PEACE & JOY
to you
this holiday season and
throughout the coming year.
Christmas Eve
It’s Christmas Eve day and I have the tree lights on and carols playing in the background. I’m making my list for one last run to the grocery store. But I want to take a minute to share my adopted home town through the years. I live in Taunton, MA nicknamed “The Christmas City.
Taunton Green 2010
Long before I moved here Taunton earned the name Christmas City for it’s Holiday display at the intersection of Routs 44 and 138. All roads led to Taunton back in those days. In 1914 when the tradition began there was no Route 24, 95 , 495 or 128. If you wanted to get someplace south of Boston you probably had to go through Taunton.
Taunton Green 2011
I moved to Taunton in 2006 but I didn’t start photographing the “Green” with it’s Christmas Display until 2010. But I have made an effort to document the different displays every year since.
Taunton Green 2012
I hope you enjoy this visual visit to The Christmas City, past and present.
Taunton Green 2013
Taunton Green 2014
Taunton Green 2015
And last but not least, this year, 2016. The Holiday Train, Polar Express or however you want to think of this iconic Christmas Present, is the theme this year.
Taunton Green 2016
Nice Job Taunton. Easy to see why you are The Christmas City!
Bye Bye Maui
Every Hawaiian Island has its own flavor. Different paces and feelings.
The Big Island will always hold a special place in my heart. Maybe because it was the first Island we visited?
But Oahu was special too. It was a much more urban Island. After all, it’s the “Gathering Place.” But Oahu will always be linked to Pearl Harbor for me. Very emotional. Everyone should visit the Arizona Memorial. Watching the History Channel specials about the Pearl Harbor attacks took me right back to the feeling I experienced the day of my visit.
Maui falls somewhere in between. It seemed to have more commercial/urban areas but there was a lot of unspoiled area too. Of the 3 islands Maui was the hardest to drive around. The “Road to Hana” was without question the most dangerous and challenging. Its the only island I did not drive around completely myself. We took the tour.
We didn’t get into the interior too much. That area is the wet section and is probably similar to the Hilo area on the Big Island. The road to the interior was washed out and closed. I hope to explore it more when I go back in February.
Maui was filled with things to do. We kept busy on the sea , in the air and under sea. We filled our days with sunset dinner cruises and luaus, helicopter rides over Haleakala and a submarine journey 127 ft under the sea. Great adventures all. And all in a tropical paradise.
So which Island do I like the best now? I’m still not sure. I’m beginning to think it depends on what I want out of the trip.
Its interesting that Sandy said the one regret she had about this vacation was that we didn’t go on the whale watch. That had been high on our must do list but the whales were just arriving while we were there. We probably would have seen some but the general scuttlebutt when i asked was that it would be a blow or a tail here or there. Not the wild antics Hawaii is known for. That comes later in the season. So we, or maybe it was me, made the decision not to include a whale watch trip this time. Maybe with the wisdom of hindsight, that was a mistake.
We’ll just have to time it better next time we go. And there will be a next time!
Maui Luau
Everyone should experience a Luau at least once. Sandy and I are getting to be old hands. We went to a Luau on the Big Island. The imu with the kalua pig was a pit right next to the beach.
On Oahu we attend ed a huge luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Now on trip 3 we wanted to be sure Kathy had a chance to enjoy the experience.
This time our Luau was at the resort, Kannapali Beach Club better known as the “Pink Pyramid”. The luau was held on a large flat lawn behind the pool. There was a stage and the Imu pit was just off to the side of the stage. Tables were lined up filling the area. The buffet tables off to the left.
Each group was welcomed and shell leis given out. We were then directed to the bar for our complimentary Mai Tai.
There is a well known Luau in Lahaina which is purported to be the mist authentic Luau in the islands but it doesn’t have the fire dancer. The Fire dancer may not be “traditional” or “authentic” but its always a good show so I wanted to be sure that this would be a part of the luau we attended and it was.
Once everyone was seated the imu pit was ceremoniously opened. It was quite windy but the luau progressed anyway as napkins and light weight objects were blown around the area. No one let that stop the fun.
Shortly after the Imu pit was opened the buffet was opened and everyone went through table by table. Once everyone had their food the show began.
My favorites were the children or Keiki. Seeing them perform so young gives some insight as to how they can all be so confident and relaxed as adults.
And finally the fire dancers. There were 2.
The larger gentleman was very funny too. His amazing sense of humor really came through.
Then the finale! A great show and a good time.
And the nice thing about going to the resort Luau…no traffic or driving when it was over, just a nice stroll back to our rooms.
Maui Ocean Center Revisited
Vacation was nearing its inevitable conclusion. Time was running out.
Kathy had leave the next day. It seemed suitable to attend a Luau for her last evening on Maui but we needed to keep busy until then.
First stop was Lahina to pick up some souvenirs.
A pair of grass skirts and coconut bras for the little grand girls would be perfect.
From there we made our way to the Maui Ocean Center. I know we told you about our previous visit but Kathy hadn’t arrived then. It was time to show our cuz the cute aquarium.
It’s taken a quarter of a century for the aquarium to grow to its current size. Maui Ocean Center isn’t just an aquarium, it focuses on the flora and fauna of the oceans surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. Many of the species are found no other place on earth.
All of the exhibits faithfully replicate the natural environment. Its one of the only aquariums that specialize in caring for live corals. In the living reef building all of the corals are alive, not imitations.
The official sate fish of Hawaii is the reef triggerfish.
Its Hawaiian name is Humuhumu-nukunuku-a-pua’a. It means trigger fish with snout like pig. Now That’s a mouthful!
The Maui Ocean Center takes part in the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle Educational Loan Program. They host baby sea turtles from hatchlings up to 2 years old when they are released into the ocean.
That’s just touching on the Aquarium, from surge zone to ocean depths it’s all here for you to see and experience.