This time last year we were anticipating our trip to Barcelona and Lisbon. Excitement for the adventure and time spent with good friends. It was a wonderful trip!

Beauty.

History.

Amazing food.

It didn’t stop there. We went to Los Angeles for our nephew’s wedding in July. Another moment in time where we were able to see a different landscape than where we come from. Spending time with family and friends. Enjoying time away from our every day life.

Birthdays and anniversaries we celebrated in between these epic trips and I got to spend 10 days with my best friends!

We ended our year with a trip to Boston, Rhode Island and Maine. You heard me, New England in December! It was so cold but it was amazing because we saw people we love and that made my heart warm.

Our friend was commissioned as an Officer in the US Navy in Newport RI. It was very special and catching up with friends was so good. I also checked Rhode Island off my states I had never visited as well as Maine 😘The temperature was 15° and the wind coming off the water made it feel colder.

We had dinner in Boston at a restaurant we have had on our Yelp list for a while now. Alma Nove owned by the WaIhberg’s. It was a beautiful restaurant with warm and inviting staff. The food was delicious. A great evening. On the drive there we saw the very first Dunkin’ and had to stop and FaceTime Bernie’s dad because that is his favorite coffee place. Did you know Quincy (Boston) is the birthday of Dunkin’?

Our final destination was Maine to visit our dear friends Faith & Ian, Betty & Joe and Kellie & Lars. This visit was especially sweet. I am so grateful for Faith because last year at Christmas she was fighting for her life. God spared her life and I am so happy because Faith is very special. Love you Faithie!

Faith and Ian took us a little driving tour of the coast. Coastline was amazing. We stopped in to surprise some friends that have been in our life for a very long time. Special people…Betty and Joe. Both of our families have been intertwined for many years and it was great to be able to hug on their necks.

We ended our time with Kellie & Lars. Bernie and Lars have been friends for a long time and even share the same birthday. They have a beautiful home that they are renovating. You should follow Kellie at http://gratefullyvintage.com/ We had a beautiful dinner at The Tiller Restaurant in Ogunquit ME.

It was so good to be able to connect with friends. It was good for my soul. We want to make plans to visit them in the summer.

I ended the year with a cold and cough that has hung on way too long but it was great to spend the holidays with my parents and cousins. I am extremely grateful to my parents for all they do for us especially when they take Luger when we are away. Even though I was sick, Bernie and I were able to see three of the five movies we wanted to see over the holidays.

All this to say is, I have had a very full year with amazing opportunities and I am grateful.

Praying for 2020 as we move forward. Excited to see what God has planned for our family this year.

I can’t believe it has been just over a week since we have returned from an amazing vacation to Barcelona and Lisboa! You count down the many months, weeks and days and then once you have arrived it goes so fast.

I’m starting with Lisbon even though we went there after Barcelona but I have all those photos edited so here you go.

It was an amazing week spent with great friends. I love to travel. To see parts of the world that have such a rich history. Where the lifestyle is completely different from ours. I should take one of those DNA tests because I feel like I am 100% European. I love the way European’s experience life. Walking everywhere or taking the train (their systems are so much better than ours…at least Atlanta’s) Shopping at markets and carrying your bread and fresh flowers home. 💛🌻🌷💕

We stayed at a beautiful apartment which was located across from the Praça da Figueira. A big square that has an outdoor market called Mercado Da Baixa which has been in existence since 1855.

These are photos around Lisboa.

I fell in love with the tiles on the buildings and the sidewalks are also beautiful. Gorgeous! We met our friend Débora’s parents and they told us about an authentic tiles shop called Sant’anna. We of course took their recommendation and bought a tile or two to take home with us for a constant reminder of the beauty that is Lisbon.

The food!

We had great dining experiences. The highlight was Bair ro Avillez’s Pateo restaurant. We sat at what I call the Chef’s Table. It was in front of the window where we could experience the activity in the kitchen. The chef’s working each station. The Head Chef calling out the orders as they came in and the communication between them. The food coming to the pass. The tasting to make sure it was good enough to serve. The plating! Wow! I was in heaven. We met Chef Adriano who was very gracious to take a moment from the busyness of the kitchen to take a photo with us! The food was amazing. I had the Sea Bass and the desserts he recommended were out of this world!

Other foodie highlights were Forno d’ Oro and Ti me Out Market.

Of course you can’t go to Lisboa and not try Pastel de Nata or pastéis de nata (plural) because you can’t have just one! We went to Manteigaria and Pastéis de Belem. My new favorite! I really need to learn how to make them. It is a custard tart. I can make creme brûlée so I think I could do that part but it is all about the crust! Buttery and flaky layers of thin dough. And coffee, my order was a Cortado) and pastéis…yes please!

And finally, Jeronimos Monastery, Sintra, Pena Palace and Cascais.

The colors. The history. The beauty.

Cabo da Roca is the most westernmost point in Europe mainland and we were there on a beautiful day with sunny blue skies.

Lisbon is colorful and just beautiful! If it isn’t on your travel bucket list, it should be…and go with friends who love travel, culture and food as much as you do.