Say the word and we go!
This trip to Puerto Rico has been in the works for a long time. We had a 10-day vacation planned last year, but unfortunately Hurricane Maria destroyed the island just 6 days before we were supposed to visit. Besides it being a beautiful island to escape to, I wanted to visit for another reason: to see where my boyfriend grew up. He had neglected to see his family for many years, and I wasn’t about to let that happen while I’m in the picture - because family is MOST important in my book.
So we jet off for a quick trip for Thanksgiving to reunite with his family, his home, and his culture.
Our airbnb was the cutest, little studio located on a quiet block in Ocean Park - less than 10 minutes from the airport. Just down the street was the beach, and boy, was it GORGEOUS. The weather was in the high 80’s with a very enjoyable breeze for our entire stay. It definitely beat the cold winter in NYC, am I right?
First thing’s first - FOOD! Our first meal of the trip was nothing short of authentic, and it was some of the best food I’ve ever tasted. We ordered rice & beans, tostones (fried plantains), sweet plantains, and mofongo with crab (stuffed smashed plantains).
After meeting my love’s family and spending some much needed quality time, we headed to Old San Juan for an entire day of exploring. First up: a delish brunch at an adorable cafe. If you’re ever in the area, be sure to stop by Caficultura.
And then we walked off all that food. We must have walked up and down every single street in Old San Juan, and it was wonderful. I have never seen so many colors in one town, it breathed a new spirit into me. We shopped for souvenirs, snacked on tostones and cooled off with pina coladas.
And toured Castillo San Felipe Del Morro. Built in the 16th century, this citadel was created to defend the Spanish colonial port city from seaborne enemies.
We also checked out Pigeon Park, which I wasn’t a huge fan of (as you can imagine, with the very high chance of getting showered with poop). But I very much enjoyed Fortaleza Street - cue “Umbrella” by Rihanna.
And my favorite part of the city… the Cats of Old San Juan! Seriously, they’re everywhere - and they’re adorable.
The streets of Old San Juan are so colorful and lively, it’s hard not to get swept up in the culture.
We also relaxed for a bit at a beach close by and met a few friends beneath our toes.
Besides the culture, scenery and beach, another reason to visit Puerto Rico is its affordability. For dinner, we had a date at one of the many delicious spots in Old San Juan. We ordered 6 glasses of chilled red wine (it’s THE BEST) and 6 tapas ranging from tostones to mussels to patatas bravas (spicy potatoes) to croquettas - all totaling $87. Can’t get that in New York…
Our last morning in paradise was spent in Isla Verde, eating some more Puerto Rican delicacies - I’m telling you, I just can’t get enough of those tostones and mayo-ketchup! And then we spent the rest of the day laying on the beach and swimming in the salty sea. If you could imagine a perfect beach day, that was it.
Hasta la proxima vez, Puerto Rico 💕