I want to start this blog post to say that all of these posts I write are love letters to my incredible wife. Recollecting these memories of our times together, is a way for me to remind myself of how great she is, and our love for one another. Tierney turned 27 earlier this week, it was her first birthday since we have been married. Celebrating her and putting a smile on her face are some the best things I do in this life. I try to never let a day go by that I do not show her how amazing she is to me, and I urge you to do the same with your partner.
The rest of the blog today will be all about the week long trip we took to Puerto Rico in August 2019. This is still one of my favorite trips we have ever been on. This trip was part of my elaborate Christmas gift to Tierney. All she knew was to pack for warm weather and that we were driving to Dallas to fly out of DFW.
After several months of keeping the secret and her asking me each mile as we drove south, she finally got the surprise at the security check. We were flying to San Juan, Puerto Rico to spend the next week on island time.
Flying to Puerto Rico can be exceptionally affordable if you book your flights in advance. I think our flights were around $250 each round trip. Which is well worth it once you land on this magnificent island. There are relaxing lagoons, beautiful beaches and the only rain forest in the United States.
We landed in Puerto Rico at sunset and immediately headed over to pick up our rental car. We got a tiny two door Toyota Yaris for around $9 a day. The perfect vehicle to explore the island at 41 miles to the gallon. The only issue was we had no idea where to go. We drove around lost for a couple of hours attempting to find our Airbnb with Apple Maps. Finally, we used the longitude and latitude coordinates on Google Maps making it to our place around midnight. Exhausted from a day of driving and flying we went straight to bed, we’d explore our new accommodations tomorrow.
Our Airbnb called the Nautical Dream Suite was nothing short of amazing. A small, two story right on the water of one of the many lagoons in Puerto Rico. The living area is on the second floor with one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen/living area and a huge balcony. The simple furniture and decor was perfect for us. The best part of this place however is the first floor, which is a dock set just feet above the saltwater lagoon. The dock also comes equipped with two kayaks to explore the waters for yourself. This became our morning routine, we would have coffee with the sunrise then explore a different path of the water. We woke up to manatees, kayaked alongside swimming iguanas , and watched groups of pelicans take off as we glided near them. It was the perfect morning.
Most days after kayaking we would head to the beach. Trying out a new one each day. Laying in the sun under coconut trees, wading in the ocean, just enjoying being together in this beautiful place. There was one beach in particular that was our favorite, Playa Tortuguero. The sand led down to a pool created by a rock and reef wall 20 yards from where the ocean met the sand. It was the perfect place to relax, not having to worry about the next wave.
We did take two full day adventures that are amazing if you ever make it to Puerto Rico. The first being walking around Old San Juan and the two fortresses around the city. The city of Old San Juan is filled with amazing history. The cobble stone streets are lined with beautifully colored buildings, restaurants and shops. As you exit the city you are overlooking the ocean from atop the old fortress walls. We followed the walls to the Castillo San Felipe del Morro. This 16th century Spanish castle sits on a cliff side just outside of Old San Juan. It was built to protect the BahÃa de San Juan from seaborne enemies. The walls are lined with guard posts and seaward facing canons, it is a place that transports you back in time. It also gives you the chance to pretend you are Captain Jack Sparrow for a minute or two. We ended our day in Old San Juan with fresh açaà bowls, a fan favorite in our little household.
The other major trip we took was to the El Yunque National Forest. This is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. national forest system. As soon as you drive through the gate you are surrounded by lush vegetation. The lone road takes you over rivers, next to waterfalls and to a viewing tower allowing you to look over the entirety of this magical place. The best part of our experience at El Yunque National Forest was the Vereda La Mina hike. A hike that takes you up the path of a stream and past three stunning waterfalls. This is still the location of my favorite picture that I have ever taken. It was at the pool created by a thirty foot waterfall along the hike, where we spent most of our time during the hike. Unfortunately, they have closed this trail for now, we hope that it reopens so that others can experience this amazing hike.
Puerto Rico is much more than beaches, it is filled with amazing culture and history. It is a place where you can see the tomb of Juan Ponce de Leon, eat amazing Puerto Rico cuisine, and visit one of the most amazing places in the United States National Park System. It is also a place that could use your help. Having been hit by two hurricanes in 2017 you can still see the devastation today. Your tourist dollars could help rebuild pieces of this magnificent place. If you are looking to donate to an amazing cause visit PR x PR to help the rebuilding efforts of Puerto Rico.
As always we just urge you to get out of your comfort zone and explore more. Thanks for reading. But most importantly happy birthday baby, I love you.