Hi everyone! On the plane heading back home...I was definitely mistaken when I thought that South America was just a hop, skip and a jump from the States. Oh no...more like planes, trains and automobiles!
Good thing is that I'm on the last leg of the journey!
The trip went really well, although Gisela and I were glad there wasn't a third event...3 in 3 different countries would have been too much. I was pretty amazed at how organized and well run everything was...the match in Brazil was played at a beautiful resort about an hour and half outside of Sao Paulo. They built this incredible indoor court for mainly VIP's of the resorts owner...I kept saying they built this whole arena just for a tennis match!? Those are the moments when I have to pinch myself.
Surface was a little rough but all in all pretty spectacular. We also got a police escort from the airport which looked something out of a Bond movie...it was actually the first time that Michael would have prefered a helicopter...and that's saying a lot!!
The match in Chile was open to the public and we had a full house in a court that was built in the middle of the park...it was our first match of the season so Gisela and I were quite excited to play in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
The highlight of the trip...yep you knew it was coming....wait for it...the food!! I would kill for a good recipe for that cheese bread (Gisela promised to bring me her recipe to Hong Kong) and that thinly sliced meat off the grill!
And unlike in the States, the portions are not humongous, so you don't feel like you ate for 2 after every meal (which of course Mike and Max were not very happy with...God forbid they skip a meal). Michael was missing in the stands during the Brazil match... We decided it was best not to ask questions but we did find an empty plate of cheese bread in the waiting room which was not so empty when we left to play the match...whoopsies!
Some random notes:
So there I am reading the new book by Dan Brown 'Lost Symbol' as I was getting treatment after one of my matches in Japan...all of a sudden my name...not Maria but Maria Sharapova is in the book ...around page 74! Almost fell off the table!!
After Japan and China, I went to Napa for a week. One of the best vacations ever! It was all planned last minute and I dragged all my girlfriends out of their daily activities and we had such a good time. There is a restaurant there called the French Laundry which everyone has been raving to me about over the years...not only did we get a reservation but we got a tour of the kitchen....4 hours and 20 pounds later we rolled out of there like a sourdough bread roll!! We went to a place where you pour your own olive oil into glass canters, picnicked at one of the most beautiful vineyards Quintessa, and had endless conversations in our outdoor living room looking out into the wild...so relaxing!!
The U2 concert a few weeks ago was one of the coolest performances anyone will ever get to see...they are simply amazing!
Well its Christmas time again...and my room is a total upside down workshop. The massage table is now used as a wrapping table. The night stands are card holders. The bathroom has become a fed ex office. Its quite a scene!
Anyways I wish everyone a Happy Holiday season full of many great memories, laughs, and of course great presents!!