Category Archives: Adventures

Red Rocks on the 4th of July

We had always wanted to see a show at Red Rocks Amphitheater on the 4th of July, and so with this vacation we made it happen. Blues Traveler has been playing there on Independence Day for about a decade now and we had always heard great things about it. Our show lived up to the hype even though you could tell they were a little used to playing there and had a lot of the opening bands play with them. Blues Traveler put on a decent show, but the real star of course is the location itself. Nestled between two huge triangular red boulders, Red Rocks is a natural wonder. I am generally not into concerts because they tend to be really expensive and indoor venues just never do justice to the music. But Red Rocks is special even to musicians. You just aren’t a “true” star until you’ve played there and been listed on their museum wall.


The rock formations are out of this world!

We took advantage of our family’s offers of free babysitting to go out to this concert. We were expecting a great show, but what we didn’t expect was a lightning show, rainbows and all the fireworks shows that lit up the whole Denver area. It starting raining in the middle of the show, but it cleared out half the crowd which made the rest of the performance all-the-better. The firework show put on by Bandimere Speedway was the best and it was so interesting to watch the displays from above instead of below. We loved our time at Red Rocks and encourage anyone who loves the outdoors and music to go (hint: pack some snacks and expect some outrageous prices at the concession stands). Here’s a little from our time with our niece and her boyfriend at Red Rocks.


With Summer in the summer of Colorado


Britton and his niece with an impressive rock formation


You could see Denver in the distance


And rainbows forming over it


We took the long way to the amphitheater and saw deer on the hike


And a bear (haha)


Our group at the concert


Fireworks going off as Blues Traveler played


Such beautiful countryside!

Here’s a little video of our time at Red Rocks:

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Colorado Trip: Greeley Stampede, Estes Park, Family Visit

We are visiting Colorado for the first time in nearly 6 years! We have a lot of things we wanted to do while we were here including visiting our properties, family (some hadn’t yet met Aeden) and Colorado. So many memories have come up and it is strange to see if from Puerto Rico eyes. I have definitely changed, or been changed by my time in Puerto Rico. I will get into more about our comparisons/contrasts later, but for now, here’s a little of what we’ve been up to. It’s the 4th of July in Colorado, a more “American” style vacation there couldn’t be. BBQs, ice cream, flags and fireworks, big trucks and overly polite people calling me a “gal” abound. It’s funny how easily we stepped back in. Some things have changed, but more have stayed the same.


Hasta Pronto, Puerto Rico! Taking a Cape Air Flight. Aeden’s first!

Rincon from the air


Colorado weather is so nice this time of year!


Aeden travels well even though he is teething and developed his first cold. A baby certainly complicates things!


Greeley Stampede is as fun as ever. We walked around the carnival a bit and saw REO Speedwagon!


Fun spending time with old friends like Lorena and Kelly

 


REO Speedwagon was fun even if I only knew 3 songs haha

S

Family and Farmer’s Inn, it’s a tradition!


I had forgotten about squirrels! They’re so cute! (Puerto Rican “ardillas” are really mongoose!)


My 90+ year old grandma met her first GREAT grandbaby for the first time! 4 generations in this picture!


My brother met his only nephew too!


We went to Target!! haha


We visited the old houses we called home for a long time


So much food! I haven’t eaten steak in years! But we’re in cow country and not “lechon” anymore!


And there is just so much food in general it’s amazing!


Saw some bigfeet at the Dam Store


Pose like a tourist in Estes Park!


The mountains and drive were gorgeous! I do miss the mountains of CO!


Family in Estes Park


Fun at the Stanley Hotel -The inspiration for the movie The Shining

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New Flowers and Friends


Newest bloom: Evita’s Rose

We are constantly on the lookout for new plants, trees and flowers. It seems that most of the viveros have all the same common plants: trinitarias, hibiscus, bromelias, orchids, citrus, avocados. What they don’t have are heliconias, gingers, plumerias and all the exotic fruit trees. We are currently on the lookout for durian, Australian finger lime, and reina de las flores (this is a common tree, but for some reason we have a hard time finding it for sale).


Also looking for Rainbow Eucalyptus like this one seen on the side of the road

At the last pulguero in San Sebastian we had a good score! We found another Ylang Ylang tree (the fragrance is so divine, it is used in Chanel No 5), an achiote tree (a natural food dye for the color red and very cool looking fruit), a huge Tibochino espiga and a Raffy palm (that’s what the vendor called it). At Jardines Eneida we also found some new trees like a Cordia, Saman and mamayito (lemon drop mangosteen).


The meadow area after a good mow -we need to mow about every 2 weeks now that it’s raining so much


I also found this nepenthes pitcher plant that reminded me of well…you know


All the rain has brought out the mushrooms


And so we bought some garden art to commemorate them


Rainy days at the cabin. Notice the new railings!


Still not sure if we want to put rails on the bridge though


The mosquitos come out a lot more in the rain, so we put a mosquito net on Aeden’s play pen outside, that he promptly pulled down 🙂


He’s our little farmer so we did an impromtu photo shoot with him


Our little red is getting so big! 9 months now


Aeden’s 9 month video update

In order to find the heliconias and ginger varieties we want, we have to find direct vendors. The rhizomes don’t do super well in pots for long periods of time, so they have to be directly transplanted as soon as possible into the ground. They also need a lot of space and water, that the average home gardener can’t often provide (hence why they are not commonly found in the stores around here). Well, I found someone online who specializes in them! Not only did Carlos sell us some amazing rhizomes, he also delivered them from San German and helped us identify many of our wild species. We hung out for quite a while and got to know him pretty well. We scored some plants, but even more importantly a new friend who is as geeked out about botanicals as we are! He is a student at the University in Mayaguez and knows a TON about plants.


With Carlos and the new plants


We’ve also been busy delivering flowers to friends/businesses like these that are on the way to Karibe Kombucha and Ocean State of Mind

Other than that we have been going out and having fun enjoying the scenes around the island.


In Aguada, Puerto Rico


Cool building in Aguadilla


Selling fresh chopped coconuts in Isabela


A nice Sunday brunch at the Copa Lllena in Rincon


This guy was buying sugarcane from a neighbor


At the Sunday Farmer’s market a basket maker made me a crown. I was the reina de las flores for a day! 🙂


Man on a bicycle at the airfield in Aguadilla

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Pena Blanca, Rincon Marina, Dome’s Wings and More


Fun times with the boy

My how time flies differently with a kid! We have been having fun trying to go out to various beaches especially now that it is the hot summertime. We have been to Pena Blanca before (a long while ago), but we took a little dip. I would like to bring the snorkel gear as I have heard it’s pretty nice. We went down the stairs and tucked ourselves in under the cave as the swallow birds flew about. Aeden loves, loves the water. I can’t wait to teach him to swim.


The water is so crystal blue and clear!


Recently painted and cool cave area


Family time!


I love this little stairway area. It’s a bit hard to trek especially with people coming from both directions

We also have spent a little time at the Rincon Marina. I call the Marina the “social beach” of Rincon because there is always something going on. Boats comically entering the water (sometimes hitched to a car), the newest gadgets are tried out (motor surfboards, jet skis, water jet packs, etc), there is people watching galore. But now that the “season” is over, it has been a nice, tranquil place to hang out on a weekday or celebrate a birthday.


Happy birthday, Amanda!


Doing things with a baby does make life a little more complicated, but it can be done haha


Me and my sweet waterbaby


And with his daddy


Another blissful moment at the Marina


Don’t worry, I didn’t toss him that high


This kid has such a fun life already!


Flamboyans are back!


My little love and I shared a swing ride at Dome’s Beach


This art installment was made by a local woman named Luisa Acevedo. I love it!


We’ve enjoyed going to the San Sebastian Pulguero most Fridays-with friends Bronia and Andrew

There’s no feeling quite like having a cranky kid trust you so much he falls asleep literally in your arms (it also feels quite heavy to walk like this very far haha)


No wonder he sleeps so well!

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