Madrid and Toledo

We find there is this reoccurring theme in our travels. Just about the time we are really comfortable where we are it is time to move on. We both have a sense of when this is supposed to happen and have been together on all the decisions of when and where to go. We look at this as a God thing and both know this is how this time is supposed to be. We know that each place is very special and our absolute favorite while we are there and that this promise holds true for the next place. So when it came time to move on, we changed our direction from Barcelona to Madrid. We were excited to see Gabriella and spend some time with her.

Gabriella is Liviu’s next to youngest sister and to put it mildly a real spitfire.

At twenty-four years of age she has lived and worked in numerous countries to better her life. She currently is working towards becoming a law enforcement officer. No easy task in Spain but nonetheless, her goal. I suspect she could do anything she set her mind and heart on. To say that she is a hard worker would be an understatement. She too, has had a hard life and has worked very hard to get where she is now. She never complains and feels as if she has been extraordinarily blessed. She is amazingly kind and extremely generous.

So when she sent us this e-mail there was no doubt that we would go to Madrid and visit with her. “Desiree mama and father, please come to my house. We see Toledo and Madrid and I show you everything. Be prepared to walk your feet off J J J! My house is our house and you stay as long as you can. I will cook for you and take you to Chino food-no cat or dog I promise” well, with a deal like that who could say no!

Gabriella is a lovely woman and we have grown to love her immensely. Her brother Lorenzo (that’s how he spells it now that he is in Spain) was there also. They did walk our feet off. We would head out the door by 9:00 a.m. often having dinner at midnight somewhere in the city.

We had a blast! Different than our life in Zuherios but very real Spain. We ate octopus (they had told us it was porpoise so we were pleasantly surprised), Argentinean food (Gabi’s boyfriend is from Argentina) and a variety of all of their favorites. We would stop and have a cup of coffee late into the night so we could continue with the night activities. It was awesome. We took the double decker bus tour through Madrid late at night and it was fabulous. We had walked the streets for hours and this gave us a different perspective. It can best be described as a cross between San Francisco and New York and it comes to life at night.

Madrid is beautiful and we loved being there with these two young people.

To say that our time their was lovely would be an understatement. It was hard to leave; forever imprinted in our hearts is the kindness and generosity of these young people who showed us life in Madrid.

I think were heading off to Basque country…will let you know how that goes!