Cleveland in January

This was my second visit to Cleveland. Uncanny, and unplanned, we were there at about the same time last year as well. So Cleveland, I only know you during your coldest week (according to the meteorologist), but I do like you, quite a bit.

Maybe it's the lake, or the more familiar Northeast feel. Maybe it's living the hotel life, and being away from the mundane. Maybe it is all of the above.

We did a lot, and also a lot of nothing. It was the best way to while away our weekend as a family, in the city that I only know without anything green and plenty of snow. Next time, Cleveland, I promise to come see you when you are warm and flushed with life. I'll bet you can put on quite a show.

Between Christmas and New Year's

When we landed in Puerto Rico, the flight attendants wished us Merry Christmas!  The next time we boarded the plane, the wish had transitioned into Happy New Year!



In between that time, we bathed in the warm sun, and soaked in the warm rain of the self-proclaimed "Enchanted Island." Around here on the US mainland, it's sometimes considered the 51st state. For us, it was our first taste of this Latin - Carribean island, our refuge from the Midwestern winter (albeit, a mild one so far).



I've got to say, it was a bit strange to 'leave' the US, only to enter a US-territory that sometimes felt so very American, and other times, not at all. There were moments during the hard tropical rain storms, or by the lines of coconut trees that made me feel like I should be in my home country. But the ubiquitous salsa music that filled the air, the restaurants, and even the churches, quickly took me away from the Thailand trance. I was in a new territory all together.



We spent the first two days in Old San Juan, the capital filled with history, charm, and more American tourists than any other places we have ever been (outside of the US). We loved the vibrant colors, the old fort and the beautiful coastline. The walkability of the old town made it very friendly for exploring, and because it is really compact, we got to see most of it within those two days.



After which, we were ready to head out of town, into the hills, and down to the sea.



In the hills, not far from the town of Luquillo, we rented a chalet for the duration. The way the rental was set up, it was almost like we came to stay with an old friend, Dagmar. A friend with six dogs, to be precise. A friend with an extra house that overlooked the valley, with an ocean view in the far distance. A friend who took care of our children as though they were her own grandchildren, and made us an authentic Puerto Rican dinner for our last night on the island.



The chalet was well situated between the ocean, and the rain forest of El Yunque. We took advantage of both, but definitely took more of the former. The rain forest was nice and all, but most people would agree that sun and sand should outweigh rain and forest at the end of December.  Besides, being in the rainforest with dozens (or hundreds) of other Americans on vacation was not our idea of vacation.



And so, we found ourselves on the beaches of Luquillo, and Fajardo on most days. There was an interlude of a kayaking trip into a bioluminiscent lagoon one evening as well. The moon was only a sliver, and the stars were present among some rain clouds. We paddled in the dark through a mangrove forest that emptied into the enclosed lagoon where the microorganisms in the water lit up with any disturbance. It looked magical. It was magical.



The new year promises to be a good one. Will it be magical like our evening in the lagoon? We will just have to wait and see.

Happy New Year to all.