Last couple of days in Spain

After my great b-day celebration we went to bed and rose 5 hrs later and took a train to Madrid ( and the 6 of us slept on train )

We arrived and stored luggage at hotel and set out for the Prado museum for a few hrs .

On the way stopped for rubbed tomato bread with salt and olive oil and cafe con leche for breakfast .

 The Prado was really impressive and the collection of art it holds very very impressive !

Was neat to be with four people (including our nieces) who are such art connoisseurs. They truly share a passion and were really cool to watch (especially our youngest niece) express herself and her feelings toward what she saw that day.

We enjoyed the museum experience very much too but have preferred the Gardens... Palaces... Castles.. Parks .was great to experience this with my brother and his family as if we had been there by ourselves probably would not have visited any art museums. It's fun to gain new experiences and be introduced to the passions of others. 

After that found a really funky place for lunch (was one of my faves) and I had Brie and caramelized onions on olive bread... Curry chicken and rice ... One mini mini burger and brownie and ice-cream. And Fanta limone 

Then we all walked around the botanical gardens and brother and I had a great talk about our lives and our shared childhoods . Was so good to be with him . 

Then long walk back to hotel and then a rest for an hr and then into dinner and a little shopping in Madrid . Dinner was also great and had a bunch of grilled veggies with corse salt and salads and potatoes . Hubby had tuna carpaccio and guacamole. We have eaten very well in Spain ... Not like in Italy or Greece but some good stuff for sure and the Italian food was even better then in Italy in two cases!  I forgot to mention the panacota we ate at our pizza place was superb!

We left the resto and bid our goodbyes at the door as did not know if we would see each other the next morning before flights.

For some reason my husband ordered us the lovers package room at the hotel as that was all that was left on Madrid and we had free bottle of champagne and Lindt chocolate. We shared with  my brother and sis in law.

But we enjoyed the room with the beautiful terrace view that was really gorgeous. Was the perfect last night actually ... Time with family ... Time as a couple... Sleeping in.

The next and last morning we all did what we wanted. Bro and family slept in late ... Hubby slept in but then got up and went for coffee and then visited the castle alone and I went back to sleep in the comfy bed with the doors and windows wide open to the beautiful view outside. I slept in until 11am and then showered and sat and read on the terrace with the spectacular view of Madrid. 

Madrid was great but we definitely preferred the quaintness of Seville. We are always the same with big cities... Good to see and experience but our cup of teas are the Seville’s of

The world! 

And I counted my blessings for all the expected and the unexpected that this trip brought me. The revelations about myself, the acceptance of myself, the intimate couple times between us that have not been as easy over re last couple of years, and the appreciation of getting to have such rich family and cultural experiences in our lives 

Blessed we are. As bless us too for planning our lives out in such a way that lends itself to such deep and enriching experiences

Off to London layover and back to our bebes!!

(Back home now and totally smooth return. Had Monday off as was holiday and in evening had my mom and soul keeper and her family for my family bay dinner. Was soooooo fun. and only a few hrs so too short but felt so good to do this. Everyone spoiled me (especially our kids!!!).  We had so much fun opening gifts after soul keeper and gang left. I was, making everyone light with the bay bag my mom have me with poo poo trinkets :))) lol!

Beauty made me a video as my card and bought me a sweater and treats and boys gave me lululmeon workout stuff!!! Fun to have older kids!!! Was nice to be home. Totally in a daze with time difference and today giving myself a day with no meetings to get back on track home and work wise (love love this part of working for myself  that I can take a day and do this after a vacation)

Last few pics from trip I wanted to include on blog:

Happy Spanish Birthday to Me !

My b-day today ! (well really was supposed to posted Oct 9)

A different one in Spain ! Without my kids :( but will make up for it by doing a little shopping on my own and reading in the park while hubby explores Seville some more .

I packed my new Micheal Kors knapsack ( my b-day gift to me ! ) on my back with a blanket pillow and book and I  will shop and find a beautiful park with fountains and flowers and olive and lime and orange and pomegranate trees ( basically every corner ! ) to park myself on a bench and read :)

At 4-6pm treating my sista to the Roman bath spa we found and booked 30 mins massages for some quality girl time .

Then the much anticipated Italian dinner tonight !!!! Can't wait for those grilled veggies and homemade pasta ( love the succulent way my niece describes food )

So what was I most proud of this year ?

1- my relationship with Beauty . Our scoliosis journey together and making it beautiful . Getting her more and more each day . My perseverance 

2- my marriage . 19 years and counting . I am proud that we never gave up . That we keep on and on through the good and the bad . I have found a lot of peace in my marriage .And alot of pride in our resilience and committment together as a couple. I feel very much in  love.

3- that I have been successful so quickly in being a full time entrepreneur . Sometimes I am scared to open my eyes and see it was just a dream ? Can this continue ? I hope so !!

Things I want go focus on this year :

- health . Monkey bar gym workouts have begun but also making walking yoga hiking skiing part of what I love to do and not only what I feel I need to do . Active .active as a couple 

And good getting to a place where I can eat just eat healthy vs low carb to maintain of lose weight . I need  find my place with food . I had done really really well but still some place for sure to improve 

- my company . I want to build something extraordinary .and I will . There will be different stages of this company dependent  of where I and at with my life and family .  But one day I want to

Be travelling the world .. Speaking on cruise ships ... Taking my family with me ... And maybe even having one of two of my family members in my company with me . I want a whole lot of Spain in the future !  This year is the beginning of what I thought would always be mine :)

My birthday was truly lovely . I shopped for a few things to bring back to the kids and my mom and bought myself a nice sweater and makeup case . Then had the most delicious pizza ever with my sweet hubby ... Then the spa with sista and we had so much to talk about and get caught up on . Then a private violin concert from our very talented nieces and then the best pasta ( penne arrabiata EVER) 

The resto was set in a sweet outside courtyard and we had such a great time chatting and laughing over grilled veggies tossed in spices and olive oil and different homemade pasta. 

 Back at the apartment I had a happy birthday violin duo serenade me and my brother had gone out and bought a big selection of cakes to choose from with candles and prezzy :)

I just felt really loved

We all went to bed knowing that our sleeps would be short since the train very early to Madrid to catch in the morning 

It's going to be a good year. Caro6 told me it will be my year professionally. Simply.I believe her-she is always right:)

Spain!

Our trip to Spain  ( 3/4 of it and last few days another day)

sorry for typos..on my phone!

Everything beautiful usually starts in a chaotic way for us ... It's just how it seems to happen 

I realize theses are third world problems .. Trust me we have have our share of worse.. But always hard ( in an easy way ) when travel gets complicated .

Planned a wonderful trip to Spain to visit my brother and his family . Have been so busy lately that was actually looking forward to our 4 hr layover in NYC at the airport .

Well that never happened ... We ended up ticket counter to ticket counter in Montreal and did that for 7 hrs straight . Finally got on another flight since ours was delayed and then when about to go on runway was told that there was a weather shut down in NYC .

It would exhaust me to write all the stupid details of this extremely frustrating day so I will just say that things went downhill from there and we ended up not being able to pee of eat for a full 24 hrs and then only got to our destination 36 hrs later .

We paid loads of extra money for flights and seats that were horrible and not connected and late and ended up sitting in chairs in the back that did not recline and right beside the bathrooms . (Actually that was supposed to happen and at the last minute bossy tarina made us get normal seats . Hubby complains when I get super assertive ... Quite frankly I don't care to be seen as the nice person and sit in the smelly bathroom seats thanks very much !)

Overall a horrible frustrating experience getting to Spain  . When stuff like this happens to us re really start to question if travelling is for is .

And then what usually happens is we forget all during and after a beautful trip 

Which is of course exactly what happened on this one !!!

Day 1 -( well really day 3 !!! ) we ended up in Seville in the evening vs the morning due to all the flights . So instead of spending 6 hrs to the airport  we decided to start out trip off with some indulging and and paid for a nice hotel near airport to sleep and shower for 4 hrs . I think the reservations thought we were a couple having and illicit affair ... Little did they know I had just gotten my period ,  were both severely jet lagged and the room they gave us had two twin beds . We had the best naps ever and the shower felt heavenly .

In the evening we took a short flight to Sevilla and got to my brother's apartment .

And it soooo nice !!!!! With a huge terrace and everything even with a Bali bed on it ! Cute and cozy and we have a sweet pullout bed . Perfect 

We went out with bro and two nieces ( sis in law is at a conference in USA for a few days and we will be together second half of trip )  we strolled for a long time in the old village and along the river and ended up in a great tapas resto on the water . And most places all have cerveza sin ( beer no alcohol ) in draft ! Excellent welcoming  to this great place as usually this part of travel can be hard for someone who is used to drinking and not anymore . 

They are living in the most central and best location. Any place we go in  Europe we love - but this place especially is hard to beat . Beauty at ever corner literally . Every park .. Every building is rich in history and intricate and stunning .

Went go bed and slept on and off until 11am the next morning !!! Joined them on the terrace  for cafe and Nutella sandwiches with rubbed tomato and oil on baguette with corse salt cheese . Very spainish and yummy 

Then we headed out and walked and walked from 12:30-6:30pm and visited the real alcazar castle and it's beautiful gardens . We walked and walked and admired every corner . Stopped for the cutest mini sandwiches ( 1 euro each and 89 types

To chose from ) and stopped again for fanta limone and beers .

Came home for a rest and I fell asleep in the Bali bed and then got up to go the street around the corner again for falafel and gelato . Ps my brother is just as into food as we are :))

Great first day . It is super fun spending so much time with our nieces and hearing about their lives and interests . This is going to be a great week .

Tomorrow up early as school for girls and we are in the middle of their space so we will clear out and go up to the deck Bright and early and put the rollout bed away . 

Day 2 - we are trying to aim to be the best house guests ever ( they are !! ) so we are being super tidy and clean and like little mice out of the way of the small apt and busy school and after school schedules  . This morning we set alarm for 20 min before they woke up ( 6:30am ) and put our rollout bed away and went up to rooftop to hopefully fall back asleep on the couches up there . Problem was it was raining and soaking . Nothing a few towels the couch and our heads could not fix ! I was on the dryer side and apparently snored while hubby got aggravated and totally soaked ! As soon as we heard the gang had left for school and work we came back down into the house .

We did the whole European food thing and went to the bakery for our toast and then the grocery store for our dinner meal that we will cook for the family tonight . 

That was fun 

Then it poured some more on us and we took our umbrellas out and headed to the Turkish baths I had found on the internet . It was a really cool experience ... Hot and cold baths all in a in a roman Turkish bath setting . There was even a salt bath where your body floats with no effort needed . All in candlelight and really beautiful architecture and music .

I would recommend this experience to all . When my sis in law gets back from USA later this week I think we will need to hit this place again given that it has been our tradition for years now when visiting  do do a spa or shop together ( and sometimes both )

After Roman baths we went to a cute Italian resto and had super delicious pizza . Rain had stopped by then and were able to sit on terrace . Hubby is seriously impressed with all the non alcoholic ( very tasty ) draft beer . It's a staple here !! We decided in about 5 yrs when all kids post highschool we will rent an apt on Seville for 3 months and learn Spanish intensively and I will write a book here. We will travel to all the surrounding areas in weekends . Seville is a great central location. So much to look forward too in 5 yrs !

Then a river tour on a boat seeing all the landscapes of Sevilla and we were so tired we nearly feel asleep but was beautiful . Then a long walk to plaza des espagana where we rented a row boat and did semi circle of the plaza that way . It was really beautiful 

Stopped for beer and chips and strolled  back  and did the long walk home .

We made pasta for dinner an ate on the terrace in the apartment and all caught up about our days . If is a very cozy family feeling . Can't wait to see sista soon too !

Tomorrow off to Portugal ( only 2.5 hrs away ) to the algarve to a really cool hotel hubby booked as an early bday present for me :) we were supposed to book a cheap hotel but this luxurious one is a bday gift and I am getting a little spoiled 

Day 3 - we woke up this morning and gave up trying to be guests of the year and just stayed in bed while our hosts ate breakfast and got ready .  We kinda slept in their faces given that the bed is right beside the kitchen and the breakfast table . Oh well we did it for the first couple of days !

We chatted with my brother after he dropped the girls at school and we then left to get our car rental to take off for out two day stay in the algarves in Portugal . I slept in the car while hubby drove and then we found a beautiful little beach resto and enjoyed omelette and pizza ( and Portuguese na beer of course ! ) the beaches here are fab and all caves and rock . 

Then we arrived at our beautiful resort . A huge resort and gorgeous pool on a cliff overlooking the ocean and the beach is also very beautiful . It is October so not pure beach weather and a very rough ocean but the perfect temperature to put our feet in and slash around .

We then went up to the most amazing huge Bali bed ever on a cliff and overlooking ocean and shared a sirloin sandwich and brownie icecream .

Then we read and fell asleep for a couple of hours ... We both adore napping .

That is a good thing about us as a couple we are very very in sync of what we like to do .

After our nap we went back to gorgeous room and read on terrace in candlelight and then chose a close Italian resto for dinner . 

Going to shower soon in the beautiful bathroom and have a great sleep in the big bed . What is cool about this room is the wa

y it opens up onto a big terrace .

So far Portugal is a real treat ! Tomorrow going to

explore two more beaches and do a cliff hike between them and end up at what is known to

Be ( and confirmed by our family ) as the best Indian food ever !

- I am liking this trip a lot . A few conclusions I have come to so far :

-It is good to take breaks from email and texting ( tomorrow will be the mid way and I will check only then once (

- I am a really good person when I am not busy and stressed ( and on phone all the time ) I am so much better of a person when I am fully present ( hence my rules of no or limited use of technology often on weekends and evenings and vacations  !!)

- my brothers family is way more peaceful and zen and quieter than ours !!!! Omg ... What a contrast ! Our kids are so LOUD ( and so are we !! )  sometimes this loudness is Great and fun but sometimes it is Annoying too 

- I miss our kids and think about them lots but it is also good to just be a couple and go on our rhythm. Usually every year we take an alone trip but has been two years for us ... So therefor this year we are making up for it and doing two alone trips 6 weeks apart :))) crazy ! But since in severance package until two more months only time in our lives this may be doable and feasible from a flexibility standpoint 

Day 4 - I think today might have been my fave of all trips ever taken ( and up there high on hubby list too ! ) such a romantic night last night in our awesome hotel and candles lit by staff on the balcony .The perfect sleep . Felt like a little cocoon :)

Up early this morning ( we set alarm ) and could not tear ourselves away from the hotel so asked for a late check out and they gave us 4 extra hrs !  Slept on beach .. Swam in cold but amazing ocean towards caves on other side of beach .. Ate lunch .. Read ... Left hotel at 4pm and drove to Paria da marinha and was soooooooooo stunning ! Have never seen anything like this place except in the movies . Took tons of pics .. Felt so close and in love ... Rested and splashed in the waves and caves . Portugal will be high on my list to return to one day !!!

Then found best Indian resto ever bro referred and was worth every minute getting there . Yummy !!!!! What a super fab day . We are loving this trip . Also connected to home tonight and two kids and one mom and two friends wrote back so far . Everything is great at home . Being with my mom is a vacation in itself for our kids !! Words like fun and relaxing are used a lot by our kids . I am so happy for them that they get a break too !!! They truly deserve a break from us ( me ! )

I just feel so happy right now .

Looking forward to another great day Tomorrow with sista . An early start and late end in store filled to the brim with fun and beauty and rich history . Gosh I love Europe 

Day 5 - an early wake up again and left on train with sista and hubby to cordoba ....

Found our way through the winding slim streets to the cathedral cordoba and made our way of truly the most original and elegant and huge church I have ever seen 

Sista and hubby used the audio guides to go through and I used mine a bit . In these places I just love to walk around and soak in all the beauty and then usually find somewhere wonderful to sit and admire the view . This time it was in a church pew that was truly heavenly and a great place to just think and write and POnder and even pray a little 

We then went to lunch on a quaint inside patio . Very beautiful decor ... And I watched my hubby and sista indulge in the food . Nothing for me To eat in Corduba ! Lots and lots of eggs and pork and quail eggs ! After many amazing meals in delicious Sevilla and Portugal I am fine with a salad actually . I am a very picky ester and just could not do the cow tongue and pork lips .

Then we went and explored the Roman baths ( the real ones and not the spa ones )

Then a castle with gorgeous gardens and by mid way ( 6pm now) I am sitting at a park bench in front on flowers as fountains . I am tired ! My mind and body are tired out . Walking back soon for the long and scenic walk to the 7:30pm train 

I don't think can do flaminco tonight :( too tired ! Want to sit and chat and then set myself up with my great novel I brought and fall asleep reading 

Had a great dinner ! Fried tofu with red pepper ... Spinach with mushrooms , rice and a super yummy peanut sauce . And a huge assortment of chocolate for dessert . My brother had prepared this for us as we came in .Oh ya ... And of course fanta limone 

I am loving this trip but slowly getting all toured out ! Tomorrow I want to sleep a bit ... Eat a bit ... Go to a nice park and read and stroll along the river . Given it's my bday I think I will be allowed ! Hubby will visit the cathedral and ruins on his own while I read a book in the park and shop a little . We will meet up for pizza on a terrace and walk the girls to school together hopefully in the morning .

Happy almost bday to me :))

Life had Something Else in Store

The meal was succulent and delicious. All five of us sitting around the table just so happy to be together and trying  out some new fancy sirrien food. With a cute dress on in the summer wind in my  hair. All toasting to my early birthday.

Four of us at the table missing the 5^th. Every five minutes checking the cell phone and writing back long responses between appetizers. Forgot to toast, forgot it was a celebration. They messed up our reservation and had to out on the terrace. PS it was night and 10 degrees. Thank god they had heaters. I could not taste the delicious amazing food as my taste buds were too anxious. I brought two pieces of chicken and three fries home in a Styrofoam cup to Chase.

.The Hotel was amazing. We walked first before arriving in the old Montreal area  and admired the city being lit of at night on a crispy summer fall evening. Hand in hand we strolled and found a cute place for coffees and dessert. Leisurely walked and took goofy family pics along the way. We got to our hotel room and admired the view of the great city and all watched a movie and cuddled and feel asleep in the big cozy beds chatting and sharing secrets

After dinner there was no time for dessert so we went to the dep across the street and each had a pack of candy. Hubby and Bear dropped Beauty and I off at the hotel and came in for a bit. Hunny and I got in a huge fight in front of the kids as for the second time he conveniently forgot my luggage at home when he said he was packing the car. That left me with a blazer and a dress and to sleep in with no toothbrush or makeup remover or makeup or anything at all. Beauty and I slept at the hotel and boys went home to Chase. The phone rang at 1am and Hubby and I talked through what was going on at home late at night with Chase. I did not sleep a single minute.

We all worked up and slept in late and went down to Starbucks attached to hotel and ordered our favorite breakfast treats-we splurged! We took it to the 7^th floor rooftop terrace and mired the perfect view. We did a family phots session in our funky clothes and cool city attire and just breathed in the warm air and the beautiful city

Beauty and I work up early (well she did- I was already awake the entire night) since I had no clothes I wore kids clothes about 10 sizes too small for me and went down with Beauty to Starbucks in jogging pants, a t-shirt, a push up bra, a weird hobo sweater with stains on it and totally high heel shoes. Bad breath and crumpled hair un brushed and no makeup with a rash on my face. We got our breakfast and went up to the rooftop and froze in the end and cold. We tool a couple of pictures Beauty and me to remember this sacred moment.

The day was just leisurely and relaxing chatting about nothing and enjoying the sites. Being tourists in our own town,. We window shopped and bought nothing, stopped for a delicious meal at a cozy terrace restaurant and stuffed ourselves with pasta and gelato. We went to the museum and sung in the choir that Hubby sings in. We took a caleche ride on the horse and ate beaver tails. We laughed and chatted.

We walked through the city and sort of looked at a few things that were interesting and Hubby and I commented on them and tried to start conversstions. By the time we made it to the museum some people were way to upset to go in so we just bought tickets and skipped the show. We never made it to the choir show. I went in and saw a dress to try on that I liked and the family started screaming at me saying I was insensitive as they were hungry and fed up. I screamed at them too. We never found a restaurant as everyone was too tense so each took seperate money and ate an indoor food court at a picnic table and gulped down the food. We shared a beaver tail at the end and had a family meeting. Everyone broke down and we decided to call it a day. the kids walked in front of us the 45 min walk back to the hotel.

It was truly one of the worst days I have had in a long time. For chase -I am sure it was by far the worst.

We all went to our cottage after a spend day together in the city and took a family hot tub and watched a great movie and made a great dinner together and spent our last weekend before Hubby and I in Spain together  for the next two weekends (and my bday). We just relax and are calm and cozy and enjoy each other and the cottage

Beauty had a party she was missing at a BFF’s Saturday night and we insisted she miss it and be with Family since only weekend in forever altogether. She goes to party as there is nothing to miss and we figure she is better off having fun at least. To get there is TONS of construction so takes 1.5 hrs to arrive before our 2 hr drive to the cottage. She spends Sunday alone at home.

As it ends up Saturday night with the boys is passable and kind of cozy even. I do a lot of rubbing of Chase’s back and hair and Bear chats in the kitchen with his Dad about his upcoming school assignments while dinner is being prepared. We have good  emotional talks and things  settle down a teeny tiny bit. We are there for each other and go with the flow. We are supportive and sad but always emotionally bonded through the good times and the bad.

In reality-we live life together. As we always do. Nothing will ever replace the kind of support and love we have within our family . We are blessed.

PS-for the privacy of some of the members involved in this post- no details are being written. Let’s just leave it all to the imagination of having older  teens, in relationships, in love. I bet you can put all the pieces together.

PSS-just for some more fun if the above was not enough for you-below is  some pure and simple camera fraud for you. Just so you understand that happy families that post pics on blogs are not always that peachy in reality. Pay special attention to some of the expressions on faces. I could not miss capturing this amazing birthday celebration of mine (PS nobody ever mentioned it was my day celebration and everyone just wanted to get to over with. It was truly the worst day I have had in a long long while)