In January of 2023 we took a few local trips around Aguadilla, Lares, Cabo Rojo, and more. In Lares we even stopped at the spot that we had at one point in time nearly bought! What nostalgia that brought up. So many moments of waiting, wishing and hoping for a life in Puerto Rico. And now we live it every day, albeit in a different area of Puerto Rico. 2023 marks a full 10 years since we made the giant leap to move our life completely. Interesting the twists and turns of fate and choice.
A cool spot in Aguadilla
Standing in front of what we used to call “Awilda’s” Place. The farm we nearly bought in Lares
Hacienda Rullan in Lares
Charco La Valentina in Lares
Rincon!
A new ice cream place in Rincon by the Marina called “Wabbles”
Thankfully 2020 is behind us and the future is looking brighter than before.
These first few months of the year have been productive and interesting as we explore more of the island. Some of the places we’ve gone are new and others are revisits. All along the way I have learned more and more. I have been enjoying making the videos for Youtube and learning new editing techniques and we’ve been practicing more with a drone (eventually we hope to get one of our own). The direct sales flower business is fairly steady even if the farmer’s market is still not open in the plaza (there is a small market at a storage facility in Rincon). We’ve also kept super full in the cabana (you would not think there was any slow down at all in travel if our cabana was any indication!) and so we also keep up with maintenance and cleaning. Additionally, we have finally fully torn down the old shed out front and are nearly complete with the tiki-hut/gazebo that is in its place. Overall things are definitely looking much better than they did, say, 11 months ago!
Christmas Day at the farm
A visit to Cayey the Pork Highway and the Bosque Carite’s Abandoned Jail!
Nice kick-off to 2021 watching fireworks and then checking out the photogenic tunnels of Rincon
Daytrip to Cabo Rojo -Lighthouse and Poblado de Boqueron with our friend Heidi
Fun new waterhole in Aguada/Rincon!
Around the farm and Rincon- Tiki Hut construction
Day trip to Isabela -Pozo de Jacinto and Playa El Pastillo
An Awesome Project in the high hills of Atalaya Rincon/Aguada -Salto de la Loca!
New Explorations in San Sebastian -Cueva de Lagrimas!
We continue to update our life mostly on Youtube and Instagram now, but I figured I would put together a long post of the last 3 or 4 months or so. I have peppered in some of the videos here, but check out the channel for lots more! Life has been a little more stable lately than it was in the spring and summer and we, like most people, are pandemic fatigued. But we’ve been staying busy and healthy going on outdoor explorations and working on the farm. Thankfully daycare has been open since the summer so that really took a lot of pressure off. Maybe because of all the talk of dying, we have felt the YOLO sentiment even more and have seen more of this island in this last year than ever before. Every time I think we have “seen it all” there is something new! This island truly is the “Island of Enchantment!”
Fun in Aguada
Lots of fun in the gardens and even got to play with butterflies!
Incredible Sunsets!
We tore down the old shed, built a new shed/wash room and are starting to build a new tiki hut/gazebo in the old space! It has taken a lot of work and time, but poco a poco we’re almost finished!
Swimming with a sea turtle and lots of fish at Pena Blanca
You have to check out the sea turtle underwater footage in this video! Start at 8:30 if you don’t want to watch the whole video but want to see the turtle! Super magical moment!
Abandoned Youth Detention Facility in Cabo Rojo
Fun random moments, flowers, bananas, friends, abandoned buildings, tarantulas
Ermita San Antonio
Fun excursions around Isabela including Royal Isabela and the Guajataca Tunnel
Fun with family who were visiting
Visit to a waterfall and molino in Maricao
Playa Buye is so buyetiful haha
Playa Buye in Cabo Rojo
Good times in Aguadilla: Crashboat, Cerro Cabrera and More even though we had to deal with a traffic ticket (dark tint)
Fun on Halloween
Cool new waterfall: Charca el Zumbo in San Sebastian!
Stopping by downtown Cabo Rojo after a Dr Appt
Cool Bridge in Morovis called “Puente Mata de Platano”
A Super Unique Experience to see an Abandoned Castle in Morovis
More good times that I don’t take for granted anymore: Thanksgiving, haircuts, flower deliveries
Awesome cave to explore: Cueva del Viento in the Bosque Estatal de Guajataca!
Photoshoots to keep up the creativity
Visit to a Gothic Cemetery (San Rafael)
Checking out a cool Hacienda (Casona Amador) including an interview with the owner!
And Barrio Charcas of Quebradillas with its Parque Jibaro
And the Portal de Los Reyes and the Cantina Custer also in Quebradillas
More flowers, gardens and out and about in RIncon
And that just about catches us up!
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and best wishes for a much better 2021!
We have been staying busy exploring the great outdoors whenever we can and appreciating our daily life routine. Things aren’t quite back to ‘normal’ but it feels good to get out and see the real world instead of ‘doomscrolling’ and reading about all that’s not right.
Mountainside in Yauco
There is so much more that is not just good, but awesome! So we’ve gone out to explore them whenever we can. Here in Puerto Rico, we’ve had a couple of yo-yo policies opening up, locking down (for some reason they really didn’t want us going out on Sundays for a few weeks) and now back to opening up, so we try to just go with the flow of it as much as possible. When we can go to the beach we do, and when we can’t we go explore other places. Here’s a few adventures near and far from home we found recently!
Fun day exploring the Guajataca River by kayak and Guajataca Beach with our friends Heidi and Pedro
Fun day trip to Camuy and Hatillo
Lots of fun and improvements on the farm. New concrete pad, new plants, flowers, and even new ponds for aquatics plants and fish!
Went through Tropical Storm Isaias and Laura
Short Excursions around Rincon, Aguada, Mayaguez, Anasco areas
New Waterfall Blue lagoon we found in San Sebastian
Amazing day in Yauco exploring a coffee finca
Exploring more of Quebradillas and its amazing cliff views!
In Aguadilla we finally found the “Secret Stairs” of Survival Beach! We’d been looking for them forever!
Our little boy turned TWO! I can’t believe it! Felicidades!
A wonderful day for a swim under a rainbow in Rincon!
Our little jungle boy!
Overall, life is good! We’re staying busy trying to remember that the best way to appreciate life is to LIVE it. Hope you are all doing well! Remember if you want to see what we’re doing more regularly, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our Youtube Channel where we make videos weekly!
