Ooh Heaven is a Place on Earth

Culebra was the icing on our Puerto Rican cake. Only a short boat ride away from the main island, Culebra boasts one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The sands were white and soft, the water was clear and blue...I really couldn't get over how remarkable it was. While we were there I had my first snorkeling experience and after 20 minutes of inhaled salt water and awkward flopping in flippers, I decided to throw in my goggles so I didn't hold Benson back. He had an incredible day of exploring a few different parts of the island. He saw tons of different tropical fish (I did get to see some of those, which was scary/very cool) and he swam with sea turtles for the better part of the afternoon. I decided to lounge on the beach and drink some fresh and fruity cold drinks. I think it is safe to say that this was the highlight of our trip. We had to forego a few other things we had wanted to do in order to make it work, but I believe it was well worth it...aaand, there is always next time. 

I still dream about Culebra. It's really my kind of heaven on earth.We honestly fell in love with Puerto Rico and we still talk about picking up and moving there. I really cannot wait to go back one day and fall in love all over again. Sigh. 

En {viejo} San Juan Me Enamoré...

After a few lazy beach days we decided to make our way over to Old San Juan and do some sight-seeing. It was so beautiful, and by far the most touristy thing that we did our entire trip. If you know me well you know that I love old buildings and bright colors and Old San Juan is full of both. The streets are still paved in a beautiful blue cobblestone and you can see many original buildings. We researched lots of fun things to do before we left NY and it seemed like we could have spent days in the old city. I looked online for any cool stores that were specific to Puerto Rico that we might want to see, and one of the places that I couldn't wait to see in person was a bag store called Concalma which translates to "with ease". The brand was started by Matilsha Marxuach, a fashion savvy and environmentally conscious designer who creates versatile and functional bags, manufactured in a women's co-op in Utuado, Puerto Rico. Just walking into the store gave a calm and cool vibe. The doors were left open to feel the breeze, colorful bags lined the walls and traditional music played on a record player in the back of the store. We got a nice welcome from Matilsha herself and she spent a good while with us talking about her designs and fabrics. She was super down to earth and sweet, it was really the type of personal experience that I adore.

Concalma

Other than Concalma bags we also visited a few art shops and bought different items crafted by Puerto Rican artists. Although I was tempted, I refrained from getting a Puerto Rican nativity scene, mostly because the baby Jesus' swaddling wrap was usually a Puerto Rican flag...but, to their defense, we really don't know what he might have been clothed in, given the circumstances. After the shopping we headed out the the farthest part of the island where we saw the Castillo de San Felipe del Morro that overlooks the ocean and a beautiful cemetery. There are so many cool and historical things I could tell you about the fort and it's surrounding area, but I won't bore you with too much of that...

The fort's lighthouse

overlooking the ocean with my Concalma bag

rooms upon rooms...

up on the right side is a bomb fragment
that has been stuck in the fort since the
U.S. bombardment in 1898.

Overlooking the Mary Magdalena de Pazzi cemetary. 

so handsome in every country

After a few hours in the hot sun we were ready to head back to our neighborhood and hit the beach. There is still so much we could have seen...guess it will just have to wait until next time. 

This song is by the Puerto Rican boy band "Menudo". They

started in the 1970's and only recently disbanded in 2009. 

Their producer planned for the band to continue on by kicking 

out band members as they got older (reached 16 years, voice 

lowered, grew facial hair)and replacing them with younger artists.

Ricky Martin got his start with the band, which tells you a lot. 

The song is totally cheesy...reminiscent of our time in Old San Juan.  

This Could Be Paradise.

Did you know there is a place where the temperatures rarely get above 90° F and the coldest to have been recorded is 61° F? It's tropical, you are always close to the beach, the food is delicious...I just can't stop. It's called Puerto Rico and words cannot explain the five day love affair we had with this country. Sorry New York, you are not my soul city anymore...warm up and relax a bit and I might change my mind. Maybe. We stayed in San Juan in a studio apartment that had everything we needed to make our trip perfect.Our days were spent biking, exploring, drinking fresh fruit batidas and lounging on the beach. Now, nearly 3 months (and too many below freezing days) later, I find myself understanding all too well why Bernardo wanted to go back to San Juan. I'm currently looking for a boat I could get on...It really was our paradise.

A nearby beach we biked to after breakfast. 

PR Graffiti alley

A Jetty. This man explained to us in Spanish what causes
a whirlpool...I think. 

Eating at Pinkie's - SUPER YUMMY!

This is how happy I am to drink Batidas. See?? So Happy.

Kasalta - I think this place may have been my personal fave

Lounge All DAY!  

We enjoyed watching the sunset together
every night.

Every time the tide would start creeping in Benson would wish with all his heart that someone would get caught unaware and he would see them (and their stuff) get washed up. So mean. Anyway, karma happened and we were woken up from the best beach nap ever by a rush of salty water. We had to jump up and scramble to get our stuff as it washed out to sea. Thanks people who sat back and watched it happen, and a special thanks to Benson for cursing us from the start. 

If you think that is it, you couldn't be more wrong. Stay tuned for pictures and stories from Culebra (the most beautiful place I have ever been) and Old San Juan. Sigh. 

Kent would tell me that Coldplay is too mainstream...

luckily he is on a mission and can't opinion-ate. 

I'm siding on the Sharks for this one. Viva Puerto Rico!

National Anthem

This post is going to be my ode to Amelia. I love her and cannot even believe that was not always the case. She is my cousin, no our names weren't planned like that and yes we are now great friends. It wasn't until we were 22 years old that we finally discovered just how much we have in common and we started hanging out. She is like me, just cooler and more talented. Can you imagine? I know, it blows me away, she is just that great. I have been trying to get Amelia to move her make-up artist career to NYC for quite some time now.When she said she was coming to visit I knew it was my first step into getting her here for good!

We had such a fun week of new discoveries, crazy weather changes, lots of delicious food and listening to Lana Del Rey's "National Anthem" on repeat. 

Don't kill me, I love this picture. 

Shout out to one of my most favorite 

NYC finds so far!

Brooklyn Farmacy and Soda Fountain

 is perfect.

I give it a 10 out of 10, hands down. 

We walked Brooklyn Bridge on 9/11

Explored the LIC Flea and ate yummy food

Gantry Park in LIC is always a must!

Biking Central Park

Enjoying the Met

MAC Pro store with a MAC pro that knows her shizzz

AND...of course I made her do my makeup.
Don't ask me to replicate it, I can't...

"Play Hard"

"True That"

"Stay Slim"
Avoid our knuckle tat gang guys, we get serious. 

Looking through these pictures made me nostalgic for the summer. Come back summer and bring Amelia with you!