Tag Archives: Rincon

Back to the Beach and other Adventures as Puerto Rico Reopens

Can you tell I’m happy to be back at the beach?!

After a very long lockdown, Puerto Rico is now officially back open for business. It is not quite “back to normal” but for all intents and purposes, we are finally coming out of lockdown. That is not the same as having a pandemic end, but at least the self-imposed torture of “quarantine” seems mostly over.

Masks are the newest fashion! haha Masks for Britton & my neighbor/friend Omayra

Poco a poco Puerto Rico has loosened the restrictions to the point that besides the masks and some rules in certain stores (checking temperatures, not allowing children inside) the happy island I know and love is pretty much back. We have been appreciating our newly returned freedoms by going to the beach, hiking, checking out new waterfalls and spending time with friends in small groups again. How much we have missed these simple pleasures of life. Where the hurricane days stripped away the physical comforts of electricity, communications, and even water service, during the lockdown we were fully connected to those things but lacked and very sorely missed our social and nature connections. The lockdown was like an inverse hurricane. I’m not sure which was worse, but I don’t wish either on anyone!

Beachside days

Fun in Rincon

Flamboyan season has been soo beautiful this year!

Aeden’s first school photo. Daycare will even be starting up again in July! yay!

Good times once again

Gozalandia falls and El Ultimo Brinco in Rincon

Fun trip to Adjuntas-even saw a blue flamboyan (jacaranda)!

We had a nice time in Adjuntas visitng Charco El Mango, a suspension bridge and some other sights until Britton suddenly felt ill and we had to return home. Turns out his car accident a month earlier and a genetic disposition for blood clots was not a good combination. He’s doing much better now thankfully!

Quick stop at Playa Tres Hermanos on Father’s Day

Our little boy is growing up so fast!

An easy waterfall that turned into an adventure: Salto Collazo

Just off the side of the road, but waaay down below we found the tallest waterfall we’ve ever seen. Salto Dona Carmen

Overall, we are very grateful for every day we get on this beautiful island and in this strange life of ours. Hope everyone else is doing as well.

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Diego, Frida and her Monkey on Halloween

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Halloween with a baby has already made it a much different holiday than without kids. Though I did miss the wild late night parties of Rincon this year, we had a lot of fun just keeping it low-key. I have always loved dressing up, especially in costumes, so I couldn’t wait to think of a new “disfraz” (costume).

A monkey in the jungle with his bananas!

When we found this cute little monkey costume, I set out to think about what would go well with a monkey? A big banana? Other jungle creatures? Then I had it. One of my favorite artists. Frida Kahlo. Frida inspired me in school because I learned the often sad ties between heartache, pain and artistic expression. When I traveled throughout Mexico, her image was iconic. When Salma Hayek played Frida in a Hollywood movie, she gained even more fame and is now fairly well known. Some of her best-known artworks are self portraits, especially with her pets. Most notably, monkeys. And that was where this costume was born.

Frida and her monkey

From there Britton became either Diego Rivera, Frida’s husband, or maybe a jungle tamer or Indiana Jones or Curious George’s dad or Steve Irwin. Funny that a hat or wig can totally make a costume!

Family costume!

This Frida and her monkey

We went out to our good friend Missy’s house for some spooky good food and even I (often not really into cooking) got into the spirit making Halloween themed pasta salad and a childhood favorite of dirt pudding!

Fun times with friends!

Halloween pasta salad and graveyard dirt

Fun trick-or-treating

What a ghoulish group!

Then we went out trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. Aeden was getting a little fussy so we headed home, but before we got there, we stopped and did a lap or two around Art Walk since Halloween fell on a Thursday this year. It was fun to see so many friends out and about dressed up. Halloween just isn’t a big holiday in Puerto Rico, but we celebrated it very well. Overall, it was a lovely and mellow Halloween this year!

With Aeden’s adoptive abuela, Maribel and a random Mariachi-dressed guy at Artwalk

Here’s a little how-to video on my Frida costume (and remember to subscribe to our Youtube channel and ring the bell to see the newest videos before anyone else!):