I’m sitting on the eve of returning back to the real world. I’ve spent the last two weeks traveling down and up the east coast, spending time with family and friends, exploring and re-exploring and eating very well.

I spent the first week in Gainesville, Florida visiting my extended family over the Christmas holiday. Our days were filled with cooking and baking – my grandmother’s banana bread, a new Orange Upside Down Cake, our traditional family paella, grapefruit salad and other sides. Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations, as always, were special time to catch up, share family history stories, talk politics and forecast the year ahead.

My friend Sarah traveled to Gainesville after Christmas to explore (for me re-explore) my hometown. We spend a full day outside visiting giant alligators, cranes, turtles and owls (well, hopes of owls). The day concluded with an outdoor (hello, 78 degrees) dinner with Florida lobsters, stone crabs and steaks. A perfect way to end my time in the Sunshine State.

On the way back to North Carolina, we stopped in Savannah, Georgia for a quick visit. Winston was welcomed at the Brice Hotel in Downtown, followed by many walks through the city with snacks and drinks. We finished the trip with the most delicious brunch at Collins Quarter.

Two days later, I flew to Montreal! Stay tuned for part two!