I travel a bit.
Sometimes for work. Sometimes for play. Sometimes for a destination wedding. Or was it a renewal? And sometimes these events run in tandem with your Grammy's 90th birthday perfectly sandwiched in between, and you are jetsetting across the country for 17 days.
As expected with all these trips comes a lot of time at airports so as of last year I decided, Strictly carry-ons for 2016. This was a HUGE undertaking. I didn't even own a carry-on first of all. I mean, just 2 years ago Joey took me on a surprise birthday trip and I packed more for that weekend than I did on this 2 1/2 week adventure.
My goal weight has always been 50lbs. Get my suitcase as close to 50 without going over and I am golden. I'm proud to say, my average is 49.5lbs. It's important to have goals :) And looking back to last year's goal- 15 trips, averaging 7 days per trip. 4 of those trips, 10+ days. ALL. IN. A. CARRY-ON. I can't tell ya how accomplished this makes me feel. But back to my most recent adventure...
The 90th birthday festivities were endless. Family and friends from around the world flew in to celebrate our Queen Levine. Grammy Rhoda deserves all of it and more! The matriarch of an incredibly Good family; she will never take the credit but this woman, this wife of 72 years (& counting), mother of 7, grandmother of 11, great grandmother of 17, great great grandmother of 1, sister, aunt, great aunt, and "momrhoda" to so, so many... She is the reason we are so close-knit (and I'm not talking about her slipper socks here).Our family has a phenomenal bond that I am blessed to have been born into. Here we are serenading Grammy at her party.
Grammy&Papa, I've said it before and I will say it til the end, Thank You Two for your endless love. We are the lucky ones.
And I personally feel doubly blessed because my other family, the one I married into, also has this unbreakable bond, and just like it has always fulfilled me to see my dad spend time with his fam, I get the same feeling seeing Joey with his. So needless to say, Puerto Rico was a treat on a number of levels.
Level 1: VA-CA-TION
Listen, I am extremely grateful for all of the travel I am afforded and how often I am able to spend time with my family & friends. But let's be real - spending a few days at my parents house running around to see my nearest and dearest is not particularly relaxing. Don't mince my words, it recharges me in a way that I absolutely need, but it is not "relaxing". Similarly, last years 12-day Benoit family road trip (post pending) from San Diego to Seattle and back was super adventurous but relaxing it was not. So when Cliff & Jenn ever said they were having a destination wedding in Puerto Rico I was stoked.
I arrived in Puerto Rico a day before Joey and made myself right at home. We stayed in the oceanfront community Condado (if you think this girl gets enough beach time living in SD you thought wrong) and as quickly as I could throw on a bikini and grab my book I was lounging poolside at the luxurious Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, gazing at gorgeous panoramic views of the Atlantic, sipping a jalapeno margarita and eating tacos from the aptly named Tacos & Tequila. I ate here 4 times during the week. The tacos were the star and that grilled shrimp taco - OMG, so delicious! The tortilla soup left Joey and I wanting more too. And we did. We came back another day and ordered an obscene amount of food. The drinks were outstanding (and strong) too. But I think I have to give my favorite drink of the week to the Zacapa Crusta at Santaella. Zacapa 23 rum, Fig marmalade, fresh lime & lemon, Cinnamon syrup, Grand Marnier, Angostura. Those mixologists know how to make a cocktail!
Level 2: Don't worry BEACH Happy
Surfing
I caught my first wave! And rode it all the way to shore! Second attempt ever. Pretty proud of myself on this one.
Jetskiing
Picture me screaming in sheer bliss, hitting max speeds jumping waves on the open ocean. I felt like the badass babe Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) from The Fast and The Furious. I was the lone lady, with the hubs and a group of his highly competitive cousins.
But I've gotta say gliding through the mystical mangrove teeming with bats and who knows what other wildlife takes the cake for this tough chick (more like tough cookie).
Night Kayaking: It was a cross between a haunted hayride and a tranquil out-of-body nature experience. It's pitch black, you're paddling through this narrow forest tunnel to get to the lagoon, bats are swooping down so close they could smack you in the face, and yet the soundtrack to it all are frogs ribbiting, birds chirping, and oars methodically lapping. It's magical. And that's just to get to the wide open water.There - in this "bio bay", a body of water that contains millions of micro-organisms - these teeny tiny plankton glow* like fireflies. *when agitated. It's not like you paddle into the lagoon and the entire thing lights up like a Christmas tree, but when you cup water in your hands it does look like you're holding sparkling pixie dust. Pretty rad if you ask me. And to top it off it was a clear night and the stars were shining extra bright. Magical.
Level 3: <3 JENIFORD <3
Jenn & Cliff (Joey's "cousin"), the parents of our goddaughter Leia and that adorable little-man CJ, are the reason my boo and I took our first beach vacation (ridiculous, right!?) and the reason why I know un poco espanol. But so much more importantly these two are my family.Family isn't always blood. It's the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile and love you no matter what. And that's what I have with these two beautiful souls.
Cliff, you are a brother to me. Jenn, a sister. I love you both so much. The way you love me, Joey, my parents, my siblings, your children, and now your granddaughter (!) fills my heart with so much joy, you don't even know. The way you parent inspires me to start a family. The way you keep it real in how you run your life grounds me. Thank you for asking me to be part of your day. I had the best time. Always keep these memories in your heart and never forget Grammy's advice when Joey asked for the ring: Love is 100%. Give 100% of your love, only hoping that you get the same in return.
The Jeniford bridal party drunk in love in Old San Juan
And giving credit where credit is due:
My Puerto Rico experience wouldn't have been half of what it was without this Sunshine & Salsa in San Juan blog post from JETSETTINGWITHJESS. Jess is a hometown friend who started a travel agency curating boutique travel experiences. Follow her for a little inspiration for your next trip!
Wes Money - another brother from another mother. I snagged a few of his landscape photos, and that one of Cliff with his two little ones because it absolutely melts my heart.
And last but certainly not least, the amazing staff at the Holiday Inn Express San Juan Condado, especially Alev and Celeste. Life has been crazy (to say the least) and the night before flying to Puerto Rico (sick as a dog mind you) I realized I never extended my hotel stay. Thankfully Alev, the Director of Sales, and I had been in contact since the initial booking. I emailed her at dinner, her OOO popped up, yet she answered my emails promptly and somehow (with a full house) got it arranged for me to not only have a room, but early check-in. And Celeste, the concierge, was simply outstanding. Between checking the brightness levels of the bio-bay every day for me (highly recommended to make sure you have the best opportunity to see the sparkly plankton) and helping to book anything and everything for us, she was an immense help.
