Formentera, Spain

Formentera was a last minute stop and a last minute decision on my way through Spain. It is a small island in the Balearic Sea just off the coast of Ibiza.

I am so glad I made the decision to stop there. It hosted the peace, quiet and solitude I was longing for.  It gave a me a chance to do the writing I have been wanting to catch up on. I was able to write 30 pages in three days and set the wheels in motion for me to write a book. What happens to the book when I am finished is in God's hands.

Thank you, Formentera!

The view from my room

My work station

I wrote 30 pages in three days looking at this view. Not a bad office.

Nighttime at the hotel

Sunrise. I swear I didn't leave the hotel for three days. It is heaven here.

Pretty, pretty

I finally left the hotel today and took a bike ride around the island.

It was a bit overcast and rainy, but still beautiful.

The overcast clouds made for a pretty sky.

Walking towards Espalmador

The water here is like the water in the Caribbean 

The following day had a clear sky full of sunshine. It made a big difference in the color of the water.

The beach I went today is Platja de Ses Illetes

The camera doesn't capture what the eye sees. I couldn't get enough of the water.

Maybe tomorrow, I'll actually take a picture of my face.

That is a shark in the water. Well, not a real one. They were shooting a movie.

I took a bike ride to the other side of the island and popped into this sweet little cove, Cala Soana.

And this is what I came home to.

Another beautiful end to a beautiful day in Formentera.

More of the same beauty at a different beach today.

My new Italian friends.

I will be sad to leave here tomorrow. It has been by far the most peaceful stop on the tour thus far. 

A Special Encounter in Madrid

During my journey around the world, I have met many people and have had many amazing experiences, but none more touching than while on a short walking tour of Madrid this past Saturday. 

As I stumbled into a tapas bar across from the royal palace to rest my feet, a young waiter approached and began to describe the specials. He spoke in broken English, but enough to convey what I needed to know. He became curious about where I was from and why I was in Madrid. I told him briefly and nonchalantly of my travels around the world this past year and how I gave up my home, my car, my job and my life in the US. There was a look in his eyes that I could only describe as a quiet wonderment.

I paid my bill and headed out the door to where he followed me and insisted of knowing a way to contact me. He wanted to meet up for a coffee so he could hear more of my story. I declined, but instead gave him the address of my blog. Not thinking anything of the exchange or of the waiter, I continued on my way.

As I was walking out the door for the airport this morning, I received a phone call in my hotel room. It was Rodrigo, the waiter, desperately trying to explain his urgency in contacting me. I was in a rush and impatiently wanted to end the call so I passed along my email address. I spoke carefully to him of the shortness in time I had to spare and abruptly said goodbye. Again, not thinking anything of the exchange, I continued on my way.

As I boarded my plane for Ibiza, I received an email from Rodrigo. What he wrote touched me more than any one person has along this journey. I was flattered and humbled that such a brief encounter could have had such a lasting impression. With this experience I am reminded of the innate ability we all have to inspire and affect those around us and possibly change their lives with just our stories.

Here is what Rodrigo wrote:

Hello & will be untill another

Chrissy,

  

Power would have stayed with you last night was great, when I met you at the restaurant and spoke to me about your story I felt something completely different, but rather something very brave,free & full of conviction.

After I have come to know a thousand things at his head, looking forward to go forward with my life, my desires, I saw something in you that would like that should endure as long as possible, I think it conveys something powerful, unique and gives me a go for good & cool things I always wanted to find.

If you ever want to share something with someone thinks of me, because I'll be waiting, I met you just changed a lot in me.

Scroll to the bottom of the greatness of the world, there are people who simply change your life. like you

A big hug

Rodrigo.

Essaouira, Morocco

I am currently spending most of my down time trying to catch up on some personal writing so, unfortunately, I will not be spending a lot of time writing for the blog. 

Here are some great pictures from my recent visit to Essaouira, Morocco.

My first night's sunset

The view from my hotel's rooftop

The view at breakfast

A beautiful storm rolled in

Company on the rooftop at breakfast

The best hotel room in town

A room with a view

Waves crashed just below my window

The sweet and colorful streets of Essaouira

Mint. It smelled so good.

In the medina

The ladies preparing argun nuts to make oil

The city at night

Rooftop view of the main square

Rainy night walking through the city streets

I helped to make some argon oil

The best tour guide in the whole world. He delivered the best two days I could have asked for.

Marrakech, Morocco and the BIG birthday!

This post will be updated soon.

Birthday '11 started with Kamil as the host

The chefs that cooked us a 5 star meal of fresh lobster salad and veal wellington

The dining table

One of the many impressive corridors in the house

Birthday cake number 1

Birthday night number 2

Hosted by my sweet friends, Saad and Slim

Birthday cake number 2

The after party

In da club

This is how they serve Moroccan tea. It is the best tea I have ever had. I drank it every day.

Jam el Fna Square

The Argana cafe where the bombing happened a week earlier.

Street performers in the square.

Add caption

The poor guy who had to carry our luggage to the taxi. It's not every day you pass a mule on the street. 

Food in the market

Birthday cake number 3 came from the hotel staff.

A Winter's Break

From Christmas to mid February, I spent time with my family in Cincinnati helping to babysit my 11 year old niece. I hadn't decided where my next venture would be, so I took a short trip to Miami and stayed with a long time friend who was in desperate need of help. She was ill and had no idea. I was able to give her the guidance she needed and point her in the right direction in finding a proper doctor to give her a proper diagnosis. She was in bad shape, so I spent the next three weeks re-organizing her house that had been severely neglected.

This is the annual South Beach shot I get every year with friends in Miami. This year my friend, Vera stopped in town from LA for a visit along with her friend Paula from Brazil.

Once my job was done and I was able to see she was on the road to recovery, I was free to plan my next trip. As I said in an earlier post, Dubai is top of the list!

More fun in Dubai!

I went back to Dubai to visit my friend that hosted my previous stay. I spent 10 days reliving the fun and excitement I had experienced back in December. After Dubai, I flew back to Florida to meet up with my family in Sarasota for Spring break week. My mom, my sister, my two nieces, nephew and I spent the holiday week soaking up as much sun as possible.

It took all day, but they finally managed to bury her. One tiny handful at a time.

I then headed to the Hamptons for a quick weekend jaunt, back to Cincinnati for Easter then it was back to the chalkboard to begin to plan my BIG birthday coming up on May 7th.
The decision was finalized shortly thereafter........Marrakech, Morocco!