La Isla Encantada Puerto Rico!

Momma and Me

Puerto Rico, will always hold a special place in my heart. My mom grew up there/went to college there and found my dad there, and my nani and papi lived there. Plus it is a tropical paradise with overgrown lizards and breathtaking views.
The last trip I took to PR was with friends I had made in Europe the Summer before with EF College Break. We all clicked so fast and I really met the greatest, most random group of people. We are all from Pennsylvania to Texas to Florida etc.
Four of our Europe amigos are actually from Puerto Rico. We were able to hang out on their turf, I had been to PR before but never quite like this. We found that one of our friends, Jessie, was actually quite talented and was in an improv group in Old San Juan. Her show was hilarious, really fantastic, earlier we were told to write something on a sheet of paper because it might be picked to be a "topic", I wrote midgets and it was used! It was on the floor laughing funny. The whole production was in Spanish but the actors were so good, if you couldn't speak the language you understood the nuances.

My friends Juan, Jesus, Jessie and Mari took us on a grand adventure to one of the most breathtaking and surreal views I have ever seen, that will forever be imprinted into my memory as an exciting adventure and that was to "la ventana" (the window) cave. We drove about an hour out from old San Juan, passing thousands of Puerto Rico's beautiful flowers, their "flamoboyans", getting to a seemingly random gas station parking lot. Most of us are in flip flops and we begin a steep hike up a nearby hill. It then begins to pour. Through the laughing and almost tripping for fifteen minutes, while also seeing an old abandoned truck on the side of this mountain, we stumble upon a gapping hole in the earth, some people came out with flashlights in hand. We did not have any :). It is a good twenty feet down maneuvering yourself around rocks to get to the bottom to walk, then it was complete and utter darkness, as in that horror film the descent. It was such a creepy exhilarating feeling! We listened for the bats that were on top of us and tried not to step into their dung. After trying to find our way we see the light and it was breathtaking:

La Ventana Cave!

My mom was already going to PR with my little bro, so I stayed with them at the Caribe Hilton in Old San Juan. It is in a great location, private beach, beautiful views and a very nice compound. It was my favorite resort for PR until I saw El Conquistador by the El Yunque Rainforest, which had such a hidden opulence.


I digress but this year we went back and stayed at El Conquistador (will post later), amazing is an understatement!

no big deal, just a beautiful peacock walking around!

An old fort adjacent to the Caribe Hilton ( I went in there once, quite intrepid of me ;)

The Group looking out, we were so HIGH up, at least 200 feet, no sudden movements lol

the BEST Mofongo ever. ever.

Jessie and her improv group. So talented!

Me inside of el morro, my dress matched the paint :)

My bro, me and my lovely mommy and axelle and scott. We went out for Mother's day :) It was a great night!

Senor Frogs, of course :) Me, Angie and Alana

My Brother climbed a half fallen tree in El Yunque

Me and my mommy by an El Yunque waterfall, should have jumped in!

One of my most treasured times during this trip besides La Ventana with my friends was going Bioluminescent kayaking at night. It was pure magic and if you can do it you have to do it. My momma who can't swim did it, I was so proud of her :) It's not scary because you are in a large group with competent guides. You kayak through a long canopy of trees that almost cocoon the way but you have the moonlight and the backs of the other kayaks with lights to see where you're going. Jake and I hit the sides of the waterways a million times and kayaked in circles for a good while before we can get our rhythm down, it was hysterical. I was laughing so hard with a little frustration that he and I just could not kayak or get it together lol but when we did it was golden. After about 30 minutes of making your way through the canopy in divine warm water you see a large opening and before you know it you're smack dab in the middle of a wide bay. You wait for a little bit and then they tell you if you swish the water around you'll see the agitated organisms in the water light up. It was amazing. Everyone was splashing and having the best time. It was nighttime but the water was bright blue, you have to experience it! I wish I had a waterproof camera...-next time!

I <3 PR

MUST DOs:
Go Horseback riding eh.(though I find it absolutely horrifying YET I am always forced by my family to do so)
El Yunque (explore, jump in, have a blast)
El Morro
Explore Old San Juan (so colorful and Vibrant!!)
Eat a Mofongo (que delicioso) so delish!
Go to Utuado to the 'La Ventana' Cave/ cueva
Check out Latin Roots (Old San Juan) for some divine daiquiris and coladas and Salsa Lessons!
Bioluminescent Kayaking Fajardo, Puerto Rico (Incredible a MUST MUST do!!!) you'll feel like you're in Avatar because the water turns bright blue when agitated!