The CliffsNotes

Things you should know about Puerto Rico:
1 - The drivers are insane.  There are no lanes for motorcycle drivers.  A car will never slow down to let you in.  It's kill or be killed, eat or be eaten.
2 - There has never been a ferberized baby.  Ever. These families are sooooo close. Everyone pitches in.  Siblings take care of younger siblings.  Everyone helps out.  The love is everywhere you look.
3 - Gringos tailgate.  Puerto Ricans BBQ.  And they do it everywhere. The beach, public parks.  The entire family comes out with fantastic foods and table and chairs and balloons and music and volleyball and soccer. We could take a page from their book the next time we spend an afternoon out with a sandwich, a bottled water, and a frisbee.
4 -  It's expensive.  Nearly everything on the island is imported.  Food, clothing, furniture, you name it.  Be prepared for sticker shock.
5 - Artists are celebrated!! Everyone plays an instrument or paints or dances or acts.  Everywhere you look there is art and sculpture.  Aesthetics of public parks and buildings is of the utmost importance.  In Old San Juan there is a beautiful large building with three floors, and on Saturday mornings there are music, voice, instrument, sculpture, painting, dance lessons taking place throughout the building.  Mom and son carry their instruments to their lessons in the beautiful outdoor courtyard.  Father and daughter carry their sketch pads from class.  A group of people of all ages walks around the plaza taking photographs with their professor.  I found so little to do with sports and so much to do with the arts - it was fabulous!!
6 - Everybody dances.  I mean everybody.  When Jon is saying, "OMG.  I need to learn to dance."  Then you know it is everywhere.  Men leading women through tornado like spins.  If there is music playing, there is dancing.
7 - There is always music playing, and there is only one volume for Latin Music - deafeningly loud.  Perfect example - in Guavate there are Lechoneras.  These are restaurants for pork on a spit.  They line the streets. Saturday afternoon each one of them has a live band.  And they are blasting the speakers, people are dancing, eating, drinking, and enjoying the afternoon.
8 - Puerto Ricans celebrate everything.  There are festivals, spontaneous parties, and fireworks on any given day at any given time.
9 - Use GPS, paper maps, oral directions from locals and your instincts to get around.  Once you get out of Old San Juan it is a maze worse than Boston to get to and from places.  Jon did well, but I was always in some state of being lost.
10 - It is completely safe and cops are so friendly.  They take serve and protect to a whole new level.  You feel completely secure with them on every corner, and they'll help you find a good restaurant!
11 - It's breathtakingly beautiful.  The bright sun, the crystal clear water, the architecture. And it's as spectacular underwater as above.  First class snorkeling and scuba, and don't forget the glow in the dark biobay!
12 - You don't need to know Spanish to get around.  But if you read my prior blog, you'll have a much better time getting to know people if you at least try to learn the language.
13 - Puerto Rican food is indulgent.  It's a lot of fried, salty, heavy carb food.  Takes comfort food to a whole new level.  These people know nothing other than to completely enjoy life.  It isn't a journey for a fitness model, but you'll be having such a great time - who cares.  Eat up and then take a long walk in the perfect 85 degree sun.

On my last day in Puerto Rico, I took my usual walk to the beach to get in my final workout.  When I got there, I decided that sitting and meditating and taking in every sound and sensation was more of what my mind, body, and soul needed.  On the walk back , stopping in front of the capitol building and looking at the ocean crashing into the rocks, I cried and cranked U2's Beautiful Day on my phone.  Puerto Rico is one of many locations Jon and I will visit exploring this large and fantastic planet.  But your first always has a special place in your heart.  Thank You, Puerto Rico for being the best "first" we could have ever hoped for.

From Puerto Rico: Enjoy.

Likes Long Walks on the Beach

With its strategic location, Puerto Rico gave us access to many of the Caribbean islands.  We had fun traveling to Viques for Scuba and a glow in the dark fish adventure with Allie and Caroline. So, Jon and I decided to take our own weekend getaway to another neighboring island, Culebra.

Instead of the very economical, but highly unpredictable ferry, we opted to fly.  I knew it would be a small plane, but I had no idea how small.  These planes fit a maximum of 8 passengers.  As with any new experience, I had a mix of feelings from curiosity to excitement to fear.  I was happy to discover that we were seated right behind the pilot and not in the middle of this tin can.

Our plane!

As soon as the plane left the ground, all of my fears went away and the desire to become a pilot set in!  I must mention that I did have the perfect first experience: great seats, impeccable weather, and fantastic views.  Flying so low over beautiful islands and crystal clear water is absolutely breathtaking.  And when you compare 1 hour of seasickness on a ferry to 15 minutes of glorious flight - it's no contest.

The view from the plane - spectacular.

I made arrangements for simple accommodations on the island in a studio room.  To our delight, the owner called us and asked if we would be okay staying in a larger place for the same price.  Um, yah! We stayed in a newly renovated boathouse with kitchen, bath, bedroom, large deck and parking.  Mentioning parking brings me to transportation.  The island is very tiny, and if you were extremely ambitious you could walk the whole thing.  However, hauling a cooler, beach towels, and snorkel gear; we opted for the preferred method of transportation - golf carts.  These are no ordinary golf carts. Gas powered with ATV wheels, they get you everywhere you could want to go.  And after driving a minivan on small cobblestone streets in Old San Juan, I was thrilled to buzz around in this easy to maneuver and park funmobile.




Culebra was 2 1/2 days of simple relaxation.  We started each day with strong coffee and a hike to remote snorkeling beaches.  I worked out on the beach and Jon swam with 10 foot stingrays and other creatures of the sea.  We would head back to town for breakfast and bathing suits, and spend the remainder of the day on the fabulous Flamenco Beach.  We foodies enjoyed an elegant dinner, and each other's undivided attention.  When you meet the love of your life and you instantly have a family of 5, these times to be off on our own are priceless.






I feel like I should give you some crazy story or adventure, but there isn't one to tell.  Just an easy breezy romantic weekend with the man of my dreams.










One last detail: the flight back was even MORE exciting than the flight there.  On the return trip, I got to sit in the co-pilot's seat.






From Puerto Rico: We have reached a very comfortable cruising altitude.