To Spain I Go ... or went rather :-)

Here we find ourselves with another picture blog. Stories will be inserted how I fell in love with the BEST pan chocolate (don't even know if its called that here), found lovely tranquility, saw an amazing movie, and to no surprise re-re-re-fell in love with the love of my life Sonia-Rodriguez-Bermejo-promised-to-Moises-Vega.

Welcome to Guayedra... well not really. This is the sign leading to Sonia's family home outside of Madrid in Rascafria (which is about an hour outside of Madrid). Guayedra itself, is a wooded area from Sonia's home island of Las Canarias (I need to get myself to there the next time).

Here is the home that Sonia's father built many years ago. It is one of four houses built in the park. Shortly after building the government put an end to building in order to preserve the park. Lucky for the park and privacy. Internet ...not SO lucky. But after being here you really don't care about the outside world and that alone is beyond priceless.

This is the main door into the house. It gets its own picture as Moises (Sonia's most endearing, loving, sweet fiance) had to scrape it across the cement and every time would shout different EDWIN catch phrases as the loud screech would pass.

Ahead we walk into the kitchen, bathroom up ahead (with a lovely NEW shower that has shower heads from above, front at waist level and head) if only I could figure out the water heater.

These steps led up to the three bedrooms above which we preheated thanks to Sonia and Moises'  very efficient system of warming the house which starts around 5pm with the furnace

This is the couch area (as I snuggled UP ON the furnace) watching THE ORPHANAGE...GO AND GO AND GO SEE THIS MOVIE produced by Guillermo del Toro. It was here that I also loved watching Sonia sing a beautiful La Traviata

The Gate Keeper!

The view JUST outside their door, can I move to here?

The lovely couple... though $2,049 to anyone who can get a picture with Moises smiling!

This was a picture stop on our way to Segovia (ski lodge)

The next pictures are taken from the car while moving (this camera, though the LCD screen is broken, is quite amazing)....

This next series of pictures starts my one true obsession in all of Europe: The ancient Roman built aquaducts in Segovia. Just beyond stunning...

I MEAN REEEEEEALLY!?!?!?!

Theres that NO SMILE again...

Cochinillo is a delicacy (baby pig, where the skin is SUPER thin and crunch); when ordering for 6 they bring a whole pig to your table and slice it down the middle with a plate; quite the presentation

Sonia was really taken by this painting...

This is a picture of a baby coffin and I woulda got a better angle but since the sign said NO PICTURES I had to snap this around the guards walking back and forth...

There is a non-no-smile here...so I think this is the best we're gettin....

I think at this point Sonia was making some weird noise to go along with picture. This lady is a goof and I loveth her so.

One of my favorite pictures!

Vega's in Spain...DUH!

Sonia made me be (many) pictures

Pit stop for tradition calamari sammich

Traditional Spanish garb (these dolls represented these dancers from each region of Spain)

These next pictures highlight some of the street performers in Spain. Some of it was kinda wacky. Below is a llama or some kind of animal... that clacks/barks. As people come to put money in the bucket sometimes it leaps out at the spectators and people go crazy over it.

Still don't get it.

It got a little interesting when a dog got in the mix and was constantly barking at the "llama thing" for five minutes. Oddly enough, I couldn't be pulled away.

Hand's down the BEST BEST BEST pastry in all of Europe. The chocolate to pastry context was ten times that of any other pastry. To me that deserves a gold medal!

I do love this girl.

I don't trust the holder of this camera...

Yummy pastry shop (see pic above) that barely had ANY walking room.

The following picture in this series had to be eliminated... its a family blog people!

My favorite panoramic shot

Another street performer .... a few more below...

Angry Spaniards

Pastry Happiness

Happiness for the subway....mega clean and only one euro!

I HAD to get a football jersey! Viva Espana! Echa palante!

I loveth this picture and I was at least ten feet away; go camera!

I love sitting down and looking (anywhere); hence this picture

Thank you Sonia and Moises.

I love you both dearly.

You made my trip such a meaningful one.

xo

E