Parental Leave Trip

February - April 2024

An open-ended adventure by Matthew & Laura Read more

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Parental Leave Trip
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- Feb 9, 2024, 7:28pm
- 🌙 11 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- United States California San Francisco County Little Italy Fisherman's Wharf 37.807709, -122.41366637°48’28” N 122°24’49” W
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Day 2
San Francisco
February 9 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 11 °C
1st day of the trip in San Francisco, girls great on plane and no signs of jet lag :)
Breakfast at ihop "Let's just put that down as an American experience..." Says Matt.
Spotted sea lions on their purpose made floats at Pier 39.
Visited the chocolate factory.
Lunch at Bodins for giant sourdough soup rolls.
Quick wander round the piers before Bus tour over the Golden Gate bridge and trip to Muir Woods with Coast Redwoods.
Beautiful views over San Francisco :)
Poppy mainly asleep, pooping or smiling at everyone.
Rosie very happy and excited but also sleepy!Read more
Great photos, thanks! [Phil]
2/10/24Reply
Sounds like a perfect start. [Simon]
2/10/24Reply
Traveler Great photos guys.
2/13/24Reply
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Parental Leave Trip
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- Feb 10, 2024, 8:10am
- ☀️ 9 °C
- Altitude: 18 m
- United States California San Francisco County Little Italy Fisherman's Wharf 37.807979, -122.41338437°48’29” N 122°24’48” W
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Day 3
Super 🏈
February 10 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
Super Bowl 🏈 🥣 👌
Got the historic cable car this morning to San Fran centre. Rosie was allowed to ring the bell after everyone got off!

Travelled up to Golden Gate Park on the bus. Lots of strange people on public transport here - definitely a major drug problem!

Got some lunch near Golden Gate Park then quick play in the awesome play park and a ride in the carousel. Tried to go to the Botanic Gardens but Rosie was far too sleepy, so we got the bus back. Rosie fell asleep eventually on the bus and slept on Matt for quite a while after we got off. Think the busy days and time difference have caught up with her.

Dinner out at Pier 39. Great atmosphere with the Super Bowl on, lots of people about. Delicious seafood pasta and local Dungeness crab for dinner - Rosie loved it! S'mores round the fire at the hotel for pudding and got to pet the giant rabbit from the neighbouring restaurant...

Poppy has been lovely as usual :) slept lots in the sling and really enjoys staring up and smiling at Matt and Rosie when Rosie is being carried.Read more
Traveler Hello Rosie
2/12/24Reply
Traveler Biggest marshmallow yet?
2/12/24Reply
Traveler Lots of good fun!
2/12/24Reply
Hahhh, Rosie looks seriously impressed by that mega marshmallow :-D [Matt]
2/13/24Reply
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Parental Leave Trip
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- Feb 10, 2024, 10:52am
- ☀️ 13 °C
- Altitude: 102 m
- United States California Embarcadero Yerba Buena Cove (historical)37.793117, -122.39767837°47’35” N 122°23’52” W
Day 3
San Fran Bus Tour
February 10 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Did the Hop on and Off Big Bus tour today. Laura started the day with a run - Golden Gate bridge at sunrise was the highlight!
Yummy breakfast of Acai Bowl at a place Matt found. Quick sea swim for Matt (the water is quite chilly even here!) Then off on the bus to the old Ferry Terminal for lunch (Nepalese dumplings) from one of the many food stands. Picked up some tasty blood oranges too!
Back on the bus. Rosie slept through the ride over the Golden Gate bridge despite it being extremely windy and going through a very noisy tunnel! Hopped off at Palace of Fine Art (beautiful building with Roman style columns - Rosie giggling lots about chasing us around!). Wandered down to the marina to enjoy beautiful views of the GG Bridge and watched the kitesurfers and a dolphin popping up here and there.
Back on the bus all the way back to our hotel. Some s'mores on the fire and then of to Pier 39 for dinner - delicious scallops and shrimps.Read more
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- Feb 12, 2024, 10:01am
- ☁️ 9 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- United States California Contra Costa County Fishermans Wharf Le Donjon de San Francisco 37.807394, -122.41735637°48’27” N 122°25’2” W
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Day 5
Alcatraz and Aquarium
February 12 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
Took the F Historic Streetcar after breakfast but sadly the Exploratorium museum was closed, so we walked back to the Pier to do the Alcatraz tour. Just managed to hop on the next boat. Fog cleared a bit so we could start to see the Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge and Treasure Island.
Rosie did great on the audio tour around the cells at Alcatraz which meant we could actually listen to it - creepy but interesting to hear about how the prisoners lived.
Another delicious crab chowder sourdough bowl from Boudins.
Matt and Rosie went to the aquarium in the afternoon - Rosie loved the robot guide and the otters.
Back at the hotel Poppy did one of her first laughs - very cute! And this morning she rolled from her front to her back.
Lovely dinner at Scomas where they catch the fish and seafood they serve. The restaurant is next to all the fishing boats so the area is low key but lots of very fancy cars parked outside!
Last night in San Francisco tonight. We've loved the positive vibes, mix of cultures, the tasty seafood, scent of eucalyptus on our runs and how many fun things are going on here. Thumbs up for San Fran 👍Read more
Can’t believe you have done SF and are already moving on. Glad you enjoyed it. Good laughing Poppy. [Simon]
2/13/24Reply
Traveler That's a very cute video!
2/13/24Reply
Traveler You seem to have done such a lot in the short time in San Francisco.
2/13/24Reply
Traveler H and B were fascinated by the video tour. Bodhi kept asking about it for days. They both remembered it when I showed them the pics. X
2/14/24Reply
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- Feb 13, 2024, 12:50pm
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- United States California San Mateo County Lomita Park San Francisco Airport station 37.618067, -122.39306337°37’5” N 122°23’35” W
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Day 6
Tahiti!
February 13 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Travel to Tahiti and the first hour of sun light has made it a worthwhile trip!
Thinking of getting the rod out? [Phil]
2/14/24Reply
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Parental Leave Trip
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- Feb 14, 2024, 5:28am
- ☁️ 10 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- United States California San Francisco County Telegraph Hill 37.804482, -122.40319537°48’16” N 122°24’12” W
Day 7
Aquarium Robot
February 14 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Rosie loved this!
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Parental Leave Trip
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- Feb 14, 2024, 3:34pm
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- French Polynesia Haapape Point Venus -17.494506, -149.49434517°29’40” S 149°29’40” W
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Day 7
Tahiti waterfalls and blow holes
February 14 in French Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
The jumping fish on the sea wall were my favourite 😍 The girls were tired by dinner!
Traveler Lovely
2/15/24Reply
Love the delightful scream from Rosie [Anne Smith]
2/16/24Reply
Traveler Stunning!
2/16/24Reply
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- Feb 15, 2024, 2:00pm
- ☀️ 28 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- French Polynesia Outu Maoro Pointe Tataa -17.572842, -149.619317°34’22” S 149°37’9” W
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Day 8
Water Gardens
February 15 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Breakfast and a swim in the gorgeous hotel pool this morning - sand under your feet is much nicer than tiles! We then travelled down the coast to visit the Water Gardens. Had lunch in a shady (but partly flooded) spot opposite the garden. Rosie wanted to chase the Cockerel!
Water Gardens were quite small, especially as half of it had flooded, but amazing flowers. Also saw an eel in the pond!
Did part of the trek up the mountain from the gardens - Matt carried Rosie and I had Poppy in the sling. Crazily steep and mosquitoes to contend with if you stopped!
Had a quick snack at a viewing spot before walking back down.
Rosie helped get some bits from Carrefour on the way home. Just had time for another quick swim before dinner.
Poppy spent a lot of the day sleeping and feeding - think she's still adjusting.
Rosie being quite silly by dinner time - needed to eat earlier really! But she enjoyed her mahi mahi.
Off to Mo'orea on the ferry tomorrow! Staying there for a few nights before Bora Bora.Read more
Traveler Looks amazing! X
2/16/24Reply
Traveler Lovely photo of the girls!
2/16/24Reply
Traveler I am seriously jealous. Looks gorgeous!
2/16/24Reply
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Parental Leave Trip
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- Feb 16, 2024, 7:50am
- ☁️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- French Polynesia Outu Maoro Pointe Tataa -17.571202, -149.61984717°34’16” S 149°37’11” W
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Day 9
Moorea!
February 16 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Moorea is just beautiful. We got the ferry yesterday from Tahiti then checked into our Airbnb, not having air con has taken some adjustment when it's 32degrees inside! The scenery and marine life are worth sweeting for though. Rosie stroked her first sting Ray today which she loved :)Read more
Traveler Looks like Poppy wants that sandwich! Lovely blues in your photos.
2/17/24Reply
Traveler Yeah she's definitely very interested in what we're eating!
2/18/24Reply
Looks stunning. [Simon]
2/18/24Reply
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Parental Leave Trip
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- Feb 17, 2024, 6:43pm
- ⛅ 29 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- French Polynesia Îles du Vent Tiahura Pointe Hauru -17.491662, -149.8987117°29’30” S 149°53’55” W
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Day 10
Moorea^2
February 17 in French Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
More fun in Moorea, looking forward to air con again though... The car has been reading a max of 43degrees during the day and it doesn't drop beneath 32degrees at night!

Drove up to Belvedere Lookout this morning, stunning views of the two large bays. Was going to stop at an archeological site on the way up but got attacked by mosquitos so decided not to!
Saw some cyclists at the top which is impressive as it was a long, relatively narrow and very steep road with lots of switchbacks.
Rosie seemed to get a bit grumpy in the car so she got out to help buy stuff for a picnic lunch.
Lovely cuddles between Rosie and Poppy this morning. Poppy decided she was ready to get up around 5am and Rosie slept in until 7am - would be great if they chose to do the same thing!
Had our picnic on the same beach as yesterday as it's so beautiful there. Took a while to get shady enough for playing in the sea though. Matt and I took turns to have a quick snorkel and Rosie and Poppy were very happy playing. Although Poppy was quite tired as her naps have been interrupted today.
Dinner out nearby. Rosie loved her grilled fish and chips despite being very tired. And she did some lovely dancing to the live jazz music - lots of twirls in her dress.Read more
Traveler Ooo that's hot!
2/19/24Reply
Traveler Lovely xx
2/19/24Reply
Traveler Beautiful photo! 😎
2/20/24Reply
Traveler So sweet!
2/21/24Reply
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