Dear Stephen,

I want to thank you for your tour of Madrid the night of December 22nd. It was wonderful, despite the rain (!), and everyone had a fabulous time. We learned lots of new information and I especially appreciated the opportunity to visit new locations. I will add the restaurants to our “Recommendations from Our Community” section in our Embassy newsletter. The array of food at that last tapas stop by the Royal Palace was fabulous. I took pictures of every tapa !! El Neru and the Argentine place near Puerta del Sol were also a treat. Great food! And thank you for the stop by La Opera de Madrid.

And let me say that you have a great talent for handling the more vocal members of the group through your humor and good nature. Thank you for that!

Let’s explore an opportunity in the New Year for a talk at the Embassy.

Many thanks again,

Sarah
Sarah Genton
Community Liaison Officer
U.S. Embassy - Madrid, Spain

My Dear Chairman,

As I contemplate some of the greatest memories of 2009, I continue to revisit the time my wife and I spent with you in Madrid. Although our stay lasted four days, the true appreciation for Madrid’s culture, history, and people did not fully develop until the outstanding “Curiosities & Anecdotes of old Madrid” tour on day three.

How can I properly say thank you for the VIP look at Francisco de Goya’s original etchings, the King’s seat at one of his favorite restaurants, a peek at one of the basements where priests hid from Franco’s Nationalist Army, a phone conversation with a member of parliament, Hemingway’s staircase view, or the recommendation that led to one of the most memorable meals of our life?

More incredible than the afore mentioned is that you improved upon your first performance with The “Bloody Madrid” and tapas tour on day four. Simply put, it was amazing. The impromptu serenade by the beautiful voices of La Opera de Madrid rendered us speechless and the connection you had with the local Madrilenas and Madrilenos helped us feel as connected. We are honored to have spent time with such a well-versed historian; your propensity for the theatrical was only matched by your knowledge.

Thank you for two days we will never forget. We hope to make our way back to Spain soon (although we found out we are expecting Lil’ Brown #4 shortly after we made it home).

Sincerely,
Ryan “Indiana Jones” and Jaime Brown
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

PS: I’m determined to earn the lifetime membership.

Chairman,

I want to thank you for showing me and my mother the true Madrid, Toledo and Segovia from the eye of an historian. It is so much more enjoyable when one can simply relax and let the Chairman put together the details of these fascinating side trips. I especially appreciate the detailed history lesson at every stop. Your ability to bring historical characters to life with descriptions and the way you put the listener at the scene of the crime in "Bloody Madrid" are amazing. Your honesty, generosity and strong bond with the people of Spain also show your commitment to excellence and to creating the best experience for the traveler. For these and many more reasons you are clearly head and shoulders above the rest. My mother and I were lucky to have been able to procure your services and I will certainly do it again in the future. After all, my wife needs to see Madrid.

I am well into your new book AIDE-DE-CAMP TO WELLINGTON'S CAVALRY CAPTAIN SAMUEL DUDLEY and find it very interesting and well written.

Sincerely,

Steven A. Sutton, MD
Ohio, USA

ps I am working on convincing my wife to go to England for our 20th...she seems to be bent on a tropical getaway...but if I learned one thing from the Chairman it is that persistence pays. After all, who else can find an unmarked grave in a large cemetery.

Chairman,

Our memories of Spain will forever be linked to our time with you. The benefits of membership in the Society exceeded our expectations. I could have never anticipated that I would need dental assistance in Madrid when we joined the society...but what would I have done without your help in securing a dentist!!! From the tapas tour, to the magical day in Chinchon, to the bull fight and the wine. we will never forget our time with the Chairman ( not to mention the first rate seats at the flamenco show and football tickets!)

But, the most amazing experience was your birthday party..what an honor for us to be included! The food and the company were first class! We had a grand evening..you are not only a noted historian, but also a great chef! We so enjoyed your friends..and the little glimpse of your life in Madrid. We were truly fortunate to have such an experience. We can never thank you enough for that.

We do hope all is going well for you. We hope the book is coming along. If you and your lovely bride ever make it this far west, please give us a ring..we'd love to reciprocate!

And, if we ever see more lights in the sky over Phoenix, we will call you right away!!! Roman Terry will have the exclusive story!!!

Our fondest regards and best wishes...from your future life members

Ethel and Terry DeMarr

Dear Chairman,

It's weird how things happen. What might have been the worst day Phil and I have ever had on vacation, because of you  (and James, too), turned out to be one of the best! We had such a great time during our evening with you and cannot thank you (and James) enough for your warm welcome, care and concern, and delightful tour of your favorite places.

Your anecdotes, meeting your madrileno friends, eating wonderful tapas, drinking wine, beer, sidra, and sherry will always be fondly remembered. And, our good fortune in seeing you again on the day of the bullfight--which I'm sure was as amazing as anticipated--was the sure sign that our luck had turned. Your Madrid is fascinating and, seriously, everything really IS good when one is with the Chairman!

We really feel we made two new friends, of the best kind, and are excited to visit you again soon (maybe September, around the 14th and 15th). We will definitely be working on obtaining that lifetime Wellington Society membership! And a special thank for the wine guide which we used with great success at Barajas airport.

We hope you like the pictures and feel free to use any and all on the site.

Yours,

Darla Pascal and Phil Von Dullen

Querido Amigo

Our evening you was tremendously successful and enormous fun....just so typical of the Chairman! Even though I knew it would be wonderful and memorable occasion, it even exceeded my expectations.

Stephen, I am truly so appreciative of all your time and hard work, not to mention the tender loving care that you invested in our evening in Toledo. You executed every detail to perfection, even your divine selection of wife-to-be and 31 lovely ladies as your captive audience.

We loved the history, your anecdotes, the group picture, and your selection of taverns was the best. What fabulous food, outstanding service and fun music! 

Yes, Chairman, I will always be grateful for the unforgettable evening just as you will always have a very special place in my heart.

Your devoted Life Member

Kate Evans
Atlanta Georgia.  USA

UK Featured Member Letter

Hi Stephen,

Just a note to thank you for a most entertaining tour of Old Madrid. Everyone in our group enjoyed every minute of it and have been busy recounting the many amusing stories you told. It helps to remember historic facts if they are told in such an entertaining fashion.

The visits to the tapas bars were also greatly appreciated and the wines and food

were excellent. I probably over indulged in the vino as things are a little hazy from 5 o clock onwards, but hey we were on holiday.

It was a pleasure to meet you and was definitely the icing on the cake to one of the best weekends ever.

Thank you again and perhaps we'll see you when we next come to Madrid, as we will certainly be returning.

Kind Regards

Sue Hobbs

PS The weather here is awful, icy winds and rain. Oh for sunny Madrid

Dear Chairman,

I just wanted to thank you again for the great time you showed Jim and I during our trip to Madrid. The walking/tapas bar tour was very entertaining, and we enjoyed visiting establishments which we wouldn't have found on our own. Your insights and anecdotes truly made the evening.

Most of all, the procurement of tickets for the bullfight was nothing short of brilliant, as was your commentary during the fight. I feel that I have gained an appreciation for a part of Spanish culture that has oftentimes seemed like a caricature to an American such as myself. As I had the privilege to witness, Enriques Ponce certainly can kill. The entire event was the highlight of my 2 week trip to Spain, and I will

remember it always.

The Duke of Wellington would be honored to have you as the Chairman of the Society. Quality indeed!

Thank you again and very best regards,

Hugh Colburn

Chicago, IL, USA

Dear Chairman, 

Well it’s only taken one half of a year but I’m finally writing to thank you for your assistance and kindness during our trip to Spain.  When we first arrived in Madrid we took Rick Steve’s advice and participated in your walking tour.  What started out as an extremely enjoyable experience turned out to be even better than we could have ever imagined.   

Two days after our walking tour we attended the Sunday evening bullfight.  The bullfight in itself was quite an experience but what happened after that is more amazing.  During the bullfight we purchased a poster to remember the evening.  I was particularly excited because the poster was printed only for that evening’s event.  I had thoughts of framing and hanging it in our entertainment room.  It was a perfect memento from that evening.  We coveted that poster.  We made sure nothing would happen to it.  We protected it during the bullfight, during the ride home and even bought a cardboard tube to protect it on the trip home.  

The next day we left Madrid for a tour of the country.  Poster in hand we headed, via taxi, for the fast train to Seville.  We arrived in Seville only to discover that the poster was not with us.  Panicked we called the hotel and the train station to no avail.  That evening over a drink it came to us.  The Chairman said, “If there’s anything I can do for you, don’t hesitate to call.”  We thought, what do we have to lose.  So, I picked up the phone to call you.  You were so helpful and kind it was really touching.  You said you would get to work to try to locate a poster from that evening.  You instructed us to call in a couple of days to find out your status. 

When we called you informed us that they recycle all the posters after the bullfight.  I was crushed.  But, then you said, “I have one more idea, call me back tomorrow.”  When we called back you had the most delightful news.  Your friend who owned a store had one posted and he gave it to you. 

 You were going to mail it to us in the United States.  However, we were coming back through Madrid to fly home.  We ended up meeting to receive the poster.  We have attached some pictures to commemorate the event.

 We sincerely want to thank you for going out of your way.  You didn’t have to go through the trouble you did but we appreciate it.  If we’re ever in Spain again we will definitely look you up.  You are not only a gentlemen you are extremely entertaining.  Keep it up; we know there are a lot of people out there who will thoroughly enjoy you.

Best wishes and God Bless,

Laura and Roger Traeger
St. Paul, Minnesota, United States