Tag Archives: pond

Secluded Waterfall: Charca Las Vegas, Maricao

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Our family at the waterfall (photo thanks Markus)

Our friend Daisy invited us to a last-minute getaway into the mountains of Maricao and we are so glad she did! We quickly did all of our chores so we could head up to this secluded, hidden waterfall and yet it was not too hard to find in the jungle. One of our favorite waterfall areas is Gozalandia, but it has become a tourist trap and just too popular, especially on a Saturday in summer. This trip was just perfect with just our group and a couple of other people there. The pond was deep enough to swim and jump into and the water was soo refreshing. This time of year, the ocean water is almost too tepid warm and so the rivers and ponds start to beckon to us to cool down.


Fun in the water


Beautiful (au) natural setting


Aeden seemed to enjoy playing in the water


After how hot it’s been, we are already thinking of going back!


The group. It’s really not a long walk from the road to the waterfall


Stone petroglyphs (maybe old maybe not)


Super refreshing!

Apparently there is another smaller fall up a little higher as well as a waterwheel (molino) just down the way, but we just enjoyed this amazing spot. We brought down some drinks and snacks and enjoyed a much-needed break from the heat. We WILL be back!

Here’s a video of our time there:

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Hacienda Marak in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

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Aeden checking out the donkey Sancho at Hacienda Marak

We recently had the opportunity to visit Hacienda Marak in Mayaguez. I was very impressed with this farm as it has nearly everything I would love to do with our place only on a much larger scale. Markitto Tremblay is the owner of the property. He is the former owner of the unique boutique hotel in Rincon, the Blue Boy Inn, but has since retired to his 65 acre slice of paradise on the mountainside of Mayaguez. I have been following him on Facebook and just knew I had to meet him and check out what he has been up to. He has some exotic plants that you just don’t find in the nurseries here, a beautifully remodeled home (a former coffee plantation and hacienda), various fun animals and even the pond I have been wanting! The icing on the cake is that he is a native French speaker and I am currently taking a French class, so that was extra fun.

  


Some very cool plants including even apples!


Gorgeous orchids


I loved his eye for style


And landscape design


The columns and terrace area got me thinking of some fun ideas!


The pond was one of my favorite parts of the tour! Something I have been talking about with our property for a long time to put under the bridge



The animals were so cool! Chickens, goats, sheep, parrots, a dog (that looked remarkably like Schnoodle), donkeys, koi, and we gave him some of our turkey babies too to add to his menagerie!


Sancho the donkey was super friendly and fun


I have always wanted a tortoise too. I think this one is an African Spurred Tortoise


She may live to be 100 years old!


Thank you Markitto for opening your home to us! It is lovely and an inspiration to us to keep going on our tropical property!

Here’s a video of our time with Markitto. Aeden was kind of squirmy and whiny so it is somewhat choppy, but I hope it shows a little what a magical, magnifique place Hacienda Marak is!

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Crossing that Bridge When We Get There

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This week Britton put on the last few boards that connected one side of the bridge to the other.

Bridge and Palm tree
Little Britton, big bridge and huge Royal Palm tree

We have been enjoying going across it, walking on it like a catwalk, swinging our legs over the edge, laying down feet to feet or head to head looking up at the birds, bugs, and iguanas in the trees.

Full length bridge
Full length of the bridge

Bridge and stairs
On the catwalk, yah!

It’s not totally done, but it is useable/walkable now. We still need to add some other bolts to it, put on some handrails and about 10 more feet to make the transition onto the bridge feel seamless. Then we need to put in rebar and pour the concrete steps to make the full connection all the way to the cabin.

Looking down at the bridge
Britton had to re-do a few of the stair molds because they weren’t regular rise and run

Compared to going down into quebrada and climbing back up, crossing the bridge feels like floating.

House and Bridge
Bridge, curving steps and cabin

We love our little cabin hideaway in the woods and this bridge makes it even more fun. We have already started talking about what we can put below it. A tilapia pond? A small waterfall? Koi? Ducks? Tropical water lilies? Or all of the above. There is just so much potential with this property and this bridge is another step to helping us unlock even more.

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