Weekend in Madrid

Before July comes and goes.... here's a quick look at a wonderful birthday weekend in Madrid! I think i've planned every birthday since i was 5 years old, but this year was a special treat planned by Ricardo. I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful the day was. take a peek....

It started with fresh orange juice and pancakes =)

(and a beeeautiful bag from Loewe's- see below picture in Retiro)

Then a suprise visit to Medina Mayrit, a Hammam/Arabic Spa in Madrid

http://www.medinamayrit.com/site/banos/presB/

lunch at Plaza Santa Ana- our favorite! croquetas, bravas, claras, the works! a nice afternoon at Retiro park

and one last suprise to see Lucinda Williams in concert

(we saw her 2 years ago at Radio City)

and before i left.... a nice day at the pool with my friend Silvia

San Fermin 2009

After July 4th I headed off to New Jersey for a session with work. From there it was off to Pamplona, Spain for "Running of the Bulls". So here's a little picture of how the 24hrs went upon arrival. 10:00am- Arrive to Madrid, few hours nap, conference call, then 4.5hr drive to Pamplona. We arrive around 8:30, meet up with friends, and head to dinner around 10:30. Dinner was in a traditional clubhouse where the local men prepare us a nice Spanish meal. After dinner, a few drinks until about 3:00a.m. We head out to the festivals until 6:00 where the friends head back to the house (they've done this many times before....). Ricardo and I stay up- the Running doesn't start for a few hours. We finally take our place around 7:30. (Don't worry- we're not actually anywhere near the bulls, but just within the streets, so we can say we did it. 7:55, gun goes off, gates open and running begins. 7:55.5, LeeAnn gets thrown out by cops for wearing a bag (which could be a potential hazard). 7:56 we run around the outside to reach the plaza so we can atleast see the bulls run in. 8:02, the bulls arrive and so do we. Quick snap shot, and then the other events inside the plaza. 9:45, we make it home to finally rest! I'm not quite sure how we stayed up the whole night. I'm not even quite sure I did this in college. None the less, what an absolutely amazing experience! Next time, I think I'll just park it around 7:00 as an observer. But the ambiance was like nothing you can imagine.

in sequence of events: dinner

on our way to run, no idea who this guy was- but loved the costume!

in preparation......

and we arrived just in time to actually see the bulls

and after the enter, they release the small bulls

July 4th 2009

Like Christmas in July! How wonderful it was to be home, relaxing on the lake, spending time with family. I could have used a few more days and wish I could have caught up with friends along the way. Time just goes too quickly! Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July!

The Richards

Funfetti cupcakes were delish!

You can actually see her growing in this picture!
what a sweet sweet little girl

and then there was 1

32 bands, only 1 survive. Meet Love Division..... 1st place of the 2009 Gruta 77 Competition in Madrid, Spain!! proof that hard work and determination do pay off!

De ja vu

Madrid, Copenhagen, Madrid and repeat...... I just spent the past few weeks in Denmark for some sessions with work. This was great in so many ways- 1, because I got to fly thru Madrid and spend a few days on both sides of the trip. 2, because Ricardo was able to join me in Copenhagen the weekend in-between (and it was 5 years ago in June that we actually met in the same location!). and 3, because the new job has me on a fast track consulting program that I am just loving! and so..... repeat, I leave next week to do the same trip again. This time with a stop in Pamplona for San Fermin and the Running of the Bulls! Stay tuned....

an afternoon in Madrid

Nyhavn in Copenhagen, DK

a walk in the park

where we first met 5yrs ago.....