787 PUERTO RICO

At first sight to me Puerto Rico looks stressful and confusing. We come with this idea of paradise, of relaxing beaches and landscapes that submerge us into an ideal eternal heaven. But sometimes we wake up, and must face heavy traffic, hot weather, narrow roads and intermittent rains that can end with your patience. So, when you become the host of the exotic family holidays, these tasks can be exhausting if you do not know the dynamics of the country. You must learn to pack less and be more spontaneous. Take advantage of the morning to visit beaches and outdoor activities. Go shopping when everyone is working. Go into the rural zone in the evenings and spend the night watching the stars swinging over a hammock. You learn that if you are looking for a relaxing vacation away from the crowds, the perfect months are the off season. But if what you want are exciting activities full of adrenaline, then the high season, offers a wider variety of events and act...

It has been eight years since my brother visited the island and twelve years since we have been able to share time together. We finally had a family reunion, and this might have been the last we will be able to share with our grandmother. She has terminal cancer, and even though the doctors have warned us for years that her time is near, she surprises us by keeping a positive attitude year after year.      She always says: “One more time, please! I want to celebrate my birthday one more time!”. So, for the past ten years we have fulfilled her desire to go all out on her birthday with themes such as: Spring Party, Tea Party, Garden Party, Pink & Gold Party, bringing in Mariachis, and of course Trios (traditional romantic old fashion music). We will continue to celebrate her birthday for as long as we have her, for it has given us the perfect excuse to stay together and celebrate together.          ...

        When I left the island of Puerto Rico I had no plans of returning back. There was too much I wanted to forget and too much I wanted to experience. I knew there was a stony road ahead filled with uncertainty and challenges, but I also knew there were pleasant memories to collect and surprising experiences I had hungered for all my life. It was ultimately the road that would forge my character and ignited the passion to live fully every single day.         It is said that when we travel and live aboard we come  to the realization that "there's no place like home". But that was not my case! I was fascinated with my life and new experiences. As an anthropology graduate, discovering new cultures is my passion. I was energized from noticing how that which we deem exotic is not so different from the norm.  There's always a connection that unifies us across borders, and finding that "click" that connects us as groups ...