On my Way back to LA via Düsseldorf

So, as we finally got our passports back from the embassy, I decided to spend a few days with my dad in Düsseldorf, before heading back to LA. It was quite a climate change, from still summery Spain to very autumny Germany - but I loved it. I always get so tired of my clothes at the end of each season :) In fact, I enjoyed the rainy weather so much, I even went for walks along the Rhine river, equipped with an umbrella and my ipod. So without any further ado, my impressions of Düsseldorf (all shot with my iPhone). 

Letter Chaos on the floor

Raindrops on a fallen leaf

Reflections after the Rain

More Raindrops

Walnuts everywhere

Raindrops on the Grass

My umbrella from the inside. It reads "The german summer is a winter painted in green - Heinrich Heine"

Old tiles in a shop on Hohe Strasse

Missing my Mister

Boy cycling towards the Rhine

The Rhine on a sunny day

Pic your own flowers - and deposit the according money below

Abandoned gummy fish

The Mister

As most of you already know, I have been nurturing a growing feeling of admiration and good old plain love for my mister. This november Mister M. will have been sharing my life for the past 13 years, and it fills me with pride and pleasure to share these really cool pics with you guys.

Being completely terrified by cameras (video and photo equally) I always watch in wonder and admittedly jealousy, when people feel confident when "watched" through a lens. Mikki is one of those. I guess, growing up with a photographer mom helps... at least that's what I tell myself :)

Anyways, to make a long story short, these are the results of two photo sessions: one by Mikki's brother in law (the genius behind his latest videoclips) and a friend.

all photos above by Ibon A. Totorika

all photos above by Jean Ynomas

Summer Days

While I'm spending my last few hectic days in Spain, I finally got the chance to post some more pictures of my summer. I can't believe we ended up staying two full months, instead of the one we initially planned! But it was really worth it, a lot of things have kind of naturally shifted into place and it seems like we're heading in the right direction, making way overdue decisions... but more on that on some other day. Here is a roundup of the last 3 weeks or so (I love how you loose track of time in summer). The days are still hot in this part of the world, although the nights keep getting cooler. On tuesday I'm heading north again: Düsseldorf for at least a week - while I (im-)patiently wait for the US Embassy to return my passport. Can't wait for "real" fall weather!

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Trip to the US Embassy, Madrid

Atocha Renfe Train Station in Madrid

I have this thing for taking pictures of the street whenever I'm on a higher level - I can't help it

Getting up early to head to the Embassy

Maybe you should also watch out about the hight of your vehicle while driving a truck - just saying

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Mikki's Birthday

Donut cake at 12:01 am (the real deal was still baking in the oven)

Boat trip with amazing views on the Marbella shore - amazing how different the city looks from the sea

The "real deal": home made carrot cake - our birthday tradition

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Work and fun

Hard to believe, but this was work: view from the NIMO. table on Cool Beach

Detail of my table

A tiny street in Marbella's old town

The best discovery of the summer: Crusoe's freshly squeezed juices and cocktails on the beach

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Home

"Guinea-perro" (=Guinea Dog) a neighbors dog that looked like cross between a guinea pig and a dog. Although walking seemed hard with those short legs and his fat belly, he always seemed to be smiling

First hints of Fall: color changes in the sky

Quick escape to Portugal

Last week we went on a quick trip to Portugal's west shore, which is a 5 hour car ride from my home in Marbella, Spain. It was a unplanned adventure. We just knew more or less where we were heading, no hotels booked and no fixed plan as to stay one or two nights. And believe me, booking no hotel is a real adventure in the month of August!

We spent our first beach day at the beach of Amado, right next to Carrapateira. From there we traveled up north, through a gorgeous scenery of dry landscapes and breathtaking beaches.

On the second day we headed further up the coast to Odeceixe. There we were to meet some brand new facebook- friends and a real world friend from the other side of the planet (read: Australia)! To make a long story short: just take my word - there is no such things as coincidence! Some things are just meant to be :)

On this second day in the Algarve, I survived my pathetic little attempt at surfing. I must admit, it was a lot of fun and even though I got salt water in my eyes, ears and mouth and made two involuntary summersaults inside a wave, I could still get why so many people are hooked to this sport!

Luckily we were invited to spend the second night at the place our new friends from Pura Vida Portugal were building (we actually were the first people to sleep in one of the houses!) and so we headed back home on the third day after heaving breakfast in Odeceixe, where we also scored some pretty nice harem pants (which have been part of my "uniform" for the last 4 years!) and some typical queijo (cheese).

Portugal, I can't wait to visit you again!