Oops....In San Juan 5/15-18

Sorry about that, still learning....the story starts here.... Back in SanJuan/Old San Juan. Met up with my cousin Pat, his wife Luann, Mom Lund, Aunt Pat (my mom’s sister in law they live together now), and Aunt Mary (Pat’s mom and my mom’s younger sister). So now there is 7….fun….first night there we all check into the same hotel…Pat is by the pool and a room that was huge. The Ladies are in the handicap room with was twice as big as Pat’s. So Michelle and I get a closet….had to be the smallest room on the block. AC didn’t work, very tight quarters, just bad all around…Michelle makes a stand…we are moving…the following day. I agree with her, there were no other rooms open because Hillary was coming to town to get some delegates…fun! So we move across the street to the Lon Concha…..a 5 star unit….nice. Over looking the ocean on the top fool was just awesome. Felt badly we split the group up, but the others were a block away. We invited them over and they had fun too. So while we are in San Juan we visit the old forts of San Juan that were built in the 1500’s. Really something, that is still holding together very well. Because the older gals had a hard time walking we left them with the hot dot vendor and the 4 of us toured the fort. At one point when I crawled out on the top of the fort, the San Juan Police rushed up in their vehicle yelling out of their mega phone….”GET OFF THE WALL!!!!”. Ouch….jail time now in San Juan….Nah…..I surrendered…. Driving around San Juan was quite the challenge, and Pat took it head on…thank god. Each street you could fit 1 and a half cars through …I don’t know how he did it in a van, but he did. The following day we toured the Bacardi Rum Factory (after getting lost for a couple of hours…) Had some samples and then back to San Juan. Getting on the ship tomorrow….)

Checking Out Old San Juan PR 5/15-18

Getting out of San Juan is like trying to get out of Los Angeles, but more confusing. So we headed to the southwest area of PR that is greatly famous for its surfing and totally surf/hippie hangout. It just so happened that a large swell was in so all of the locals were out cutting it up. They say it was an 8-10 ft. swell, I thought it was 30ft. Again, beautiful clean beaches and the blues of the water were awesome. Water temp throughout our entire trip so far was 82 degrees to 84. Always so warm. We tried some snorkeling and body surfing, but the waves were too big, we met people, ate and....drank....So 5/15 we head back to San Juan to meet up with the rest of the family that was joining us on the island cruise.

On to Rincon PR 05/13/08

Getting out of San Juan is like trying to get out of Los Angeles, but more confusing. So we headed to the southwest area of PR that is greatly famous for its surfing and totally surf/hippie hangout. Rincon, cute small size town with alot going on. It just so happened that a large swell was in so all of the locals were out cutting it up. They say it was an 8-10 ft. swell, I thought it was 30ft. Again, beautiful clean beaches and the blues of the water were awesome. Water temp throughout our entire trip so far was 82 degrees to 84. Always so warm. We tried some snorkeling and body surfing, but the waves were too big, we met people, ate and....drank.... We stayed at another apt., but with a large swimming pool. My first fresh water swim, felt good! So 5/15 we head back to San Juan to meet up with the rest of the family that was joining us on the island cruise.

Time to catch up 05/08/08

Flew from New York into Puerto Rico and traveled by taxi to the other side of PR to Fajardo. There we picked up a water ferry to the island of Vieques. I didn't even know there was an island there and yet 2 islands. Well vieques used to be owned by the US Navy and used for target practice. Well they island finally threw the Navy out (thank goodness) 5 years ago. Thank Goodness. What a pretty small island and US/ Spanish is the lingo. Beside it was Columbre, a smaller island, and just as pretty. We were there for 5 nights and we got to know the main hang outs...all 3 of them. Went diving once, a 2 tank dive, but the reefs are still in a re-building stage. Great food and drinks kept us going. One thing that stands out as really cool is they have an organism in the water in certain parts of the island that when you agitate them they light up...really neat stuff. So we kayaked out into a lagoon one night and every time you would oar, the water would actually light up. So it was time to go swimming with they little things, so I hopped in....what fun! Every movement you did would light up for a second or 2. WOW, nature at it's best. Beautiful white beaches surround this island and blue turquoise waters everywhere. Stayed at an apt. on a side street, the beach was 100 yd water away. Met lots of new friends sharing their adventures as we did also. After snorkeling and checking out the island we say goodbye and hop onto the ferry back to PR. The ferry costs $2.00, there we pick up a taxi and back to San Juan to pick up a car.....

Finally a Catch Up...5/28

Hello out there if you are still there. After the dazes in Puerto Rico we met up with my cousin PAt, wife Lu, Mom, Aunt MAryand PAt for a 7 island cruise. I am now on Saba, after a lot to share. I will be able to update this more when we return on 6/3/08. Great times with the group and now a bit quieter at Saba. Doing 2 dives a day, seeing a buch of stuff I'll share later. Hope all is well, talk to you soon.....Dave and Shell

NY Yankess

A trip to Yankee Stadium. Got there 3 hours before the game and walked to where Michelle grew up in the South Bronx. 30 blocks later I feared for my life as she basked in her memories of chocolate malts at Gene's (now Tom's) and running after the pigeons in the park with her grandparents. The park was a triangular row of benches filled with meth addicts. Times change.

We went to the game and hung for a few hours drinking with the Yankee fans. They are all heartbroken over the building of the new stadium. Season ticket prices quadruple and it is no longer a place for the fans. Corporate America takes over ...but the Yankess have always been a sell out.

We've been eating tons of NY pizza, corn beef sandwiches and saying to hell with cholesterol. It's all good.

Vegas was a gas....

after 4 days in the desert we're back to clean house....zoom everythiny is in storage except whats on our backs and in the motorhome. We are now in new York going to the Jerset shores for lunch. Looking for the Boss. heading to P. Rico on thursday....