Ok so I guess my blogs just magically reappeared.... thanks for all your wishing because it sure did something!!!!
I know you've been dying to see some pictures and that I've been reeeeeally bad this time on not updating so let's start with the first batch of honeymoon pictures. As soon as our photographer (with whom I am very upset with) gives us the CD of the professional pictures of the wedding, I'll post those as well.
Our trip started here!
Madrid!
looking up at the beautiful buildings!
St. Miguel's Market - a cool, restored, market.
The iron structure of the market dates back to 1916, but the site dates back to the middle ages as an area for trade. Now the market has been transformed into a new gastronomic and delicatessen centre in Madrid. Excellent food and wines stalls including fish, meat, cakes, fresh pasta, vegetables, coffee and sweets. Other stalls can provide, books, flowers and kitchen tools and utensils.
The City hall
Almudena Cathedral.
It took some 100 years to complete,
being finally consecrated by the Pope John Paul II in 1993. 
Back view
The Royal PalaceThe palace also has the distinction of being the largest royal palace in Western Europe in size, with a combined area of over 135,000 m² and more than 2,800 rooms!!! Could you imagine??
The site of the palace dates from a 10th-century fortress but the building is actually "newer". The
Antiguo Alcázar (Old Castel) was built on the location in the 16th century. It burned on December 24th 1734,
and the King ordered a new palace be built on the same location. Construction spanned the years 1738 to 1755.
Fantastic Gardens
An old barber shop
Beautiful Fountains in
Plaza de España 
In the center of
Plaza de España is a monument to Spanish novelist, poet and playwright
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Most of the monument was built between 1925 and 1930. It was finished between 1956 and 1957 by the son of the original sculptor.
and beautiful architecture
At 9:00 pm it was still broad daylight!! It got dark at 10:15pm
our hotel at night
One of the many "Tapas" eatery's. Tapas is the name of a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks in Spain. The serving of tapas is designed to encourage conversation because people are not so focused upon eating an entire meal that is set before them since dinner is served between 9 and 11 pm, leaving significant time between work and dinner.
According to legend, the tapa tradition began when Castile's king, Alfonso the Wise, recovered from an illness by drinking wine mixed with small dishes between meals. After regaining his health, the king ordered that taverns were not allowed to serve wine to customers unless the beverage was accompanied by a small snack or
tapa. The word became a kind of loophole in the law to allow drinkers to imbibe alcohol.
Gran Vía (literally "Great Way") built between 1910 and 1917, is an ornate and upscale shopping street located in central Madrid. This street is one of the city's most important shopping areas, with a large number of hotels and large movie theaters; it is also noted for the grand architecture prevalent among many of its buildings.
1890 -Chocolatería San Ginés
Chocolate con churros is a quintessential Madrid treat,
thick and pudding-like, Spain’s chocolate is best enjoyed with
churro sticks!
The
Coat of arms of Madrid -
This statue weighs almost 20 tons! This statue is sometimes translated as the Bear and the Strawberry Tree. The Madroño tree (which sounds like Madrid) is not native to Madrid. The berries of the Madroño tree are red like strawberries. They are very sweet and are really not good eaten raw (unlike strawberries), but are only good to eat when made into a jam.
The
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) is the official name of Spain's national museum of 20th century art (informally shortened to the
Museo Reina Sofía,
Queen Sofia Museum, El Reina Sofia, or simply
The Sofia)
The museum is mainly dedicated to Spanish art.
The central building of the museum was an 18th century hospital. Extensive modern renovations and additions to the old building were made starting in 1980. In 1988 portions of the new museum were opened to the public, mostly in temporary configurations; that same year it was decreed a national museum. An 8000 m
2 (86,000 ft
2) expansion costing €92 million designed by French architect
Jean Nouvel opened October 2005.
Guernica
Guernica is a
painting by
Pablo Picasso, depicting the
bombing of Guernica,
Spain, by
German and
Italian warplanes at the behest of the
Spanish Nationalist forces, on
April 26, 1937, during the
Spanish Civil War. The
Spanish Republican government commissioned
Pablo Picasso to create a large
mural for the Spanish display at the
Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (1937) Paris International Exposition in the
1937 World's Fair in
Paris.
Guernica shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians. This work has gained a monumental status, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace. On completion Guernica was displayed around the world in a brief tour, becoming famous and widely acclaimed. This tour helped bring the Spanish Civil War to the world's attention.
Guernica
some more Mirò
one of the halls
outside on the terrace
Atocha railway station
Madrid's first railway station was inaugurated on 9 February 1851 under the name Estación de Mediodía. After the building was largely destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1892. The architect for the replacement, in a wrought iron renewal style was Alberto de Palacio Elissagne, who collaborated with Gustave Eiffel (yes of the Eiffel tower!)
Inside the train staion, like the
Orsay Museum in Paris, the concourse has been given a new function, a stunning 4,000 m² covered tropical garden!!!
And since we enjoyed Madrid sooooo much, we have already booked tickets to return with some friends at the end of September!!!
More to come on Mexico!
Enrico not so happy about the wave conditions...
sloppy, sloppy waves!
...helicopter landing...
5 people were saved that day...
...what a crowd...
Sunset
The view from the hotel
Fantastic Gardens
Beautiful Fountains in Plaza de España 
In the center of Plaza de España is a monument to Spanish novelist, poet and playwright Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Most of the monument was built between 1925 and 1930. It was finished between 1956 and 1957 by the son of the original sculptor.
and beautiful architecture
Gran Vía (literally "Great Way") built between 1910 and 1917, is an ornate and upscale shopping street located in central Madrid. This street is one of the city's most important shopping areas, with a large number of hotels and large movie theaters; it is also noted for the grand architecture prevalent among many of its buildings.
Guernica
Guernica is a painting by Pablo Picasso, depicting the bombing of Guernica, Spain, by German and Italian warplanes at the behest of the Spanish Nationalist forces, on April 26, 1937, during the Spanish Civil War. The Spanish Republican government commissioned Pablo Picasso to create a large mural for the Spanish display at the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (1937) Paris International Exposition in the 1937 World's Fair in Paris. 
one of the halls
Inside the train staion, like the Orsay Museum in Paris, the concourse has been given a new function, a stunning 4,000 m² covered tropical garden!!!
And since we enjoyed Madrid sooooo much, we have already booked tickets to return with some friends at the end of September!!!