Since I'm leaving for Puerto Rico next week, I thought it was a suitable time to share this story about my first and only other visit to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico which for those of you unaware is a United States territory located in the northeastern Caribbean.
Back in 2010 my travel buddy Priscilla and I decided to go on a vacation to Puerto Rico. Our schedules were full of adventure and on one of our first days there our plans were to take a boat to the nearby Isla de Vieques.
Hearing rumors of it being the place where all of the locals go to find exquisite beauty along with some secret and awesome sounding beaches.
Back in 2010 my travel buddy Priscilla and I decided to go on a vacation to Puerto Rico. Our schedules were full of adventure and on one of our first days there our plans were to take a boat to the nearby Isla de Vieques.
Hearing rumors of it being the place where all of the locals go to find exquisite beauty along with some secret and awesome sounding beaches.
We got on a rather early boat and headed straight for the shoreline!
The sun was barely rising, and the beach was quiet for once. We figured that we'd take advantage of it for as long as we could.
But once the beach began to fill up with other vacationers, Priscilla and I had opted to go find one of the "secret beaches"! After a short stroll, we found just what we were looking for. And then it was time to relax - only relaxing turned into napping and the wasn't a good idea what so ever! When we woke up, our skin had been scorched by the hot sun, it was pink and swollen puffy.
The sun was barely rising, and the beach was quiet for once. We figured that we'd take advantage of it for as long as we could.
But once the beach began to fill up with other vacationers, Priscilla and I had opted to go find one of the "secret beaches"! After a short stroll, we found just what we were looking for. And then it was time to relax - only relaxing turned into napping and the wasn't a good idea what so ever! When we woke up, our skin had been scorched by the hot sun, it was pink and swollen puffy.
 Red and Puffy! |  Please EXCUSE my hair! |
Ouch, it sure hurt. And it exhausted us. I had just woke up from a nap and was more tired than before dozing off!
But this was nothing compared to the amounts of pain it would cause for the remainder of our visit. My burn was much worse than that of Priscilla's and I could barely sleep.
My shoes became too tight, because my feet were oversized and bulging out of them. The entire situation was miserable, and it was the WORST sunburn that I've ever had in my life! Eventually the damn thing peeled off in sheets!
I still managed to have a good time, tough it out and enjoy myself.
My shoes became too tight, because my feet were oversized and bulging out of them. The entire situation was miserable, and it was the WORST sunburn that I've ever had in my life! Eventually the damn thing peeled off in sheets!
I still managed to have a good time, tough it out and enjoy myself.
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We explored the El Yunque National Forest, checked out La Mina Falls, got to know Old San Juan, kayaked through the bioluminescent bay - which was AMAZING, and attempted to go to the Arecibo Observatory - only to find out the they were closed on Palm Sunday...The plus side to this unnecessary drive was that we finally found a fruit stand (on the last day of my trip). The fruit stand was built in an old abandoned School Bus, and we were so happy to indulge in some fresh, juicy and interesting tropical fresh fruit (we had been on the look out for a fruit stand since arriving to the island), it was the perfect way to end our little Puerto Rican Adventure!
Keeping the Wander in Wanderlust,
-T
Keeping the Wander in Wanderlust,
-T
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