Saturday, August 12, 2006

I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz...

I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz….Although Puerto Rico was great, for me there is no place like home. We stayed in a townhouse in Palmas Del Mar which was gorgeous (Thanks Julie & Rick), we ate, drank and explored but I am glad to be home.

Luckily the tropical storm went north and we missed it so the plane ride was uneventful. The most terrifying thing was the ride from the airport to the townhouse. Think New York City traffic on acid…I think every car down there has a dent or scrap or is missing a light. They blare their horns at you when you fail to run a red light but they are very nonchalant about you cutting them off.

On Thursday we went to Fort San Cristobal which stands guard over Old San Juan. The fort covers 27 acres…it was raining so needless to say we didn’t cover all 27! We then walked through Old San Juan where the streets are made out of the ballast that was on the ships from Spain. We were going to take a ferry to the Bacardi factory but were told that there was no bus from the ferry to the factory so we drove there. Tour is free and so are the two drinks per person!!!! After that we went to the mall where a group of artists got together and opened a store. My sister wanted me to see the bobbin laceworker. She did absolutely beautiful work. In an insane moment I thought of buying the kit to try bobbin lace but quickly remembered I am an instantaneous gratification type of person and that bobbin lace and I would never make it.

On Friday we drove up into the mountains. We stopped and shopped and had lunch at an outdoor pig roast. We stopped and had drinks at roadside bars, which are all over the place. At the top we stopped for dinner at a restaurant with it’s own outside bar which had an awesome view. We sat outside and ate and drank pina colada’s.

Saturday we went to my sister’s house. She invited friends over and we spent the day relaxing and went back to the townhouse after dinner.

Sunday we sent the man out on the dock to fish. He had a pelican trying to tell him how to do it but he must not have listened as he didn't catch a thing. We walked the beach and watched him fish then went to the casino to give away our money.








Monday we were to go to the caves but they were closed so we went to Ponce. We drove to the summit of El Vigia Hill, where scouts once scanned for attacking ships. We couldn’t go up in La Cruz del Vigia, a 100-foot observation tower












because although Ponce is a dry and arid area it poured while we were there. We did get to go on a tour of Castillo Serralles which was the residence of the makers of Don Q rum (it's beautiful)









and saw Ponce’s fire department. Then we went back to the casino and actually walked out about breaking even over the two times we were there.

Tuesday we left Puerto Rico and returned H-O-M-E!!! We picked up the kids on Wednesday, got into the garden and picked then went to the fair. Thursday we spent the day grocery shopping, buying feed and doing laundry and Friday was berry picking and the kids going to their friends or having them come over.

I would have more pictures but my computer is not reading the cd's I have them on. They play on the dvd player but not my computer and the computer is only 8 months old...

I did get to knit a pair of mittens during my time there and on the planes. It was kinda strange sitting on a tropical island knitting wool mittens but this morning you almost needed them!! It was 40 degrees and they say it will be colder tonight. Oh I also got books for my b-day...I got a knitting encyclopedia which I can't remember the name of and my mother currently is looking through, I got Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook and the Yarn Harlots Knitting Rules. I haven't had time to get into them yet except the Knitting Rules which I read a little of on the plane.

Today we need to pick more blackberries, the grapes and dig up the potatoes and then tonight I will wonder why I am ready for bed at 8!!

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