Ian and I took a short trip to Saint Augustine, FL a few weeks ago to photograph for our stock portfolio. Take a look at some of the images I took while traveling.

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One of the people that I met down there was Kevin May. Stefanie and I met Kevin last May when we were photographing Leslie and Andrew’s Key West wedding. Kevin is an amazing writer. I am currently halfway through his book, Eden, and I am super excited to read a copy of his next manuscript that he slipped me when we met up this past trip. I find it fascinating to meet new people and keep in touch with them when I travel. I try to stay in touch but I’m not always the best at it. If you are traveling to Orlando and want to meet up, feel free to drop me an email, I’m always looking for new people to meet!

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Does anyone know of any really good travel blogs? I am looking for inspiration for my next adventure. One of my favorite travel blogs is about a young woman’s travel around the world, called, Me-Go. I poured over her blog in early 2007 longing to travel like she does. One thing that I hadn’t made a priority in my life is travel. That changed this year. This summer I embarked on my first adventure out of the country in over 5 years. After that trip I was hooked! Another adventure presented itself this winter which lead me to the most memorable night of 2009. The night I got lost in Madrid.

After several days of roaming around Madrid with my travel partner, we were ready to head our separate ways. I had an amazing evening planned of tapas, beer and flamenco. I made reservations for a flamenco show later in the evening that was rather expensive. I had a feeling that this evening would be a memorable one, though it wasn’t the flamenco show that did it. I ended up at a tapas bar on the way to the show knowing that I had an hour and a half to kill before start time. This evening was the first I’ve had drinking and dining alone in a foreign country, and I was a bit nervous about it. I went to the tapas bar and ordered their beer on tap. With each drink that you order at a tapas bar they bring you a small dish of basically whatever they would like to give you. I don’t remember exactly what I had that evening, it’s not pertinent. The bartender and I didn’t speak the same language but that didn’t stop him from flirting with me. When I closed my tab he even brought me another beer and tapas. I must say, it is definitely fun to be a single woman in Spain.

Saying goodbye to the young bartender, I headed out to find the flamenco show. I had seen a flamenco show in Puerto Rico a year earlier when I traveled with my friend Abby to photograph a wedding in San Juan. I knew that I was in for a treat. It might have been the 3 small glasses of beer and the fact that the flamenco show was in the most confusing part of Madrid, but of course I got lost. After about 30 minutes of not finding the flamenco show, I noticed that I was walking through apparently the hip young downtown area of Madrid. I found a local bar that looked like a small dive bar that maybe would fit 20 people max.

After ordering a drink from the crowded small bar a guy next to me asked me a question in Spanish. I told him that I only spoke English. He got excited and started speaking to me in English and introducing me to all of his friends who were with him at the bar. I learned over the course of the night that this bar was one that only locals go to, and by locals, people who lived on the street where the bar was located. Once one group of my new friends left another new group was introduced. Everyone knew everyone else! It turned into such a great night of laughs and talking about life, culture and values. It was so unexpected and unplanned. The best planning that night would have never led to great conversation with people who were open and friendly.

You never know where life will take you and the people you might meet along the way. I’m thinking my next trip is going to be done solo as I have found that the most enriching experiences have come when I fully immerse myself in the culture. For me it is extremely easy to meet new people, so being alone on my next journey won’t be an issue. I’ll just be more open to strike up a conversation with the person next to me!

Please excuse the I phone Polaroid photos. Sometimes a girl just needs to leave her real camera at home and go out for the night.

Some of my new friends dancing and singing along to the music. They even played the Cure at one point.

yes. That is a dog in the bar.

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Film shot in Macon, GA in October 2009. Mamiya C330.

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Apparently it only snows about once a year in Toledo, if that. We were really lucky to stumble upon snow on this trip. Bob and I woke up at 6 am not for any reason but the fact that we couldn’t sleep anymore. It was nice to be up before it was light out and catch some photos of the snow during the night. Snow makes everything magical. Snow also makes everything a bit harder to get around. We tried to take a cab up to this beautiful view of the town of Toledo, only to find midway up that we were unable to make it because of traffic.

Bob snapped this photo of me… I really like it.

This is the street right behind our hotel, CASONA DE LA REYNA, which for under 50 EUR a night it’s a steal!

Snowman!

This was taken in the cathedral, where I guess you aren’t supposed to take photos? whoops?

Bob and I stumbled upon this really cool antique bookstore right across from the Cathedral in Toledo. I am starting to gain a fascination with used book stores. It all started on my trip to DC 2 months ago when I bought 6 books for under $20. This store I spent 20 EUR on one book, but it was worth it. (Someone is getting a book for christmas!)

Here you go KP, this one is for you.

2 naps later, we made it to the other side. Sunset instead of sunrise this time.

Toledo is known for it’s ham. We happened upon this small ham shop in the center of town. I love how they display their ham in the open air, it gives Spain a natural, earthy feel.

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Clients: All orders have been shipped out and are on their way to you. All DVD’s have been mailed to you. Enjoy! I will be answering email when I get back into the office for 1 day, December 23rd.

Friends: I will be updating my blog (hopefully) while in Spain. Please do not try to text or call me, I will not be able to answer. If you would like to send love letters, send them to my email:  heather@heatherahrens.com

Check the blog often in the next 10 days! I hope to have some photos to show you!

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Don’t these cupcakes look delish? I stumbled onto Georgetown Cupcake on my first afternoon in DC. I headed out into Washington D.C. by myself after a brief lunch with Amy where we caught up on each others lives. One of my favorites things to do while I travel is just spend the afternoon walking around the city. I headed over to Georgetown, which actually predates Washington D.C. being built in 1751. Georgetown is now considered part of Washington and is a good shopping district in the town.

The line out the door is what clued me into the fact that Georgetown Cupcake had to be good. I waited in the line, which surprisingly only took about 10 minutes and grabbed two cupcakes. Amy and I ate our cupcakes the next morning and boy, were they heavenly!

My normal state of being… sad but true.

Amy and I have been friends since we were 12! That is over 13 years of being friends. I am truly blessed to have her as a friend. Everywhere we would go in DC, Amy would run into at least one person she knows and if she didn’t know anyone she would make conversation with the stranger next to her. Traversing the city with her was such a fun experience. She could start up a conversation with anyone! It was such a unique experience that I had not been privy to witness until now. Amy, you bring happiness into the world!

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No time to talk… gotta have fun! I’ll be back in the office on Tuesday, until then hold tight. All emails will be answered when I get back into town. Enjoy these photos I took today of the changing seasons while walking around D.C.

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Thanks Katrina for that last photo of me!

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For the next 3 wonderful days I am in Macon, Georgia hanging out with some amazing photographers. I am attending OSP South, a workshop put together once a year geared towards photographers located in the southern United States. There are some awesome speakers (Amber Holritz, Liana Lehmen) and some awesome shootouts (I will be posting photos, maybe even some film photos!).

Don’t judge me. I am editing photos and drinking my third cup of coffee while there is a speaker on stage. HA! Photography is up to ours ears in work (YES! even in this slow economy we are still super busy) so I am catching up on some work while listening to the terrific speakers. The past few weeks have been fully packed with beautiful weddings and fun engagement sessions which I can’t wait to show you! Stay tuned for updates.

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Budapest was founded as two separate cities, Buda and Pest that are divided by the Danube River. The two cities became one in 1873 after the construction of the Chain Bridge.  One cool thing about Budapest is that it was the first city in Continental Europe to boast an underground metro system (the first is in London).

Our hostel was right next to the Great Synagogue in Budapest. It is the largest synagogue in Europe built in 1854.

Dave and I stopped by the Market Hall on the Pest side of Budapest to grab some souvenirs. I remember going to the Great Market Hall 7 years ago when I was last in Budapest. The souvenirs that they offer have changed since then. I bought some custom painted wine glasses last time I was here and none were to be found anywhere this time. It’s amazing how much things change in a few years.

Yes, those are pigs feet.

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