For our birthday’s in January and February 2018, my daughter Reena, who loves to travel, took us on a vacation.  We chose Puerto Rico because, we wanted to go somewhere warm, the tickets were cheap and we have good friends who allowed us to stay in their home.  A lovely home in the Wyndham Resorts, Rio Mar.

We arrive on Sunday morning and leave on Friday afternoon.  It was only six months after Hurricane Maria, so evidence of her impact was everywhere. The trees are misshapen and bent over. We see storm debris in some places. But despite the recent destruction, the island is coming back to life, and it is amazingly beautiful. I learn that “Estamos Abierto” means “We are Open”, a testament to the resilience of Puerto Ricans.

On Sunday we walk on Luquillo beach and taste Medalla beer for the first time.  We explore the kioskos (a long row of small eateries and souvenir shops).  It is our first taste of the community outside the resort.

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On Monday, we head to the El Yunque rain forest.  Less than 10 minutes away, but with increased rainfall and elevation, the vegetation changes dramatically. 

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There are so many plants and blooms that seem somewhat familiar from my years in India and Zambia.  We take a short trail, the Angelito Trail which ends in an amazing swimming  spot on Rio Mameyes.  The water is clear, there are fish, a swinging rope and rock pools with built in jacuzzi.  I do not want to leave.

On Tuesday, our plan is to go on a tour of the Fajardo Bioluminescent Bay via kayak at 8PM.  The rest of the day is unplanned.  Dom, Reena’s boyfriend (now husband,) asked if we could visit his friend who was studying at the University of Puerto Rico on the east coast of the island.  Puerto Rico is 100 miles by 35 miles.  We decide it is possible to drive round the island in one day, visit with Dom’s friend and get back to Fajardo by 8PM. 

So we take off on a road trip, stopping at scenic spots.  As we walk, admiring the ocean from a cliff in Isabella, my daughter casually says “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a vacation home here in Puerto Rico?”  My husband and I had discussed vacation homes and retirement homes but had never really settled on even a vague plan.  I tell Reena that we are not ready to commit to one place and we want the flexibility to travel wherever we fancy each year.

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Puerto Rico a small island with a lot of traffic slowing our progress. In addition, we are enthralled by the scenery changes due to micro climates.  But, we do in fact make it back to Fajardo in time for dinner and the kayaking trip. Kayaking at night is an adventure and seeing the water glow when stirred was magical. 

On Wednesday we go on a snorkeling and boating trip on a catamaran.  Lots of rum drinks are enjoyed as we sail to the island of Icacos.  It is picture perfect.  On that day it snows in Philadelphia and we gleefully text pictures home.

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I don’t know when it happened, but Reena’s suggestion starts to take life.  Puerto Rico is the perfect vacation/holiday spot! It has all of my favorite things – beautiful gardens, tropical fruits, beaches, rivers, waterfalls, mountains and rain forests.

And it was real –  not some manufactured Disney style resort.  The people were friendly, I felt safe.  I loved the feeling of being abroad but not really.    I started looking at the real estate market.  It appeared that there were some good home deals after Maria.

On Friday, we went to Old San Juan.  We walked the Paseo de Princesa and enjoyed the historic El Morro Fort.  We ate dinner at a roof top restaurant and had cocktails at the speakeasy La Factoria featured in Justin Bieber’s 2017 hit  Despasito.

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We leave on Friday afternoon after an action packed week.  I had already spoken with a realtor and I drag Santosh to look at a couple of neighborhoods. This could really happen I think, I have found a spot I would gladly spend my retirement years. Temps range from 75 to 85 degrees every day, with plenty of rain, a gardeners paradise.

While I was dead set on taking action, I have to imagine the family was skeptical that I would actually pull this off.