Green…

That’s the first thing that strikes me every time I re-visit Canada. From trees to grass – the viridescent landscape against the indigo sky gets me every time.

As our two-month summer holiday came to an end last week, my husband and I packed up our family and headed back to Dubai from my hometown of Montreal. It was one of the longest holidays we’ve ever had, and to be quite honest, it was also one of the most memorable. It’s safe to say that bidding farewell to summer was bittersweet for all of us.

Easy, breezy summer days spent with family and friends proved to be the perfect antidote to the hot and sticky weather we faced as we fled Dubai just weeks before.

Swimming lessons, barbeques, and outdoor birthday parties filled our days, which for the most part, felt endless and free.

Armed with cheese, baguette, and fresh local produce, picnics in the park became part of our daily ritual, and road trips to Toronto, Niagara Falls, and New York City were welcome getaways that added spice to our holiday landscape.

Rain or shine, we spent most of our time outside – trust me when I say that my kids would do cartwheels if they saw as much as a raindrop! Day trips to the local farm, as well as an impromptu pit stop at a peach orchard on our way to visit the local wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake were some of the many highlights of our trip.

From a culinary perspective, we ate well.

An epic lunch at Bar Pitti in New York wrapped up our getaway  perfectly.

For foodie friends that are looking at places to eat in Montreal, I’ll be sharing my favorite restaurants and food experiences on my blog next week, as well as recipes inspired by treasures from trips to the farmer’s market.

Until then, I’ll leave you with a few images that sum up what I loved the most about our magical holiday. While my blog hiatus is officially over, and I’m somewhat sad to kiss summer goodbye, a new season of excitement is on the horizon!  A bientôt.