HIRE ME!

If anyone in Veguin or Oviedo area sees my friends the Chus brothers Please tell them TO GIVE ME A JOB in Asturias. I will work for Cider and Empanada from Casa Ortea!

Si alguien en Veguin o Oviedo ve a uno de mis amigos, los hermanos Chus que les digan que por favor ME DEN UN TRABAjO en Asturias vendiendo electrodomesticos. Me pueden pagar en sidra y en empanada de Casa Ortea!

Indio Navajo

This is my friend Dennis Rogers from the Navajo Nation. He danced for the kids at our school today during a pep assembly, where he ALSO substitute teaches. Dennis dances around the world and I had no idea how great he is until I had the pleasure of watching him today.

Arromanches les bains.

This is one of the beaches where the ally forces disembarked on July 6, 1944. There are still plenty of remains from the mulberry harbor used to unload troops and vehicles during D-day. You can walk on low tide and touch them and take pictures. Not far from there are the other beaches, including Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc where the rangers climbed up the cliffs and disabled some of the German defenses.

Mi otro trabajo

Black Friday sucks. Capitalism at its worst.

La terraza del Valle

My husband Miguel and our friend Pablo (who looks like a young Anthony Bourdain, I know I keep saying this) on the terrace of El Valle in Veguin. Damn I miss Veguin right now :(

My Favorite Madrileno Waiter

I need to get this waiters name next time I see him. He looks like Dustin Hoffman and he can be found at the middle station behind the bar at La Torre del Oro in Madrid. I just recently posted about this bar but I want to stress just how much I enjoy stopping in and bringing my friends here. The pinchos are fantastic and range from gazpacho (my all time favorite) to rice or cold vinaigrette salads. The bar is located in the Plaza Mayor and closes briefly for siesta. I really recommend dropping by, trying a cold Cruz Campo cerveza, AND say hola to the Spanish Dustin for me!

La Couronne

I ate the best oysters on the half shell here that I have ever eaten in my life. This restaurant opened in the year 1345. Every course is presented with pomp and circumstance. The cheese course at the end of the meal is incredible. Miguel ate foie gras and I had the sweetbreads. This was a really nice experience and I will definitely go back next year.

I love France

I love France. Best bread in the world. The only thing I don't care for about France is that It is not Spain.

La Torre Eiffel

This year as one of the lifts was out of order the wait to go back down was looooong! As I am a very impatient type I left my friends for a thirty some flight walk down the tower. I beat my husband by 25 minutes and let me tell you I had rubber band legs for several days after. Hats off to anyone that walks UP this structure.

Maestra de cocina

Having menu del dia with our Americana amigias. This  was one of their favorite  destinations on our worldwide tour of Tudella Veguin

OLE'

The restrooms at La Torre del Oro in Madrid. I visit this bar several times a year. I adore the waiters (ex bullfighters)  and LOVE the pinchos!

Bar El Valle

My little town of Veguin may be tiny, but it has some of the most charming bars in Spain. El Valle for example is unique. I love the terrace in the back of this enormous bar. Smokers can enjoy a cigarette and I can savor my sidra and soak in the views of the Asturian mountains and Rio Nalon in the background. You will want to stop by El Valle and say hola to Monica (pictured above) and most definitely order 'una botella de sidra'

I am homesick for Spain. I miss pinchos with my drinks. I miss jamon y queso bocadillos. I miss olives. I miss mahou cerveza. I miss the energy of Madrid and the tranquility and beauty of Asturias. I miss chestnuts. I miss seafood soup. I miss hot wine y figs. I miss Bar Orteas empanada. I miss Bar Camacho. I miss Bar Corea. Bar Josti. Bar El Valle. I miss everything Spain. I miss it a lot.

Mis Alto Hijos

Hitching a ride

My friend Charles shot this picture as we were enjoying biers in a brasserie in Paris. We laughed about this and it made us all miss our doggies in the United States that were patiently waiting for us all to come home to them.

First class, hell yes!

 I love the high speed train from Madrid to Asturias. Ten years ago it was a solid 8 hour journey, but with the high speed improvements through the Asturian mountains we can now make it in just under 6. The great thing about rail travel is the seats are unbelievably roomy (even for the wide butt) and so much leg room. It is quite refreshing after a 9 hour flight with your knees just under your chin! Since I will never be able to afford first class airfare I indulge in very affordable first class train accommodation's. The meals are very delicious and include before dinner cava and after dinner liquors. ...........

The food AND the cava AND the liquors were lovely...... as well as the nap that followed  zzzzzzzz

señoritas

Mi amigo Pablo

My friend Pablo Montes Garcia looks like a young Anthony Bourdain. Don't you agree?

Con Goyo y Luis en Bueño.

Bonito Empanada

I have a secret. I know where the best empanada is made in the world. My personal favprite is tuna. I could eat Bar Ortea empanada 3 times a day for the rest pf my life. I love emanada. I love emanada. I love empanada

I saw the President!!!

Yes I have been gone for a long time. I have been on some wonderful adventures though and I cant wait to share! I will start with the most recent and work backwards.... I took a spontaneous road trip to Des Moines Iowa to see and hear President Obama on his final campaign rally stop. My friends Ximena and Marta and I seriously feared that it would be the beginning of the end with the election the next day. We knew we would regret it forever if we did not drive 3 states away and stand in line for 7 to 9 hours without peeing and subject our bodies to massive crowds, cold Iowa night temperatures and super scary secret service agents. We were treated to several songs and a beautiful speech by a very smokin' hot Bruce Springsteen, a down to earth and from the heart speech by First Lady Michelle Obama and then President Obama. IT WAS AMAZINGLY AWESOME!!! Oh yeah and a week later we won Florida also.......

February Tornado's in Kansas

We expect tornado's to happen during the spring months here in Kansas. We certainly never expect a tornado in February.These are images from a F-2 that hit around 9:30 pm in Harveyville  Kansas. The residents had no warning. My fathers house is six miles from this town but when I called him he was just fine. I can not imagine how devastating it is to lose everything you own in a matter of seconds.