Being that Christer turned the big 4-0 this November, I asked where he's like to celebrate his birthday. His answer was Israel. Well, weather in late November is iffy in Israel, so we took that trip a month early.  As a second birthday present (it's only fair..we can't stay home on his special day), he chose Spain. We decided on the Andalucia area, only because the Ritz-Carlton has a lovely hotel in Marbella called Villa Padierna (http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/VillaPadierna/Default.htm). Christer looooves his Ritz-Carlton's, so I booked the room and off we went. Wow! Now, we've stayed at several Ritz-Carlton's in our days and love them for their phenomenal service and friendliness. It is always top-notch and you leave feeling like a Rockefeller. 

So here we are, in Spain, its Christer's birthday and we receive a knock on our door. It is room service, wheeling in a birthday cake (Feliz Cumpleanos, Mr. Bradley) and a bottle of Cava (a divine version of sparkling wine).  Moments later, one of the girls we'd just recently met (and works) at the hotel, arrives with a very generous gift for Christer (personally, from her and her husband). We were absolutely blown away. Dinner comes around and we are once again treated like stars...this time to complimentary glasses of Champagne (Taittinger) and a SECOND birthday cake. I tell you, it is insane how kind and generous everyone was.  And I'm not just saying this for the cakes, bubbly and the thoughtful gift, but rather with the idea that we can travel to a foreign country, know not a soul upon our arrival, yet leave having met people who are just as warm as the friends/family we have back home.  This is the real gift!

Marbella, for us, is an exceptional place. One we look forward to revisiting, if not for the beauty of the area, then to see good friends. We highly recommend a visit. And.....try to make it Villa Padierna!!

 

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