Reflections on Puerto Rico and Vieques

People have been asking us about our trip, and I have to say, it was a nice one. In fact, when I give them the details, they all say, “Sounds like a great trip.” I have to confess, it was a nice trip, and I would encourage people to check out Puerto Rico is they have a chance. There are many positives: beautiful beaches and rainforests, warm weather, they speak English and take US dollars, and plenty of nice people, though we tended to interact with ex-pats rather than what I would consider to be true locals. In that sense, it’s probably not the most genuine experience, not like going to a small village in Italy or France where nobody can or is willing to speak English. There is value to this experience, as well.

Probably the highlights of the trip were surfing in Rincon (for me) and then the island of Vieques. It was really beautiful over there, and such nice beaches, perfect for the kids to swim in. The kids loved playing in the sand, and they got to do some killer snorkeling, which is a first for them, mainly due to a combination of age and location. We also had this really nice house in Vieques, and it kind of made it that much better. What a nice place, so beautiful and comfortable, and even though the weather got hot (I can’t imagine what it’s like in August), there was ample breeze to keep us cool. If anything, it was very pleasant. The house was huge, too, and could easily accommodate 10 people.

We got a huge amount of beach time, but what makes trips like this so enjoyable is all the down time we get to spend together. Our lives were crazy this winter with hockey, and it continued with more of the same with track and lacrosse, then musicals and drama. You really have to get away to have some quality down time and just relax and hang out together. Otherwise, there is always something that needs to be done, and you never stop moving.

On that note, now that we’re back, I’ve got a ton of things to do, so I have to go. Thanks for reading.