Isla de Vieques

Between my monthly bunco,

hosting a baby shower,

attending a pig roast and completion (almost)

going on in the Porkadillo,

I have not had a second to breath. 

I'm not complaining because it has been an

exciting and productive week,

but I still haven't posted the rest of the pictures

from our Puerto Rico trip. 

I would skip it but the best

part of the vacation was our excursion the the island of Vieques. 

Vieques is a small island off the coast of Puerto Rico

which you can reach by private boat,

airplane or $2.00 ferry. 

We opted for ferry, so bright and early

Thursday morning

(Wednesday we spent at the private beach in the bubble)

we packed our bags

and headed out about an hour and a half from

"The Bubble"

to stand in line for tickets on the ferry.

We arrived an hour and 15 minutes

later to the small port of Vieques,

caught a taxi and drove about 15 minutes more,

arriving at our small Bed and Breakfast

on the Caribbean side of the island.

Preston was feeling a little sick, so Kevin and I ventured out alone to one of the beaches across from out hotel. 

The ocean was wonderfully

warm and calm with miles of sandy beach.

Kevin...equipped for an

afternoon of sun and surf

While we were sitting there contemplating

the reasons why we had not brought beverages

with us we were visited by these guys.

The island is full of wild horses.

We headed back looking forward to dinner, beverages and a trip

to Bioluminesence Bay ahead of us.

Our Bus was going to pick up right in front

of our hotel, so we choose a great

restaurant right next door for dinner.  It was delicious!!!

and then our bus arrived .....

(good thing we had several beverages

with dinner or we would have been a little nervous)

The bio bay experience was incredible.  Picture

yourself swimming in a bay of pixie dust

clinging to you. 

It made you glow

and was almost magical. 

Pictures were

impossible because with the light of the camera you

couldn't see the glow of the pixie dust. 

Click on

the link and you'll get an idea of what we saw...nothing like

the reality of it though.  Puerto Rico is

one of 3 places in the world that can boast of this phenomenon

http://www.biobay.com/

Next day we were off to see the beautiful

beaches of Vieques.

We followed Karsten, Laura and the boys.

These beaches were deserted and absolutely

beautiful.

We enjoyed a bit of a breakfast beverage....

We went from beach to beach along the coast...

and we took the time to swim at each beach

above and below

Kevin was on a constant quest for

fish....

but the beaches were so sandy

there was little fish activity

Our favorite beach? 

Blue Beach.

We were planning to head back on Friday...

but Karsten made

an executive decision and

decided we should stay another night...

Bummer huh? 

We were so excited. 

Then he told us his friend was heading

over to Vieques in his 50 foot boat and we

would be having cocktails with him...

on his boat.

So our ride arrived to take us to the boat.

This is Paco...

our host

Sunset from the boat

So after a wonderful 3 days on

Vieques we headed back to port...back

to the ferry and home to "The Bubble"

It was a great trip...Karsten and Laura were the

most incredible hosts. 
They have already invited us back.

(we were actually planning a catamaran trip in the

Carribean with them for next year)
It was amazing.

El Yunque Rain Forest

Wednesday

Kids safely at school again, and Kevin

and I sleeping until the ripe old time of 8:00

(unheard of for us)

we hit the road for the El Yunque Rain Forest. 

As we passed the Bacardi factory,

we were tempted to stop for a little breakfast rum...

but alas no. 

These gorgeous orchids are attached to palm trees

  and just grow randomly everywhere. 

They are beautiful.

The view from this observation tower was amazing.

The day was overcast...

I can just imagine how

it looks on a clear sunny day.

Water and water fountains everywhere

You can see the ocean in the distance

and of course random dogs just hanging around on

random roofs.

Breakfast with Bacardi and Old San Juan

Early Monday morning, with boys

safely dropped at school

we were off...

Preston

Jaden

Where would you go to breakfast on your first day

in Puerto Rico....???

To the Bacardi factory of course.

Laura suggested we officially document the time.

for this

It was a fun tour

and we learned the history of how the Bacardi

family made rum.  We also got to taste a couple

of their special drinks.

and of course the history of the bat...

"NO" 

Edward Cullen was not mentioned

and then off to Old San Juan. 

This day was a little overcast as well...

which was good and bad.

Good in that Old San Juan has some very steep walking and we

stayed cool and comfortable. 

Bad in that the pictures of the

ocean didn't show the true blue they really were.

We started with lunch here

Karsten wanted us to start with some

very authentic Puerto Rican food.  I had

shrimp and Mafungo (a plantain recipe). 

They use a lot

of garlic and it was delicious.  Of course we

washed it down with some of the local beer....Medalla

After lunch we started our tour.  

The buildings

are so old and picturesque

and the churches

My favorite little street

and then we headed to the fort.

El Morro Citadel

(El Castillo San Felipe del Morro - 16th century)

 

building began 1539 and continued

on for several hundred years.

The walls had to be 30 feet thick...incredible

when you think of the tools they had

to build it.

and it was built on multiple levels

protecting Old San Juan

A glimpse at Old San Juan from the fort.

and then the walk back ...

and home

to plan tomorrows adventure....and the rain forest.

back to the "Bubble"