Category Archives: Photoshoots

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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Explorations near Joyuda: Modern Ruins and Hidden Coves

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With the baby, we have found that we need to get out of the house and property more than ever. We have a sort of routine where we stay in one day and go for a drive the next. Sometimes it’s every two days or so, but we like to get out so we don’t feel like all we do is work around the property and take care of the little guy. This last week we did some explorations around the Joyuda area. Joyuda is between Mayaguez and Cabo Rojo. We take the cool backroad of 102 to have an ocean drive. We made it back to one of our favorite spots: Punta Ostiones also know as La Playita.


Area of Punta Ostiones


Trails


Secluded Coves


Postcard beach scenes


Me and Aeden in one of the coves -he loves to kick the water!


Noni fruit growing wild -edible and medicinal but very yucky tasting!


Hermit crab on shucked coconuts


Exploring through the Ostiones trails of coconuts and mangroves

We also briefly checked out a cool abandoned juvenile detention center that is now a mountain bike riding course. It was cool in a spooky way.  Then we went back another day with friends and explored more.


When we stumbled upon an old abandoned church that is being reclaimed by the jungle!


Creepy hallways of the old buildings -now used to play “Gotcha” or paintball


In the doorway to the church


Me and Aeden on the altar


Down the stairs


We’re off again! Grab the kid! Firewoman carry! 🙂


With friend Laura exploring the southern part of the trails


Aeden can keep his head up now which makes walking with him easier


A group of us exploring the ruins


Creepy hallways! “We’re watching!”


Britton and Aeden near the church


I did another photoshoot with Laura there. I can’t wait to see her results!


Later we stopped by the Gato Negro right on the water in Joyuda and watched the birds and tarpon fighting over fish scraps

 

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Britton’s Surprise Birthday Party and Dome’s Beach Trail

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With some friends

We always have fun going out and about as well as staying in at the property, but for Britton’s birthday we had a little something different in mind. A surprise! Our neighbors Kim, Anthony and Lamar and I helped plan a surprise birthday party just up the street and it was so much fun! Britton had no idea when we stopped in to say hello before our planned beach outing that there was a party there just for him. We had a great time and love our neighborhood and friends.


Surprise!
Anthony, Kim and the birthday boy


A make-your-own pizza party and homemade carrot cake! The best!


Fun times, good food and great friends

We had to whisper the Happy Birthday song because Aeden was starting to fall asleep. In Puerto Rico you can sing the English version of “Happy Birthday to You” or the Spanglishized version “Cumpleaños Feliz” but you should always add this song after:

Feliz, feliz en tu día
Amiguit@ que Dios te bendiga
Que reine la paz en tu vida
Y que cumplas muchos más

It translates to: Such happiness on your day, my friend we hope God blesses you, that peace reigns in your life and that you celebrate many more birthdays!


We did have one little party pooper there though 🙂

We didn’t miss out on celebrating Britton’s birthday his expected way as well though. Taking a nice walk down one our favorite trails in Rincon following the Spanish Wall by Dome’s Beach is one of his favorite things so we made sure to do that as well.


Britton and the munchkin


Me and the babe with Pools Beach and Aguadilla in the background


Such a cool trail!


Out enjoying our beautiful town of Rincon


Dome’s Beach is named for this, well, dome -the non-working nuclear reactor plant


It’s a favorite beach for surfers


And a good place to hang a hammock


Spanish Wall was formerly a railroad used by the sugar cane industry


Sad Palm


Happy Family

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Colorful Aguadilla

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Apparently the artist who painted the town (literally) of Yauco has been going around the island and finding other similar neighborhoods to paint. We had heard that Aguadilla got the touch up as well and just had its grand hurrah a little bit ago. We spent the afternoon wandering around and stopped by Rompeolas by the sea for a bite to eat. It is pretty cool, but I think it would have been a little neater had they changed it up a little (maybe polka dots instead of patchwork?). Still very eye catching and a fun little jaunt up many a flight of stairs.


From the park, El Parterre, in Aguadilla looking up; it’s hard to miss!


The subdued park is such a contrast


El Parterre park was very old European in design

I am still surprised people live in this type of hodge-podge and very poor neighborhood. There is no way this would be allowed to fly in modern building codes, but I think they have been sort of grandfathered in from long ago when these were just squatter shanties during the sugar cane days.


Britton carried Aeden all the way to the top!


Having fun!


Look, we are camouflaged!


In a little side room/casita the residents encouraged us to take pictures


Britton and the little monster


Here fishy, fishy


People hanging out watching all the tourists check out their houses


One guy ran out of his house and chased us down to give us these old calendar photos of how Aguadilla was in the olden days


Cool detailed murals all around


From the road


Some areas up there still hadn’t been repaired since the hurricane


We had a nice lunch seaside at Rompeaolas


Look at that sweet smile!


Near Rompeolas there is a HUGE ceiba tree


It had dropped its petals everywhere!


Some of the real boats of Aguadilla


And Aguadilla’s gorgeous shoreline as we drove home

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