Fun, Flowers and Friends
Celebrating our friend Heidi’s Birthday by exploring Lares and a variety of Haciendas!
Hacienda Lealtad
Hacienda Los Eucaliptos
Hacienda Pons
Mirador Mariana Bracetti
Lares from above
Hacienda Pons
Festival de la China Dulce -Las Marias
Festival de la China
More around the farm and our area
February used to be my least favorite month of the year when we lived in Colorado. It was so cold and there were no real festivities to brighten spirits. On the other hand, here in Puerto Rico, it is one of my favorites. The humidity drops and it is so pleasant to be outside working in the gardens.
We also had a visit from Britton’s sister Torrie and her friend so we did some touristy things with them including going to one of our favorite spots in Aguadilla: Borinquen Beach and the area around there (Lighthouse Ruins, Wilderness, etc). We also ran into a wild pig that started out friendly but got pretty aggressive and actually attacked and hurt another tourist pretty bad later on. We also stopped by the drum circle that meets up each first Friday of the month.
We also took a boat trip to La Parguera in Lajas where we rented our own boat and went to some of the lesser known keys. It was a lot of fun until I had a freak accident climbing a mangrove tree. Of all the crazy things I do, I didn’t think I would break my arm climbing a tree 3 feet above water. My arm was wrapped around the back side of the branch and when I tried to catch myself midfall I heard a crack. I really hoped it was just the tree creaking and not me. We went on with the day and even though I was in pain, I just tried to convince myself it was a sprain. The next day we went to the emergency room in Rincon and with an Xray I found out it was indeed broken. I was bummed and had to be in a two different casts for a total of 6 weeks.
Because of my injury we couldn’t go out and do as many adventurous things, so we stayed a little closer to home for a while. We did visit the new trail they opened at Tres Palmas Reserve as well as the celebration at Almendros Beach where the pool was stopped from being built.
We took a fun trip to Hatillo and the Gran Parque del Norte! Lots of great photo ops!
Otherwise, during the month of February we enjoyed our time on the farm and with friends.
One of my favorite flowers! Carolina or Shaving Brush flower -Pseudobombax
We love Cabo Rojo and especially this area by the lighthouse. We spent a day at the pink salt flats and Playa Sucia dressed as Mama Shark and Baby Shark!
Later this month we took a trip to the deep mountains of Orocovis, one of the highest altitude cities in Puerto Rico. Here we stayed at a little house that had a waterfall in the backyard! We had a great time playing in the river even though it was super chilly water since it can get much colder high in the mountains especially in January. We also climbed a mountain called Cerro Mime which is named that because of all the gnat flies at the top. But what an incredible view!! We also took a looong hike in the rain through the Toro Negro forest to the tiny little tower at the top.
Closer to home we finished an adventure we had started back in August 2021. We returned to Charco Carmelas in San Sebastian with some friends to walk up the river and find the twin falls! This is quite an adventure as you have to swim through canyons and walk literally in the river to reach the end point where there are two waterfalls side by side. The river was a little dry compared to when we first found the river in August, but it was still super beautiful!
We spent some time at home at the farm planting and harvesting flowers and fruit, at the beach with friends and other spots in our daily life routine. We also went to a funeral of a good friend and neighbor which was heartbreaking.
Wow! It has been a long time since I have posted on this platform, but I thought I would take a moment to reflect on the truly adventurous year we have had.
I think part of it had to do with having so much uncertainty and so much taken away from us in 2020 that we really felt we needed to get out and LIVE! Being out in the world, especially in wild nature and recording a little bit of our journey it has helped us to stay sane and healthy in a world that wasn’t.
So without further ado, here is our year in one post.
January
Great trips and explorations to Salto Atalaya, Isabela, Mayaguez, Aguada
FEBRUARY
Our trip to Old San Juan and El Yunque and also the Cueva de Lagrimas in San Sebastian
MARCH
Amazing trip to the Guaniquilla Reserve near Buye in Cabo Rojo -Pirate Cave, Lagoon, Hacienda Ruins and more!
Exploring Aguadilla again -Borinquen Beach to Pena Blanca plus the mysterious pyramid!
Kayaking and exploring in Anasco with friend Chris
Quebradillas and Guajataca Tunnel Area
Trip to Guanica -Fuerte Capron, Copa Marina, Puente Fuig and more
Playing at home in the jungle
More exploring in Merendero, Quebradillas
APRIL
Our trip to Jayuya and Ciales!
Exploring Rincon a little more in depth
And more
An abandoned Cave Park in Camuy
Exploring Aguada and Cannon Beach
MAY
Fun on Mother’s Day and around town
More fun in Quebradillas at Barrio Charcas and Puerto Hermina
May flowers!
Charco El Pilon and La Iglesia -San German
Fun around home, Mayaguez and Aguada
JUNE
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Trip to Ponce
Cliffs above the Guajataca Tunnel
Fun on Father’s Day and more
Pastillo Beach in Isabela and the rare event of seeing the Cueva de las Golondrinas
JULY
Canal Adventure!
Fun times
Amazing Birthday Trip to Vieques Island
Arecibo and the 3 Waterfalls of “La Planta”
AUGUST
Anniversary Trip to La Parguera
Fun around town, Charco Villa and at Finca El Namero
Beaches and Waterfalls! My favorite places!
SEPTEMBER
Trip to Utuado for a drum workshop, bano de plantas and Charco Los Mormones
Small outings and Aeden’s Birthday Party!
More Daily Life Moments
OCTOBER
Trip to Barceloneta and Manati
Fun exploring and Halloween!
NOVEMBER
A Few Pit Stops around town -Earthship Aguada, Family Love Castle and more
Trip to Guanica -Playa Santa, Playa La Jungla, Old Sugar Mill Ruins
Around Aguada/Aguadilla at Christmastime
More fun in Quebradillas and around town
More fun in Quebradillas and Thanksgiving
A fun trip to Patillas to visit friends
DECEMBER
Holiday Fun in PR!
And more! Hatillo Mask Festival and Plaza of Isabela
And a great Christmas present was spending time with friends and finding a very difficult cave (that it turns out we had visited 10 years ago)!
Well, that was quite the year (and sorry for the long photo dump). If you’d prefer to watch it, I also made a montage video. We post quite often on Youtube and Insta (https://www.instagram.com/lifetransplanet/) nowadays if you’d like to stay more current on our adventures as well.
