My trip to Madrid

As Rhianwen mentioned in the previous post, recently I took a trip to Madrid, Spain. Some of you might be wondering, "Why, Benner? Why did you go to Spain, particularly without your wife?"

Well nosy people, I was sent to Spain by a newspaper who wanted me to write a travel article on Madrid. And while my trip was paid for, Rhianwen would have had to either pay her way or hide in my suitcase if she wanted to come. She chose to stay home. But I wish she did come, because Madrid is an amazing city. I had always known in my heart of hearts that I would love Spain. I have felt some sort of connection with it since middle school, when my Spanish teacher would talk about growing up in Madrid. The culture, the lifestyle, the wonderful things to see, I've always known I had to go there, which makes it extra cool that God smiled upon me and handed me a free trip there.

Madrid is an experience. The architecture, the museums, the attitudes, everything about it is warm and welcoming. I've always had a soft spot in my stomach for Spanish food, and the seafood paella I had in Madrid was amazing. Bars and restaurants are--get this--well lit and quiet, all the better to focus on your company and food. (American bars and restaurants, please take note.) Everything is old. Everything. It's not like in LA, where something built in the '70's is considered an antique. I ate in a restaurant that has been in continual operation since 1723. 1723. That's crazy.

Maybe the coolest part is the city's attitude towards art. Everyone is a patron, everyone appreciates it. The city government fully supports the arts, not just in some half-hearted patronizing way that most American city's "support" the arts. There are so many works of fine art (Picasso's Guernica, Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delight, Velázquez's Las meninas), it's insane. Just wandering through the various museums, it's shocking to find these great works just hanging up with no fanfare.

There's plenty to say about my trip. But pictures are worth a thousand words. So here's about ten thousand words. Enjoy!

A taste of Madrid

I just spoke with Benner. He's in Madrid writing a freelance travel article. He'll share details with you when he gets back but in the mean time here are a few details to tide you over....

Benner went to the oldest restaurant in the world today! It's in Madrid and called Restaurante Botin. Founded in 1725, it's had many different owners but has been in the same family for the past four generations. It was yummy!

He also discovered a painter name Joaquin Sorrolla (see painting above). He said Sorolla captures movement so well and evokes much emotion. He said one of his favorites is of a monk with disadvantaged children at the beach.

Support the Young family's adoption!

Be a part of expanding a special family in Philly who longs to adopt. The Young family has found an agency in Oklahoma City called Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption Services. Help make their little boy a big brother by clicking the link below.

Added bonus: By chipping in $5, you get a chance to win a Coach bag!

Chipin: Neil & Jill Young's adoption

The Big Benner Philly Visit of July 2009

We who follow the Benner way of life consider Philadelphia to be our Mecca. Each year, we are compelled to make a lengthy pilgrimage back to the city of brotherly love in order to regain balance, obtain a fresh perspective, and to be made spiritually pure once again.

At least that's the line of reasoning we use in order to write the trip off our taxes: We're religiously obligated. But in reality, we just love our friends and family so much that we need to make time for quality visits. That's why we spent a little more than a week in our hometown just a short time ago. Here's a slide show, followed by some selected thoughts.



- We spent our first night at the Lozano compound, (Phil, Rachel, Matt and Jenn, plus all their kids) and they had a little unexpected birthday dinner for Rhianwen, including cake! Later, Joe and Meryl showed up with some cookies. This set the tone for a week-long binge on various sweets. So guiltily delicious.

- We hung out one night in Northern Liberties, and holy cow that place has changed since we were last there (maybe right before we moved to LA, spring of 2008). It's downright gentrified, complete with a mini-outdoor mall equipped with jumbo-tron TV. Funny how fast things develop.

- So many little boys in our lives have grown so fast. Aiden (Jen and Rob's son) is walking and talking. Jude (Phil and Rachel's son) is like a tiny little man. Micah (Jenn and Matt's son) is a completely different little boy than we remember, and with such a funny personality. Matthew (my baby cousin) has gotten huge, and is in love with Rhianwen (he has good taste). We miss all those little guys.

- One of the big reasons for the trip was Gwenyth's 60th birthday, which we threw a party for. It was a very nice, intimate event (Phil and Rachel were gracious enough to lend their home to us for it) with some of Gwenyth's close friends. We were so glad to be there to help celebrate such a wonderful, special mother. We're also thankful to our friends and family who helped us pull it off. We definitely needed their help.

- We spent a night at the Papa's, and were awoken on Sunday morning by the loudest, craziest thunder storm we can remember. It was actually a treat to experience that, as it hasn't rained in LA in months and we don't even remember when it may have thundered. Also a treat: swimming in the pool during the storm with the boys (I couldn't be bothered to change out of my pajamas, for some reason). What wasn't a treat: the storm delayed our flight home by hours, and we were under a lot of stress trying to make sure we would make our connecting flight. We didn't, but we were able to find another one that got us home alright.

Well, that's all. It was a special trip and we loved every minute we got to spend with people. Until the next pilgrimage, we bid Philadelphia adieu.

Up, and El Capitan: A winning combination

Have you heard of the El Capitan Theater? You should look it up. It is a super cool old school theater run by Disney, complete with organist and stage show. We were lucky enough that our friend John Bayer had some tickets to see Up there, and so we and a bunch of friends from our home group went.


Let me say, it is bonkers there. It's like an old movie theater from a cartoon come to life. First, you sit down in this completely restored theater and listen to the organist play songs from various Disney films. If you don't applaud enough, he gets annoyed and gives you rude hand gestures. (Don't worry, not that rude.) Eventually, he gets lowered under the stage, organ and all, so that an insanely joyous and colorful song and dance number begins. Oh, and random Disney mascots intermingle with the dancers, doing the choreography too. The lyrics are uplifting but make little sense, as if they picked a handful of words related to happiness and haphazardly placed them on a lyric sheet. The effect is like taking an Ambien while shotgunning a beer. Eventually they start calling all the children in the theater on stage to dance, too, and then the audience is forced to dance in their seats as well, lest they be labeled poopers of parties. After the children are sent to their seats again, cannons come up and shoot confetti at you with a loud BANG.




As the confetti rains down upon you, slowly collecting on your hair and shoulders, and the mascots make their way off stage, you are left grinning like an idiot. "Did I really just witness this, in real life?" you ask yourself. Yes. Yes you did. Don't worry, you are just showing the early symptoms of a blown mind.

Personally, I was ready to go home after that. It's not often that you see something so mindbendingly, insanely happy, and I was left wanting a nap quite frankly.

Good thing I didn't go, though, because Up was a fantastic movie. Really, just great, very moving, funny and beautiful to look at. (Oh, and if you see it in 3-D, you get to keep some nifty glasses.) If you haven't seen it yet, you should. And if you think you shouldn't, why are you so argumentative?

The best part of all? You get to keep a collectible Up popcorn bucket.


Rhianwen uses it as a lunch box now.