by Missie Hills | Mar 1, 2019 | Europe, International Adventures
When our friend Adam told us he was participating in the infamous Running with Bulls ceremony during our group trip to Spain, Jason politely said, “Have fun. It was nice knowing ya.” And he thought that was that. But I wasn’t about to let my adorable hubby miss out on a once in a lifetime adventure. I knew that he would never be content watching Adam run for his life while he sipped coffee from a safe distance on a cozy balcony. So, I did what any good wife would do. I talked him into running too with full intent of watching while I sipped my coffee from a safe distance on a cozy balcony.
Little did I know, I just signed my husband up for a real life thrill. I was sure that the danger associated with bull runs was imaginary. In my mind, I compared it to sky diving or bungee jumping. A little dangerous but mostly safe. I was wrong.
I started to notice how wrong I was shortly after we arrived in Pamplona. Everyone we met had something to say about the festival and nothing led us to believe it was safe and sound. Every TV in sight had clips from that mornings run showing people getting trampled and carried off in stretchers. Suddenly, my heart sunk. Would I be leaving Spain a widow?
The morning of the run we woke before the sun rose, dressed in all white with splashes of red, and headed to the streets. The ladies and Little E had booked a lovely balcony promising the best views of the run the city had to offer. Everyone’s nerves were on high. But we were quickly distracted once we hit Town Center. The previous night’s festivities were still going strong. Ok, strong is not quite the right word. The streets were packed with rowdy, stumbling, not so great smelling, patrons celebrating the previous morning’s bull run. That day’s run was about to start in 2 hours! How would they every clean these streets in time?
Somehow they managed to clear out the rats and clean up the streets. And clean, fresh, but very anxious patrons started to pack the streets. The air was full of anticipation. Jill, Ethan, and I were comfortable in our cozy apartment above the streets. But our hands were shaking as we were starting to think this was the dumbest thing we have ever let our husbands do. My mama brain started to wonder, What kind of mother lets her toddler witness this carnage?
When we heard the first rocket sound, we knew there was no stopping those bulls now. We anxiously watched from our balcony, and within minutes, we saw the hoard coming our way. Everything happened in a flash. We couldn’t pick out our men. We watched as random men got trampled and prayed that our hubbies didn’t have the same fate. Once the run was complete, we watched the entire thing on the TV. We watched as one guy got trampled enough to put him on a stretcher and another got gored in the side by black bull horn. Time seemed to take forever while we waited to get those phone calls from our husbands saying they were all right.
But alas they were. Adam arrived first with a few tears in his cloths and a bloody knee. Jason soon followed with nothing more than dirt on his pants. Both had epic stories to tell. Both were running high on adrenaline. We celebrated with some breakfast tapas and beer. Then when the streets cleared, we started our exploration of the city. The charm of the city captivated me quickly. I’ve never met a cobble stoned street I didn’t love. And something about donning the traditional all white and red with everyone else added to the experience in a special way. We filled the rest of day with celebratory chocolate milk and cognac (a run tradition), delicious food, and of course a lot of sangria.
All in all, the experience was something we will never forget. Did the boys get a little to close to the edge this time? Did our rush for adventure take us a little too far? Maybe. But to quote Ernest Hemingway, “Only those who are prepared to go too far can possible know how far they can go.”
Until next time,
by Missie Hills | Feb 23, 2019 | Europe, International Adventures
Everyone has their favorite things to do while travelling. Mine are about as standard as anyone’s… 1. Food 2. Architecture 3. Culture. Jason would put history in there somewhere, but I never could get that excited about history. I covered food pretty well in my last post about La Boquira. So now, for the architecture!
Walking through the narrow alleys of the Gothic Quarter immediately transferred me back in time. But back into which time, I couldn’t quite tell as I was hit with details swaying back forth between Medieval and Roman.
One moment I’m exploring the Roman ruins of Barcino preserved under the city in the Museu Historia. Then, a quick step into the empty Saint Agatha chapel brought me quickly back into the middle ages with its gothic alter. And just as quickly, I’m led out onto the steps of Plaça del Rei, a 14th century medieval public square.
The shifts in architecture fueled my obsession with details. But as usual, Jason had no patience for the never ending snapping of my camera, and I was left to scuttle behind the group trying to catch what I could while keeping up and not getting lost. I think Little E inherited my obsession as well. He made sure to point out every lion shaped gargoyle in sight while adding in a fierce growl each time.
And OK, OK, I can’t get through even one post without mentioning something about the food. What’s a stroll through a beautiful Spanish city without a stop for some Sangria and Tapas?
Jill and Adam had already visited the Cathedral of Barcelona. Because of what they saw, they wouldn’t let us miss it. We got there just before closing. Jill and Adam stayed outside with Little E, and Jason and I hurried through the massive church. We have seen so many churches in our travels that we have gotten a bit numb to seeing the real beauty they can offer. However, this cathedral showcased gothic architecture in a hauntingly beautiful way leaving both of us a little breathless.
But little did I know, the Cathedral of Barcelona wasn’t even the most extravagant cathedral in Barcelona. Nope, the award goes to the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família.
Interestingly enough, the word gaudy doesn’t actually stem from the architect Antoni Gaudi. But boy is his work gaudy! I mean just look at this building…
The Sagrada Familia has been under construction for 136 years, and it is still incomplete! I found it to be possibly the most marvelous church I have ever experienced. The interior design has an ethereal feel filled with so many elements of nature that force your eyes up to the heavens. The stain glass fills the white walls with a vibrant rainbow of colors, blue and greens on one side, red and oranges on the other. The exterior is loaded with sharp gothic designs, symbolism that made me feel like I was in Dante’s Inferno, and a lot of creepy gargoyles. Little E loved pointing out all the unique creatures while making strange growls.
My catholic travel buddies were taken aback by the touristy flashy feel. It didn’t help that the church was missing holy water at that entrances and the pews or alters for prayer. It didn’t really seem like a place of worship. Eventually, we did see where the actual worship hall was located at the lower level bringing my skeptic friends a little peace. But perhaps they still weren’t really feeling present in the moment with the sun bearing down heat waves on us and the final world cup game teasing their attention in nearby bars. So, I was convinced to leave after about a half hour lured away with promises of sangria and croquets.
For me, the Gaudi style can be compared to that middle aged lady you all know who wears loud colors, mixes prints, and covers herself in a ton of costume jewelry with large beads and rhinestones. And yet, after experiencing the chaotic mix of details the church offered first hand, I fell in love with its quirky personality. I mean who wouldn’t want to live in this house.
And just for giggles, let’s bring us back into the Gothic style one more time… at the Maritime Museum, which turned out to be way more pleasant than I could have imagined. I had no idea that another trip to another museum would have me mesmerized in even more beautiful gothic architecture. The building is a 13th century shipyard turned military building, now turned museum. So while Jason got his fix of history, I got my fix of looking up in awe at another beautiful ceiling.
There really are so many reasons people end up loving Barcelona, the tapas, the friendly people, the fashion… I hear it time and time again from my travel crazy friends, “Barcelona is my favorite city!” For me though, I fell in love with the city because of its dramatic flair, where nothing is soft and inviting, and everything is fierce and exciting.
Although I’m just a simple country girl who rarely wears much more than studded earrings and a single pendant necklace, I can still appreciate the art of the gothic style that is so different than me. Seeing things so different than me is precisely why I travel after all.
And for proof that not all moments are picture perfect…
Until next time,
by Missie Hills | Feb 3, 2019 | Europe, International Adventures
La Boquira… the name just rolls off my tongue. La Boquira, La Boquira, La Boquira…
Nestled in the heart of the Las Rambas lies La Boquira, a massive foodie market that might as well be heaven for my millennial soul. From the moment we crossed the markets threshold, beautifully ordained with an exceptional crest, my senses where overwhelmed with the strong smells of seafood, colorful piles of spices, and the hustle and bustle of the crowd.
The market was definitely overly crowded. I suppose being the best at anything will draw a crowd. This pushed my anxiety a bit as I don’t like to be crammed into places much. And pushing a baby through the crowd made things a little more complicated. But if we can’t handle pushing a stroller through a crammed crowd, we probably shouldn’t claim to be travel parent pros. So, we pushed on.
We stopped often to snap photos of weird fish and to try unique items like ostrich and kangaroo. The local vendors didn’t mind mine and Jill’s obsessive photo taking. They pretty much waved us off as crazy tourists. Little E really enjoyed the fresh squeezed juice. Actually, we all did. The market was dappled all over with these adorable fruit juice stands. I wanted to try every flavor!
Jason was super excited to have his first taste of parnil, a dried ham known to be an expensive delicacy. Jill was super excited to get a stick of chocolate covered strawberries. I was super excited to try some hot seafood empanadas. And Little E was super excited to have his cup of fresh fruit. Everyone was happy.
We eventually sought refuge outside the stuffy market for some fresh air and space. And even though I could have spent my entire vacation in that market, I agreed to continue our exploration of the city into the gothic quarter.
I couldn’t stay away forever though. The next day, I was determined have one more visit to the market before we hit the road. So, while the hubby’s headed to fetch the rental car, Jill, Little E and I made way to La Boquira for lunch. We loaded up on fresh pasta and more fruit juice and found a quiet sidewalk to sit on and people watch.
This market really embodied Barcelona to me, a city where mediocrity is nowhere to be found, where everyone is entitled to the best delicacies, and where being fresh and unique is a state of mind. Yeah, typically a crowded stuffy area is the last place I want to be. But sometimes, I know I need to let myself get caught up into the chaos. Sometimes, I should let my senses go on fully loaded overdrive. Sometimes, I should just embrace the culture shock. Because I didn’t travel halfway across the world to accept anything less.
Until next time,
by Missie Hills | Jul 8, 2018 | International Adventures, North America
2018 has been a pretty hectic year for us. With my mom moving to Houston to be closer to us, we finally had the opportunity to take some mini weekend sabbaticals to visit old friends and explore cool cities. We started the year with a trip to Miami and a quick stop in the Bahamas. We made our way up to Chicago to catch a Cubs game. And we had a great family reunion in Waco. Nothing ever quite compares with spending time with family and friends. But we were craving some culture shock. So, when are dear friend asked us to join him on a weekend trip to Mexico City for his 30th birthday, we didn’t think twice.
It was a city I’ve always wanted to explore. But I never knew it was so easy to get to. It’s only a short 2 hour flight from Houston. With amazing restaurants, museums, and nightlife, a weekend doesn’t really do it justice. But in typical Hills Family fashion, we packed in as much as we could using Memorial weekend to give us the extra day.
We were meeting up with a group of 10 people all ready to party for the birthday celebration. And here we show up: Jason looking like a pack mule in his tropical dad shirt with a massive baby carrier on his back and me in my floppy hat and big camera on my neck. And of course Ethan who was more excited about playing with the red velvet ropes in the valet line at the hotel then meeting new people. I worried about how this group would react and if they would be okay hanging out with a 2 year old toddler wild card. Thankfully Ethan was a champ, and we didn’t have any bad public breakdowns. The group seemed to love having him around, and he never got in the way of everyone having a good time.
We started our trip off wandering the city center and having some traditional Mexican food for lunch, a much welcomed change from our standard Tex-Mex that we are used to. The Museo Mural Diego Rivera was a good break from the heat and worth a stop. We took some time really digging into the famous mural continuously spotting something different and obscure. We stopped in a tequila and mescal museum and had a solid round of samples. Our trip was officially kicked off!
We had a great dinner that night. Mexico City really does have some amazing restaurants. Here’s the horrible part of travelling with a toddler, though. After dinner, one of us had to go back to the hotel, and I drew the short straw this time. So while I spent my night trying to convince a very sleepy 2 year old that he was in fact tired, Jason spent his night enjoying a crazy Lucha Libre wrestling match. And because I wasn’t there, there are no good photos of that to share.
On Saturday, we hired a van to take us to Teotihuacan, an archaeological site packed full of memorizing pyramids. The drive out gave us our first good view of the real Mexico City. We could see just how massive and packed it truly is.
When we arrived at the pyramids, we unfortunately got sucked in to a tourist trap from the driver. He sold us on stopping at a shop for use of clean bathrooms citing that the bathrooms in the complex were horrible. Once we got to the shop, the owners immediately dragged us into an uninteresting tour of the agave plant and obsidian carvings. Then, they tried to convince us to spend hundreds of dollars on the carvings. Needless to say, I was pretty unhappy about this. It wasted a good hour of our time. But once we finally got to the pyramids, I let all my anxiety go.
We walked through the Isle of the Dead, climbed the Temple of the Moon and the Temple and Sun, and felt our wanderlust be fulfilled immediately. It’s also important to note, that the bathrooms inside the complex were pristine. My anger towards our driver continued to bubble up with this fact. I really don’t like people taking advantage of me!
I was so impressed with Jason as he carried our 35 lb son up the Temple of the Sun with no complaints. He is such a good dad. He constantly amazes me. But I have my moments as a mom too. Specifically on this trip, I got the honor of changing a blow out poopy diaper at the very top of the Temple of the Sun and carrying the diaper in my purse all the way down. Awwww, the joys of parenthood.
After an exhausting few hours climbing pyramids and dodging aggressive sells-men with cheap trinkets, we were ready for a margarita! I had heard about a cool restaurant nestled inside a nearby cave, but our driver insisted that you needed a reservation. When I told him that I had already checked and we indeed did not need a reservation, he insisted that it would be too crowded and that we should try this much better restaurant (undoubtedly owned by a dear friend of his). I had about had it with this driver and his tricks and wasn’t going to budge from what I wanted. Therefore, we insisted on seeing the cave. Ultimately, our driver agreed to take us there.
And I’m so glad he did. The food was amazing and the atmosphere even better. We did have to wait for a table for about a half an hour. But they had a great outdoor waiting area equipped with a much needed bar. The wait was no issue at all! And for an added highlight to our trip, we added a new exotic food to our list of strange things we have tasted, worm larvae. They tasted similar to lentils, and although I didn’t find anything particularly special about them, the experience was worth having.
On Sunday, we had a full day packed of exploring the city. We started early with a bus ride to a beautiful castle, Castillo de Chapultepec. The bus ride there was interesting enough. The city closed down the main street for the morning to let bikers take over. I wish all cities did this! You could feel the energy within the community as so many citizens came out to enjoy the day together. It really added to the beauty of the city. We passed through many markets where we did a little bit of shopping before climbing to the top of the hill where the castle perched to looked over the beautiful city.
After we toured the castle, we found a great lunch spot with amazing fish tacos. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see the famous landmark, Angel of Independence, before we caught Uber rides to our big event of the day, Xochimilico.
Xochimilico lies about 30 minutes outside of the city. It is referred to as the Venice of Mexico due to its tangled canals full of colorful boats. It’s a very touristy destination, but I’m pretty good at being a bit touristy. So, I didn’t mind. We loaded up on beer and micheladas before boarding our 4 hour boat ride fully equipped with load speakers and a mariachi band.
And the party started! Ok, Mommy and Daddy friends, if you are ever worried that travelling with your kids means you can’t have fun, let this inspire you otherwise! You just have to find the right type of activities that will let you let lose while the kid is still occupied enough to not be bored. I wont pretend it wasn’t a challenge, but we were mostly successful, even after Ethan threw his tablet into the water. It still worked later that night, Amazon Fires are amazing y’all!. With music blaring and the micheladas continuously being fed our way, we were the life of the party on the water. Other boats thought we were crazy. And we might be featured in a few Youtube videos as passerbys found us hilarious jumping at the opportunity to catch crazy tourists on their phones. But we didn’t care.
Mid-trip, we made a pit stop at the Island of the Dolls. Which is even more creepy then it sounds.
Even after our solemn stop to the Island of Dolls, we still felt the need to make the boat into our personal disco. The dolls just fueled our craziness to a new level.
This trip truly brought out the best in us, a group of grown-ups just wanting to let loose and have fun.
When we returned to the city, most wanted to rest before hitting the nightclubs for one more night. We relaxed in a beautiful courtyard right behind our hotel. It marked then end of my journey through Mexico City, while the others still had a night of crazy adventure ahead of them (which ultimately ended in a hospital visit, but that is another person’s story for another time).
Mexico City won my heart. I had no idea this amazing city was so close to us. And now I can’t wait until I return. Perhaps next time for an extended stay?
Until next time,
by Missie Hills | Nov 6, 2017 | Local Adventures
So, I’ve been getting complaints that I’ve been too absent from social media lately. Seems like everyone wants to see more of us and hear about our latest adventures. Yes, ok most of those complaints were from my mom. Nonetheless, I have been absent. Between work, photoshoots, and trying to keep up with a very large toddler, I haven’t had much time to write and post photos of my own family.
And I still don’t have time. But I can make time to show off these awesome photos from a great weekend we had about three weeks ago. The weather is getting nicer and we are getting outside more. We packed up for a short weekend and headed south to Goliad State Park.
We visited some of the local missions, and of course, we couldn’t pass up the local brewery. It was a wonderful weekend. It felt nice to see more of this wonderful state we call home.
And as we left, covered in mosquito and fire ant bites, we felt even more Texan, bursting with state pride.
Until next time,
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