children’s Coral Cay Club and tennis courts, my 11-year old son let out a “wow, mom” as we pulled up to the circular driveway of the Hawks Cay Resort.

With a smooth check-in behind us, we drove to our villa. You know that anticipation you feel when you enter a hotel for the first time? Double it, and that’s how we felt as we opened the front door of our two-bedroom, two-story marina village villa.

I fell in love with the retro feel of the olive green painted walls (my favourite colour) and florals of our accommodations. It was a series of ‘ooohs and ahhs’ as we moved through the villa from the modern kitchen to the dining area, past the bathroom, towards the living room and onto the porch. My son excitedly raced up the stairs to check out the bedrooms.

hcroad1

Hawks Cay Resort Villa

Hawks Cay Marina Villa

Hawks Cay Marina Villa

hcstairs

Hawks Cay Marina Villa

Having driven in from the Everglades National Park that day, we just wanted to relax and enjoy the villa though we were tempted to go to the hotel and attend the live music performance by the firepit. Instead we soaked in the fresh air of a beautiful November Keys night on the porch, ordered in-room service, and settled in.

After a comfortable sleep, we awoke to a beautiful day in South Florida. I had just received an email from Hawks Cay detailing the day’s activities and noticed a kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding demo that was to start in the lagoon in 30 minutes.

Knowing my son wanted to try kayaking, we quickly got ready and off we went to the hotel. You can take a leisurely walk or drive as there is a self-parking lot nearby. There is also a tram shuttle service around the resort taking you from your villa to the main hotel or to the marina with stops at the various buildings around the property.

We arrived at the saltwater lagoon to children stand-up paddleboarding, sunbathers and a swimmer. Marc, the resort staff working the watersports rentals helped my son get started and offered some tips. He took to the water in a blue kayak and paddled all around the lagoon on his own. With pride in his smile and a sense of accomplishment from first time kayaking, he then wanted to try to paddleboarding. After a short time with the paddleboard, he decided he preferred kayaking but wanted to practice snorkeling one more time before our afternoon snorkel trip with Sundance Watersports at the Hawks Cay Marina. He put on the snorkel and mask he brought from home in Canada and discovered the lagoon had some small colorful fish.

hcdykayak

Hawks Cay Resort child paddle boarding

hcdytowel

Hawks Cay Resort child snorkel in the lagoon

It was 10:30 am, and we were both feeling hungry, so we decided to have brunch with a view at the on-site restaurant, Ocean. We had a choice of buffet or a la carte. With about forty-five minutes before we needed to leave for our snorkel excursion, we went back to the villa and relaxed on the porch. We watched the boats from the marina go by on the canal that takes you to and from the open water.

hc1

hcfood

After checking in for our snorkel excursion, we picked up fins and boarded Blue, the beautiful snorkel-ready 65-foot catamaran. The Captain and crew explained that we were going out to the ‘stake’, a marker in the water at Coffin Patch at the nearby Florida Reef.

We couldn’t wait to get to the reef but enjoyed our ride on the open ocean and the canal, past the villas and Hawks Cay Lagoon. The clear turquoise water was almost hard to believe, and on our arrival, we watched as fish jumped out of the water behind the catamaran.

hcblue

hcboatwater

hclagoon

hcdycapt

hcpelican

With it being my son’s first open water snorkeling experience he was a little slow to get in the water, but once he did, we were the last to get back on the boat. We saw a host of colors and spotted 25-30 varieties of tropical fish. We were thrilled to see French and Queen angelfish, parrotfish, blue tang, snapper and trunkfish. He was a little nervous when he saw the great barracuda but it and the several other ones we came across kept their distance as expected. With helpful snorkeling tips and the watchful eye of the crew it was a great first snorkel experience for my son. We had a fantastic time snorkeling and can’t wait to return with the rest of my family.

After the snorkeling excursion, we changed back to our street clothes in the change room in the Dockside store and drove off to explore the surrounding Duck Key area and the nearby city of Marathon. Duck Key is at mile marker 61 and is halfway between Miami International Airport and Key West. It’s a perfect place to spend a few days if you’re traveling the length of the Florida Keys or if you’ve already been, a great place to vacation. So much to do, so little time.

My first mistake was to arrive so late in the day on our first night so we couldn’t take advantage of activities the resort had to offer the next morning. My second mistake was not staying more than two nights as there simply is not enough time to enjoy all the resort has to offer in two nights and one full day.

Lesson learned. We will be back. I know my youngest son is already looking forward to the pirate ship pool and spending time at Coral Cay club.

Thanks for the memories, Hawks Cay.

Until next time,

Andrea

 

Information: 

 

Check out this short video of our family trip to Hawks Cay and see if you can spot the flying fish. 

 

Disclaimer: I received a media rate for my stay at Hawks Cay Resort and complimentary snorkel excursion from Sundance Watersports. As always, choice of accommodations and activities as well opinions are strictly my own.

Rural Senegal in 9 Squares

 

Senegal
The bottom row of 3 photos is my home in the Baobab tree and view from the room.

 

It was early morning and still dark when I stepped off an overnight flight from Washington, DC onto the tarmac of the small Dakar airport. The airplane had stopped for an hour to refuel and drop off and pick up passengers before continuing to Johannesburg, South Africa. I disembarked to visit a friend and her family for the next six days, and though I was tired, I couldn’t wait to explore Senegal.

A few hours after arriving we were on our way to Palmarin and the Sine Saloum Delta in rural Senegal. A well-paved highway takes you out of the city and further onto a two-way road through towns and villages. As the sight of Dakar faded in the distance, I looked
ahead to the open road and couldn’t believe I was in Africa.

Scenes of meat and fruit stands by the roadside, unfinished buildings and crumbling sidewalks, women in colorful attire, roaming goats, salt flats and baobab trees, donkey carts and horse carts and women carrying water or pounding maize played out in front of me.

After Joal, we found ourselves on the worst road I’ve ever traveled. I thought we were going to lose a tire to the large potholes that filled the road. As we came out on the other side of that bumpy red earthy road with tires intact, I smiled.

I was on an adventure of a lifetime and on my way to spend my first night ever on the continent of Africa in a majestic Baobab tree at Collines de Niassam Lodge.

My close encounter with an elephant in South Africa

Arriving back at Naledi Game Lodge in South Africa for my third time, I had only one wish — to be surrounded by elephants and have an memorable and of course ethical elephant encounter. I was yearning to have more time with my favourite animal, observing it in its natural habitat.

I had already gone on the morning game drive and decided to spend 3 hours at a hide. I was finishing breakfast when I noticed an elephant on the television screen mounted on the wall. I soon realized that it was the webcam feed from the hide I was planning to visit.

The bull elephant was still at the waterhole when we arrived. After an okay from Sipho, a tracker at Naledi, I quickly moved from the game drive vehicle, up the stairs to the hide. The elephant was on the other side of the hide, off-camera.

All of a sudden, he emitted a rumbling sound. Sipho explained that he was communicating. Sure enough, three more male elephants came by for a drink. One by one they arrived at the waterhole and went to the far side of the waterhole.

Then an elephant that Sipho called “Flopsy” (because of his floppy right ear) was the last of the five elephants to appear. He passed by in front of the hide and nodded his head as if to say hello and joined the others for a drink. They hung around for about 45 minutes. I couldn’t believe all the time I had with them, alone, as Sipho had left just after Flopsy arrived.

The next day while on a game drive, Mike (guide) heard breaking branches and followed the sound into the bush. We came upon 12-13 male elephants. I immediately thought some of the elephants were from the day before.

While we were watching the elephants in front of us, we suddenly heard branches breaking behind us. After a few minutes, an elephant came out from behind the tree and continued to eat nearby. It was Flopsy.

He was so close to the vehicle that I switched to my iPhone to get a few shots and record video. I giggled because I couldn’t believe how close he was and that I had to use my iPhone.

The Hide at Naledi Game Lodge.
Sipho, a tracker at Naledi Game Lodge, South Africa after dropping me off at the hide.
The bull elephant that rumbled
The bull elephant that was at the hide when I arrived
The three elephants that arrived after the bull elephant made a rumbling sound.
2EleNaledi2015web
3 African elephants at a waterhole
Three wild African elephants at a waterhole, including “Flopsy”. My view from the hide above the waterhole.
elephants in South Africa

My guide Mike taking a photo of the elephants with his smartphone

Then, this happened.

I was alone in the back of the game drive vehicle that day, and our vehicle had the sighting to ourselves. The only way to describe this 2-day experience is, magical.

I have always believed that elephants were magical. Now I know it’s true. Thanks to the expert guiding of Mike and the fantastic tracking of Sipho, this experience will long live in my heart. I was calm and felt safe.

More –

elephant walking down the road
We left the elephant sighting and found that one of the males had gone for a walk. Another Naledi Game Lodge vehicle is pictured.
  • Naledi Game Lodges – a luxury, family-friendly and relatively affordable lodge in the Greater Kruger area.
  • Africam – web cameras that stream 24 hours a day, three are located at Naledi Game Lodge.
  • Safari Live – For live streaming game drives from South Africa, check out Wild Earth’s Safari Live. It’s as if you’re in the back of the vehicle on a 3-hour drive, searching for wildlife. The drives are twice a day.
  • If you love elephants don’t ever ride them, ride in a game drive vehicle instead. Read this –  https://www.thedodo.com/elephant-rides-trek-1132645600.html

For ethical elephant encounters in Thailand, visit Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand.