Holy Toledo! Spain - Day 1

Ah.... ALONE... our first trip ALONE, just the mom and dad, together, a couple again, minus our two adorable daughters, one on one, just me and my boyfriend, husband, best friend... It's like a second honeymoon of sorts - only 9 life-changing years later. It's no secret that the last year has been quite interesting - mainly because Justin spent approx 50% of his time in Madrid, Spain... (that means it started at 25% and at the end worked its way to 75%... averaging about 50% for the last year). On many different levels, this trip was NEEDED!

I had been looking forward to going for months... applied for my passport back in early February, had it in hand early March. We somehow managed to trick Justin's parents into coming to stay while we left them with EVERYTHING - house, dog, kids, projects - and jetted off to Spain.   Thank you, Britt and Cheryl, we could not have done this with out you!!!!

I planned and planned and attempted to document every detail I thought the Grandparents may need while I was gone... turned out to be a 7 page document. It included a schedule of everything the kids do, directions, addresses and phone numbers for places they go (school, swimming, YMCA games), fun things to do, basic details about each kid - what to pack in lunches, what they like for breakfast, etc... You know, the ins and outs of my daily activities with the kids. I informed their teachers, left notarized medical release forms, finished our estate planning details in case the unthinkable happens... It was a process.

Process completed... We were off... Houston to Newark, Newark to Madrid... even being smushed into a seat next to my husband for those 10 hours felt good... it wasn't even exit row, but we didn't compain - because we were together. Arrival in Madrid... a quick check in to our hotel., the gorgeous Hotel Palace right in the heart of Madrid - walking distance to every sight imaginable. And we were off again... Toledo... a 30 min ride on the Renfre high speed atoche (train). Toledo was amazing - it is surrounded on 3 sides by a river and at one time a wall protected the city from the fourth side. The city is built up onto the hill and had amazing views in every direction. We visited the Museum and Cathedral at the top of the hill and I took plenty of pictures. Of course, I am now wishing I had more of the two of us together, you know how that goes...