back to reality

We are finally back from Miami. We returned with a bit of a suntan, lots of jetlag, a bigger and rounder pregnant belly, a whole bag full of adorable baby clothes we bought and lovely presents we got at the surprise baby shower for our little girl, and many extra kilos in our own suitcases. M caught my sister's flu, meaning we had to postpone our return flight to the 18th. He's never sick, but when he is, he gets the whole nine yards!

The vacation however was great. Spending time with my family felt wonderful. We shopped till we dropped with my mother, dined to our heart's and stomach's contempt with my father and his wife, and did a few excursions all together on the weekends such as renting a boat for a day. The return to reality is being quite hard, with the jetlag, the temperature change, etc. but thankfully M was prescribed sick days till the end of the week, so we can slowly readapt together to our normal german life. Don't know if it's all the vitamins I'm taking to fight M's virus, or if she's also jetlagged, but our little girl is doing aerobics in my stomach these days. Let's see if we can get rid of it - it being the jetlag, although getting rid of the aerobics would please me as well - before Nat comes to visit this weekend...

Miami vacation

The long awaited February 5th is finally almost here. Tomorrow morning we'll be off to Miami for a 10 day family/shopping sprea/relaxing beach vacation. I have to admit I am bit nervous about the long trip and the possible complications it could have on the baby and I, but I also know that everything should work out fine. It is after all the best moment to travel. I'll wear those horribly tight stockings that prevent thrombosis as ordered by my gynecologist, and follow her advice to move/walk often and drink lots of water during the flight.

I am certainly looking forward to being there, and have no doubt I will enjoy every second of this last-vacation-before-the-baby-is-here. See you when we get back!

Over the Christmas holidays

We're back from Switzerland, where I spent 2 1/2 weeks and M joined me for the last 7 days. The skiing conditions were extraordinary this year with lots of snow, cold temperatures and a terrific blue sky. Too bad I couldn't enjoy them, skiing being too risky when pregnant. Instead, I met friends, spent time with my mother and Yaya, did lots of Christmas shopping and preparations, and grew a small belly in the meantime. That's it: can't close my pants any longer, although I still am able to wear them thanks to the discovery of the Belly Belt invention. I must say I can't wait till my gynecologist appointment next week when M will come with me for the first time and we should find out if it's a boy or a girl...

Summer holidays

As Rancho Chico has been demolished and is no longer an option, we decided to spend an active and cultural vacation this year. And we certainly did a lot and saw a lot. We spent a few days in Switzerland, then drove down to Tuscany, where we had rented an apartment from an adorable old italian couple in lost crossroads Poggio Cuculo. M did not know the region, so my mother and I showed him Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, and the lovely villages of the chiantigiana. We also drove down to Umbria and discovered beautiful places such as Assisi and Perugia. M and I then took the train down to Rome, where we spent 6 days walking the city under Ferragosto circumstances: no Romans, thousands of tourists, and 80% of its restaurants and shops closed. However, Rome still won me over again, and made of M one of its biggest fans. A long weekend at the Dottore's flat in the nearby future is already planned! All in all a wonderful vacation, although I have to say I miss our usual two weeks of relaxing and sunbathing in our lost haven in the south of Spain...

After 2 weeks spent in Italy eating la buona pasta and drinking wine every day, we are on a strict diet since our return home. A two week diet, which should enable us to lose the few kilos overweight, and look as good as the day we met. That's right, it's not because we're married that we don't want to look good for each other! So we're trying the Max Planck diet. Today's our 4th day.... 10 days to go! The hardest thing on this diet is the lack of any spices for me... without mentioning the lack of sleep. I toss and turn every night and all night long since Sunday. But being able to reach my ideal weight of 50 kg in just 2 weeks is definitely worth the suffering.

The secret of the Spaniards

I am back from my one-week-family-holiday with my mother and grandmother. All the efforts we made spoiling and taking care of Yaya were absolutely worth it. She was in heaven and enjoyed this week like a little girl on a rollercoaster ride!

As for the island, it was a big discovery, with its turquese fresh waters, virgin beaches, small houses, and charming ports. "The secret of the Spaniards" as Uma b.'s mother put it; "don't pass it on."

We certainly loved it, despite its unfriendly and inhospitable inhabitants, and will probably go back next Summer; my mother is already talking about renting a house for a month, which will be a big improvement from the hotel we stayed in, with its all you can eat buffet, and bingo animators dignes des Bronzés. So, if house it is, ¡me apunto! Hopefully M. will also come along this time around...

Honeymoon Baby!

Time to leave on our honeymoon! Mauritius it is, spending 7 nights in a small charming romantic hotel. No program except rest, sun, ocean, watersports, and loads of romance... See ya!

Unexpected lastminute family trip

I cannot believe it. I probably won't believe it till I'm there. The whole thing happened so unexpectedly and so fast, my stepmother suddenly telling my mother to join them (my father and her) during our family wedding dinner, M immediately whispering to me that I should go with ("enjoy it for both of us since I can unfortunately not come along"), looking for lastminute tickets online, getting our touristcards...

It is happening though. I am flying to Havana Cuba with my mother on Sunday, meeting my stepmother and father there, as well as my brother who is "living" there for a couple of months; we'll spend 8 days there during the Film Festival, rediscovering Havana (for the second time for me), showing it to my mother who's never been there, living the soon-to-disappear Havana from Castro, watching artsy independant films, and as Hemingway said, drinking "my mojito in la Bodeguita, my daiquiri in el Floridita!"

I don't know what good I have done to deserve this. But I feel truly blessed.

Off

Off we are! Miami here we come! See you when we return on the 13th. Bu'bye!

Escape

The Fall colors might still be here, but the grey rainy cold winter seems to have unfortunalety already arrived. I am not ready for it. I'm escaping it by surfing the webpages of the various shops we'll soon be visiting physically. Preselecting the various items of clothing I might buy -after a convincing fitting session that is- already has me in sunny warm Miami, where we will be flying on Friday to spend our annual one week vacation. Steve Madden, Abercrombie&Fitch, Anthropolgie, Arden B., Gap, Victoria's Secret, Bloomingdales, Macy's, Banana Republic, Ross, and so many more. Well well, time to continue my webpreselectionshopping!

Our last Summer

We're finally leaving. On Summer holidays that is. We're heading to the south of Spain as every year, but this time it really is our last Summer in Rancho Chico, as the highway will be built this Fall. As a result, we'll be getting lots of visits during our stay, as Günter and Monika will be coming with M's nephew, little M, as well as my Mother, Father, and sister. I regret not to be able to spend these three weeks relaxing alone with M, although I'm also glad to be able to share our oasis before it's completely gone.

Happy Summer! And see you in 3 weeks!

Scale of adjectives

It was wonderful to be back in Madrid last weekend. Walking around the city, shopping, wining and dining, but most of all I cherished the moments spent with my family and friends. They were unfortunately too short, as always, but marvelous. Moments to keep me going on for some time until I'm lucky enough to see them again.

But in the scale of adjectives, the strongest ones is the one to come. I am heading to a fabulous trip with my mother tomorrow. We will spend 11 days visiting and discovering the marvels of Jordan and Syria. A trip like we used to to do often when I was younger. An exciting and long awaited adventure I have been looking forward to.

I will therefore be absent from this blog for the next two weeks. But returning with phenomenal stories, flavours, smells, colors, and images to share. Till then take care of yourselves please. And be happy.

Back...

... from absofuckinglutely fantastic holidays

... in Madrid and its 'youmaycallit' desert heat (even if it has cooled down an itsy bit)

... to being alone: M left today =(

... in the office, as unmotivated as humanly possible

... in the 'waiting' (Mercedes Benz called on July 11th to inform M that they had chosen another candidate...)

day @ the pool

on vacation

On vacation
Back on July 18th

Rancho Chico

On Saturday, Marc and I will be heading to Motril, in the South of Spain. After a five hour drive, we will arrive at my childhood Summerhouse, a haven called Rancho Chico surrounded only by avocado trees. We will spend two full weeks of much deserved farniente: reading, ocean/pool/and sun bathing; cocktailing, eating, wining, and playing chess.

Also, I will try to search the house and rescue old family photographs, diaries, and miscellanous items. Rancho Chico might be destroyed very soon by the damn highway. It just might be our last Summer there.