Portugal: Évora

After a day in Sintra, we set off in the opposite direction toward Évora. Driving there was impressive, as you have to go across the Vasco da Gama bridge (gulp) and drive through wine country (okay, now that I'm up for).

Compared to the hustle and bustle of Lisbon, some people would say that Évora is a sleepy, small place. Not at all. Évora is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has a history going back to Celtic times. But, more importantly, everyone was friendly, welcoming, and warm.

Évora also has Megathilic monuments dotting its countryside, along with Roman monuments, and beautiful palaces and churches. A big draw for me was the Capela dos Ossos. Why? 'Cause I'm creepy, I guess? But it is a chapel that is entirely covered in bones. Upon entering, you will see a sign that says, Nos ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos. This roughly translates to "Lying here, we bones await for yours". It is a reminder that death is the great equalizer, and that we all will meet the same fate someday.

Now, if you are ever in or near Évora, you simply must go to Restaurante Típico Guião. It will actually be the first restaurant you see if you go into the Évora town center via the Rua da República. It is a small, cozy place that has some of the most delicious (dare I say the most delicious?) food we had in Portugal. If you are lucky, you will get the same waiter we did, Joseph. And you will be in for a delightful treat.

This is a but a sample of the pictures taken on our trip. If you want to see more, please visit my Flickr album.

Portugal: Sintra

Fortunately for us, our hotel was closer to Sintra than it was to Lisbon's city center! We rented a car and were there in less than 20 minutes. What can I say about Sintra? It is truly, truly amazing.

Like Bruges, Sintra is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Even though it is mostly known for its 19th century buildings, it has been settled for a very long time. In fact, Paleolithic era settlement indications have been found!

Our visit happened on a...temperamental day in regards to the weather (heavy rain one moment, searing sun the next). We saw the town's "center" (although it is not the center exactly...Sintra is actually made up by two cities), and visited the Palácio Nacional da Pena and Quinta da Regaleira. Both are pretty awe-inspiring and impressive, although Quinta da Regaleira takes the cake with it's creative use of underground passages and constructions. I mean, it has inverted towers!

Sadly, we were only able to spend a day there, so we did not get to see everything. We will definitely return some day to see all it has to offer.

This is a but a sample of the pictures taken on our trip. If you want to see more, please visit my Flickr album.

Honeymoon: Lisbon, Portugal

Ah, Lisbon. Our first meeting was a bit...rough. We had a delayed flight and then finding our way out of the airport was a bit hectic. When we finally found a taxi, we realized that the hotel was much further away from the city center than we thought. Oh well. That just adds to the adventure!

Lisbon is a beautiful city. It certainly has its charms. While there, you simply cannot miss de Casteló San Jorge, the Monastery, the Sé, and the Torre de Belém, among many other places. And you would seriously be depriving your taste buds if you missed the pastéis de Belém from Pastéis de Belém! (You need to go there...we tried other places, but Pastéis de Belém wins by a mile. Be there by 9AM and you will avoid local and tourist rush hours.) You should also cast any dietary apprehensions aside and order the seafood. All of it. It is delicious and magnificent.

Just be careful when ordering coffee...Puerto Rican coffee is strong, but Portuguese coffee? Wow, it really packs a punch!

This is a but a sample of the pictures taken on our trip. If you want to see more, please visit my Flickr album.

Honeymoon: B is for Belgium (and Bruges)

Our first stop: Bruges! Damián had been wanting to go ever since watching the film In Bruges. When I suggested visiting, it was a no-brainer.  Plane and train tickets were booked, Bruges, here we come!

Bruges is a charming, beautiful, and wonderfully preserved town. "The Venice of the North's" center is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site. A weekend was the perfect amount of time to spend in Bruges, as we were able to visit the majority of the sites (and more importantly, see the Bruges dog!) and have some down time after the hectic days before and after the wedding.

This is a but a sample of the pictures taken on our trip. If you want to see more, please visit my Flickr album.

Mondays

Happy Halloween!

Some detail shots of this year's Halloween décor/party aftermath. Believe it or not, this is actually a bit more subdued than last year's.

We tend to take Halloween seriously in these here parts. Well, by we I mean me. Damián is a good sport, but I am the one that is personally invested in the festivities. He does help with the party, though.

Wishing all who celebrate a happy and safe Halloween! 

Just dipped my toes into Bloglovin...we'll see how it goes!

Feel free to follow my blog with Bloglovin!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Hello!

I've been away for a while, haven't I? My apologies! Life's been busy, what with crazy work schedules, family commitments, and many other things.

Oh, and this...

Picture taken by our friend A. Delannoy.

That's right! Damián and I have tied the knot. Looking forward to sharing pictures with you all and talking about our experience when planning a wedding. Let me tell you, we got by with a lot of help from our friends and family. And, at times, perfect strangers who happened to appear at the right time and place.

Stay tuned!

Beards

Image from BeardBeanie.com

"If we move somewhere cold, I'm going to grow some facial hair over the winter."

"Why?"

"My chin gets ice cold. It just feels like...if I move it, it's going to break off from the rest of my body."

"I'll get you one of these. Now your chin won't get cold, and I don't have to live with a bearded man bear."

Full disclosure: My father has a beard. My gramps had a mustache for most of his life. But I just can't date a man with facial hair. Not even Tom Hiddleston.

I'd rather barre

In the face of deadlines, I used to work out. Now I stress eat. I really should be here, but instead, I am sitting at my computer, trying not to raid the fridge...

Loss

One of the biggest reasons why I stopped blogging was that I pretty much couldn't write. I was at a loss for words, probably because we were experiencing the loss of people dear to us in the past few years.

My grandfather passed away almost two years ago. It was sudden, truly unexpected. Last I'd seen him he was fine, he was happy. He was doing well. I will never forget the last time we spoke, how I told him that I loved him. He replied, "And I love you, mija. You don't know how much I love you."

My grandparents fed my thirst for knowledge and my desire to travel the world. I grew listening to my grandfather's stories from when he lived in Spain and Mexico. My grandfather always listened to me, and supported me, no matter how much he disagreed with my choices. Along with my parents, my grandpa and grandma taught me that I needed no man to live a full life. They taught me that I could stand on my own two feet and make my own way in the world. They told me that you could never learn too much and that I should never stop learning.

This is not to say that we didn't argue. I remember a spat we had because we had very different political views. He got so upset with me; he was actually shaking. But we agreed to disagree. He wasn't happy that I had decided to change my original college applications (I meant to study medicine or engineering; I ended up changing to English). But I had never seen him glow with such pride until I defended my master's thesis. I'm glad that I got to share such an important day with him, but there are so many more that I wish he could have seen.

I don't think we ever truly forget or get over someone you lose. You just learn to dull the pain, and you tell yourself that everything is okay. I was lucky that I had my grandfather so long, but not a day goes by that I don't remember him. He will always be a part of my life, and I will treasure the memories of the times we spent. I don't know what happens after death, but I know that he's out there, somewhere. Probably with grandma. Making fun of me because I'm a softie.

And even though I don't know for certain where he is now, I know that he'll always be with me. I carry him in my heart.

What I've been up to: Mexico

Another place we visited during the blog hiatus was Mexico. I've wanted to go ever since I was a little girl. As a child, all I ever did was read. (Well, and chase boys. And jump off rooftops, but that's another story.) Through books I was able to travel around the world and slowly build a bucket list of places I wanted to visit. Mexico is one of them.

We found a Groupon for a Mayan Riviera eco-hotel, and it was a done deal. I would've loved to have stayed more (it was only 4 days), but we made the most of it. We cannot wait to go back!











If you'd like to see the rest of the pictures from this set, feel free to visit my Flickr.

What I've been up to: China

One of the things I did during my (quite long) hiatus was visit China. We went right after the 2013 Airpocalypse, so we were a bit scared as to how the trip would go. Thankfully, before we set out for China, the situation improved. We were able to enjoy two lovely weeks there. Yes, it was gray. Yes, it was quite cold. (Well, for us. We know that you have it worse right now thanks to Polar Vortex 2014.) But it was a wonderful experience, and we definitely want to go back some day.











If you'd like to see the entire set, feel free to see it on my Flickr.

Dragas at the Park

I love drag shows. I don't get to go to as many as I would like, but I was lucky enough to attend Dragas at the Park this past February 9th. It featured some favorite local queens, and, of course, the gorgeous April Carrión! If you've heard of her lately, it's because she's competing on this season of RuPaul's Drag Race!










These are just some of the pictures I took. If you'd like to see the full set, feel free to visit my Flickr.

Personality Style Challenge I

Jaimie from Brilliant Earth was kind enough to reach out to me and invite me to be a part of their Personality Style Challenge. How could I refuse?

Click for larger image.

Day Look: Saint Laurent blazer, Yves Saint Laurent black flats, Rag & Bone Legging skinny jeans, Brilliant Earth accessories. Night Look: Saint Laurent Blazer, Christian Louboutin heels, Lacoste + Malandrino Women's Tuxedo Shorts, Moss Bro white normal collar dress shirt and black bow tie set, Brilliant Earth accessories

For day, I try to streamline things. I'd fall into the Minimalist, no nonsense elegant style. But, most importantly, I need to be comfortable. I'm currently teaching, which means that I am on my feet all day. No heels for me! Comfortable flats, jeans, and a snappy shirt. The blazer ties it all together. Keeping my hands simple, but elegant, with the 18K White Gold Luna Ring and the Comfort Fit Wedding Band. A pop of color never hurt anyone, so the White Gold Sapphire Halo Earrings add the finishing touch.

Now, for a night look, I would ramp up the glamour. I would keep the blazer, but definitely switch things up. Borrowing from the men's department, a men's shirt and bow tie paired up with Lacoste + Malandrino Women's Tuxedo Shorts. I've moved the blue from the earrings to my feet, with these beautiful heels.

As for accessories, the Eclipse Diamond Earrings and the Sienna Diamond Ring add a hint of sparkle. I'm ready to dance the night away!

So, what kind of girl are you?

Thanks to Jaimie Herrmann and Brilliant Earth for this wonderful opportunity!

Should be working...

...instead, I'm fixing up the blog. Hmm.