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[Kevin/Elisea] – engaged – Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer

Kevin & Elisea – their story will make you cry. Well, it made me cry, but I’m a complete and total sap for love stories, and theirs is just especially sweet. I’m so excited to be a part of their day, and and am ready for Elisea’s diva to come out (she swears it’s in there, I just haven’t seen it yet).

Here’s an early preview of Kevin & Elisea and their beautiful children – what a great family they will make (official one – I think they are pretty much a great family already).

Look for more later, when the weather warms up and we can have some fun outside!!!

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Sunday in Segovia

Segovia, sweet, Segovia, how I love you. You have cuchinillo and pago de carreovejas. Translation: roasted suckling pig and the best damn wine I’ve had. Too bad you can barely get it outside of Segovia, outside of Jose Maria, let alone anywhere outside of Spain. I couldn’t even stock up and stash it in my suitcase.

It was a lovely dinner with Irene’s parents, and a stroll around town helped alleviate the happy stuffed feeling. I keep joking I’m coming home “gorda y feliz,” which means fat and happy. Hopefully all the walking has helped with the fat part – the happy part, well, that’s a given.

Despite a frustrating search for parking in a town built for horses and foot traffic, it was a fantastic day.

Sr y Sra Salafranca – gracias.

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Lost track of the days – Cordoba day 1

So I lost count, and I’m skipping around, but really, what does that matter? On Sunday, Irene and I packed up and headed out early (for us, that is around 9:30 am) for Cordoba, in southern Spain.

400 KM, 1 billion olive trees, one beautiful plain (La Mancha), and we arrived in Cordoba, only to drive around for 45 minutes looking for a parking spot. Couldn’t figure out why it was so busy on a Sunday, until we decided to follow a group of people, and stumbled upon a medieval festival right in the center of town.

But only after we visited the cathedral, which was built into an amazing mosque (built in the 8th century). Fortunately, the Christians didn’t destroy the mosque, because it’s beautiful. Wiki this place – the history is just as beautiful as the mosque and cathedral itself.

After fighting the crowds we settled down to a lovely dinner (tapas) with Irene’s friend, then continued walking around until late in the night. Not sure how many miles I logged, but we walked for about 7 hours. My fight may have been tired, but my face was equally tired – from grinning like a fool. This place is a photographer’s paradise!

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Day 14 – final day in Holland

Today was a sad day. While I’m so glad I had the opportunity to meet and visit with my family in Holland, I must say it was hard to leave. They are absolutely wonderful – every last one of them. It was fun to share family stories, look at their wedding photos, reminisce about my grandfather’s laugh (very distinct, if you knew him, you know the sound), and to get a sample of the wonderful Dutch life. I loved it there, and could easily see myself living there (despite the complete and total lack of understanding Dutch).

I had so much fun with Femke & Jan (the two children in the first photo) – – who says you need a common language to get along when there is Uno and Skipbo to be played????

The last morning I went back to Delft with Yolanda & Sonja – – I say back to Delft, because the night before I jumped on the wrong train back from Amsterdam, and blew right past my stop in Voorschoten, and after frantic phone calls and searching for nonexistent conductors, Jan had to jump in the car and pick me up at the station in Delft. It’s much prettier in the daytime.

We had lovely koffie and appeltaart, walked around Delft, and of course, did a little bit of shopping. The trip home was lengthened by a horrible traffic accident, and we were fortunate to be right near an exit, or I’d probably be posting this from the Netherlands – it shut down the highway for hours, no exits. Thank you navigation system!

To my dear lovely family – I can’t thank you enough for your hospitality, your warm welcome, and for making me feel right at home.

Bedonkt.

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Day 13 – Photoshoot in Amsterdam

How often do I get to say that? Not nearly enough!

This summer, I met Ingrid at one of my weddings, and found her to be absolutely lovely, both inside and out. We connected, built a friendship, and when I knew I was coming to Europe, I contacted her and said “hey, if I come to Holland, do you want to get together” and she replied “if you come, do you want to do a photoshoot?”

No brainer. She’s gorgeous. So we set up a shoot with Ingrid and her friend, Miranda, a fellow model, got a phenomenal makeup artist, and decided to do a fun shoot in Amsterdam. So while I experienced the lovely smell of Amsterdam (while getting off the train, caught a whiff), I didn’t see old town, but had a phenomenal day.

Here’s a sneak peek of the hundreds of photos we took. You’ll definitely want to click for the full image on these!

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Day 12 – Touring with Hein

On Monday I got to spend the day roaming around with cousin Hein while he measured for stairs – the brothers are trappenmakers – stair makers, and as I found out, not just any stairs. They do amazing, beautiful work and are featured in places like The Hague, and so many other amazing spots. These aren’t ordinary stairs (www.degraafftrappen.nl).

So while Hein measured, I wandered, and he was kind enough to drive around and show me the sights in Leiden, DenHaag, Utrecht, the Green Heart, and a few others. It was a long, wonderful day.

The day ended with a lovely family dinner with Hein’s family – a traditional dutch meal. Yu-um!

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Day 11 – The Netherlands!!!

This day was the realization of a life long dream – to visit the home villages of my Grandmother and Grandfather…..Zaandam & Halfweg. I can’t even begin to describe how powerful that moment was when I saw the places where I “came from,” so to speak, and to experience a bit of the Dutch culture. There were moments I had to just stop, breathe, and realize it was actually happening.

I also had the pleasure of meeting three cousins (Hein, Jan & Fred) and their lovely families. I love living close to my brother, but I’ve got nothing on how close these brothers are. The night I arrived in Voorschoten, we took a bike ride over to Hein’s home, which took all of 2 minutes. Then off to Fred’s, which took about 30 seconds (ok, maybe a minute), and then back home, another minute or so….I loved it!

I also tried haring (herring) at the North Sea (great place to try….). Not a fan, but at least I tried it. Funniest part was Sonja watching me so she could see my face as I gave it a shot. Jan finished it off for me – thanks Jan!!!

(click for full image)

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day 10 – new friends

Today was a day for driving out into the back country. WAY back. We left Madrid, entered Guadalajara, then went through this small town, then this small village, and through a windy road back back back up in the hills….to a lovely little home for a bbq – spanish style, with jamon, pan, chorizo, more pan, wine, and then a host of grilled things, including sardines.

After eating, everyone walked into this even smaller village (count them – one villager spotted) to the bodegas, the wine cellars in town. We all tried to cram in, but decided to go to a room upstairs, where upwards of 20 people sat around telling stories (I assume), laughing (that I can translate) and having a great time.

I got to practice my Spanish a bit more, made some friends who got to practice their English on me, and pretty much just had a great time.

Tomorrow morning I’m off to The Netherlands for four days!

Es una beuna vida.

(click to view full image)

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Day 9 – Ribera del Duero

You know me, you know I love my wine. If you really know me, you know I love my Spanish wine. And if you love to drink wine with me, you know I love my ribera del dueros. So today was uh-maze-ing, in the simple fact that I got to visit this region of Spain’s wine producers. Oh, and a castle (yes, Clara, a REAL castle). It was stone, and cold, but it had a wine museum in it. Bonus!

Late lunch in a hotel that is a converted convent (is that a con con?), croquetas and this fabulous new dish I’m in love with….and WILL be making at home….

Toured the city, visited the home of Irene’s godfather (who wasn’t home, but I still got to wander into his vineyard), then up to the castle, freeze, visit a wine shop (hello, take homes!), and a laughter filled ride with Irene back to Madrid.

Today was a great day.