Our story
It feels surreal that two people with such different lives would meet in the exact place and at the right moment. Some might call it a coincidence, others something God envisioned from all eternity, for all eternity —a small, beautiful miracle.
In March 2022, Chris was passing through Madrid while completing a project for his master’s degree, and Nicole was living there. After a first date at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, we connected through our shared love of art, music, cinema, the written word, and—most importantly—the art of being able to talk about everything and feel in the other a like-minded old soul.
After a few dates, we decided to keep in touch. After graduating a few months later, Chris returned to Madrid, and what was meant to be a long weekend turned into a summer together: wandering through the burning streets of Madrid, strolling through nearby towns, and discovering coves along the Algarve. Chris also spent the summer trying to learn Spanish in an effort to impress Nicole, with limited success.
What followed was a year of long-distance, with long Sunday phone calls, monthly flowers sent to Nicole to keep her company and visits to see each other when our lives allowed. One of these visits was to Costa Brava, one of the places most dear to Nicole, a coastline straight out of Dali’s dreams.
After a year of airports, time zones, and dubious Wi-Fi signals, we chose something simpler, braver. Nicole packed her bags in July 2023, applied to several schools of Foreign Service, and (after some lobbying by Chris) chose the one in Washington, D.C. Together, we made the city our new home. Chris’s dog Gypsy now likes Nicole better than him.
Now, we return to the place that stayed in our hearts from the beginning of our adventure together, a place we’re excited to share with you.