Every year, Microsoft invites me to their annual get together in the US.  Its a small gathering of about 15000 close friends :-) and its where we talk about the year past and what the plan is for next year.  Its a fun time as you get to meet alot of the people that really run Microsoft.  This year it was in Atlanta, and I think its my 15th time I’ve been to one! 

However the best part of going to the US for this event is to have the opportunity to keep going and fly to Spain to visit mum.  After a lot of convincing (maybe not successfully enough) with the Princess, I was eventually “allowed” to go as long as it was not going to be a holiday..but just a visit :-)

So on the way to Spain, I stopped in Miami for a day and spend it looking around.   The only way to describe Miami is like a Surfers Paradise, but 10 times bigger and full of Cuban people.  Infact the entire time I was there I never got to speak English!  Thank God my Spanish is still ok!

Here is a view from my hotel

  This is Miami Ink (popular show on the Discovery Channel) I was very tempted on getting another tattoo.

I landed in Madrid after a terrible flight with American Airline’s (tip ..never fly with them) and my nephew Jose Luis (or now known as Jay!) was kind enough to pick me up from the airport!

After spending the day with him and my brother Pepin’s family I went to visit my mum at her hometown and “pueblo” El Provencio.  A couple of things to note about El Provencio, firstly its a very small village were wine and garlic are the main produce.  You can imagine the smell of garlic all around.  Its actually quite nice!  The wine they manufacture there is now one of the best wines Spain produces outside of La Rioja and cheap is an understatement.  3-4 Euros your buying yourself an award winning Tempranillo…very very nice!

Mum was in super form.  She has a beautiful house, literary where she was born.  All her neighbours and friends are in some way or other related to her and she lives a peaceful beautiful life.  One of the reason’s I wanted to go and see her is to see if she was ok and happy.  I knew that moving back to her hometown was a big deal and leaving us here was upsetting for her.  But now I know she made the right move.  I was very happy to see, how happy she is!…it makes my life so much better!

Mum outside her place and view from my bedroom window and mums street

I spent a week and half with her.  It was very relaxing and peaceful and I even got her and my nephew Danny to attempt to meditate with me in the mornings..didnt work so well.  It was great to connect with her again.  My nephew Danny and niece Jacqui where with us pretty much the whole time and it was great to spend time with them.  Danny is an amazing flamenco guitarist who I have already posted about.

Here is Danny, Jacqui and my mum outside a lovely named bar – Javi (that’s my Spanish name!)

Because my brother Pepin loaned me his car we had the chance to get out of the village and explore other amazing place just an hour or so away.  We visited Cuenca and Albacete and spent the day eating and shopping.

I also got to spend some time with my other nieces Jessica and Samantha, and met Jessica’s fiance Alvaro.  It was great seeing them again and glad they are really happy in Spain.  Alvaro is a crack and a super guy…very happy for Jessica to have finally met a cool guy! :-)

Jessica and Alvaro and a photo I pinched from Samantha’s facebook as I forgot to take a picture of her!!

My uncle Roman lives a few houses down from my mum and it was great to see him and spent some time with him and his family.  He was diagnosed with Cancer recently and is in treatment.  I send my deep love and positive energy to him everyday..and hope he gets better soon.

My uncle Roman…love his hairdo…

While at the pueblo, my cousin Luis, who now lives in Melbourne with his lovely partner Carrie (good aussie girl!) celebrated his son’s Riley baptism!  I was fortunate enough to video the entire ceremony and created a movie for them.  It was a great event with most of my extended family there.  It was great to catch-up with all my cousins and uncles and unties that I have not seen for years….man I have a big family!

Little (NOT!) Riley! and the beautiful gothic church in the village

Before coming home I wanted to spend some time with my nephew Jay in Madrid, with his gorgeous partner Miriam, baby Ariardne ( coolest girl name ever) and step son Alex.  I spent the weekend there and wished I had spent more time.  They have a terrific family it was great to be with them.  We went to the centre of Madrid for some lunch and shopping and it was great to see that Madrid has only changed for the better.

My grand niece (jesus…that makes me sound old) Ariardne and some Jamon!!

  Jay, Miriam and Alex in Madrid!

It was sad coming back, I felt a part of me is still in Spain (I guess I will always be Spanish..no matter how Australian my accent is!) but it was great to come home.  The saddest part for me was not having Melanie there with me.  I think she would have loved learning where I come from.  It was a shame we couldn't manage to get her there, but it wont be the last time.  We certainly plan to go back together this time very soon.