Una Semana para recordar

It was definitely a week or so to remember! Last Saturday, I met up with Aunt Simone and Kyle and we went to Old San Juan. It was a gorgeous day and we walked past El Convento and up to El Jibarito on Calle del Sol. It is a delicious Puerto Rican restaurant- we had mofongo (naturally!... I may have become too fond of it), red beans and rice, pork in plantain gravy and garlic chicken. It was so great to chat with them and walk around Old San Juan, picking up empanadas and fruit (papaya and banana) along the way. The picturesque streets of cobblestone that look almost blue-ish and the colorful buildings look like a postcard around every corner. After I dropped them at the airport, I officially felt like a local as I turned around and drove back into Condado. I then went with Cesar and Lynn to Dorado beach about 45 minutes away where they have a gorgeous house that looks almost like Sandestin. We biked to the beach, passing one of the prettiest golf courses and a huge iguana lounging in the sun. The beach club is unlike anything I have seen before... it is super fancy and there is a wavebreaker of rocks so that there are no waves. We had mojitos and piña coladas and then rode our bikes back, laughing all the way when Lynn's bike squealed each time the brakes were pressed. We changed and went to Alberto's restaurant for chillo entero (an entire red snapper fish, eyes and all!). After, we drove home and I went to sleep! Sunday I went for a run/walk around the lagoon, taking in the crystal clear water! It was a relaxing day and the perfect setup for a week in picking!

Here are pics of Dorado:

In picking, I spent the week working with warehouse guys. It was so funny because they didn't know how to act around me. They had never worked with a girl before.. much less a girl that had bright blonde hair. They finally got used to me and I had a blast with them by Friday. Thursday I had to leave work early to go interview with Deloitte. As I left work, I wanted to go to the frutera for a limber de mantequilla maní so badly. I was thinking about it and wondering if I had time and then I saw Yamalier and Humberto sitting in the cafeteria. They called me over to wish me good luck AND out of a plastic bag, as if by magic, they pulled out a limber. And crazily enough, a limber of peanut butter! It was such a blessing in disguise... it was just an affirmation of such sweet friends I have made here. Friday was also so great- Valentines Day! I got to go to lunch with the Compras team- Kelvin, Zori, Ivanne, Verónica, Jaime and some others in the office. We went to Monchos and had a great time. When I got back, Yamalier gave me a red rose and I decorated the warehouse with it :) the guys were all confused why their "manly" warehouse suddenly had a sign with hearts and said "Feliz Día de Amistad" and had a rose in a makeshift vase (an empty glass Evian bottle) in it. I got countless chocolates from the sweet guard at Oceánica when I got home as well... not to mention my amazing parents sent me chocolate strawberries. Safe to say I need to eat better this week!

Sweet Zori and I at lunch!

My strawberries from mom and dad! You'll always be my favorite Valentines!

The warehouse... with a bit of a woman's touch!

Peanut butter limber! 

Yesterday, Menlyanne, Marcus and Patricia took me to Arecibo to Cuevas del Indio. It was breathtaking... we climbed down a little ladder into the caves and enjoyed exploring and taking in the sights. It was 90 degrees and clear blue skies. The town of Arecibo is truly campo, with horses along the road and the parking lot was a small dirt lot with country Puerto Ricans manning the pay booth. It was so funny- and then we sat on the trunk of the car and ate strawberries with whipped cream before departing for San Sebastián to Gozalandia. To get there, we drove down tiny residential roads that looked like dead ends (which we did run into a few times!) and then we saw a tiny concrete entrance and we drove through a sketchy jungle road to a small parking lot where lots of dogs were wandering. Country folk own the lot and usually, people used to hike through their property to arrive at the waterfall, so they decided to start charging. The waterfall is down a big jungle hill and you turn the corner to a magnificent deep pool with clear green water and a perfect waterfall. You can swim and play in it and it was the perfect afternoon! I cannot imagine a better day.. and cannot wait until the next trip! Today, I went to Second Union Church in Guaynabo. It was amazing.. the sermon was on anger. It was amazing to consider that the majority of times wrath and anger are mentioned it is about God's anger. It is not sinful to be angry about what matters. But, to be angry or spiteful is sinful and it was a great reminder and wake-up call about being angry about silly things or getting frustrated. I am excited for this week and what else is to come here in Puerto Rico!

Indian cave carvings!

Gozalandia is beautiful!