Food & Wine & Friends, or 'Wishing a Year Away'. October 2012 PTR *NEW 11/18 TR link!

[Joyciemc]

Ben and I are only about a month away from our trip to Puerto Rico! I am very much looking forward to some relaxation on the beach. We'll be flying into San Juan, then taking a teensy-tiny plane to the island of Vieques. Ben thought I would be nervous about the small plane, but I am actually ok with it. My main problem with flying is the sudden turbulence that feels like you are falling a bajillion feet. The bumpiness of a small plane is expected and the flight will be short.

We traveled to Vieques in 2006, but we took a ferry over that time. This will be a new experience! If you're not familiar- this island is very rural and not at all commercial. The beaches are amazing and we were often the only people on them. It's a reef island with incredible snorkeling and also has a Bio-Luminescent bay... microbes in the water that are like fireflies (that sounds gross, but it wasn't!) and make the water light up when you move through it. Seriously, ridiculously, beautiful.

Horses are everywhere on Vieques... they just roam around grazing wherever. I've ridden since I was very young, and love horses. I actually haven't been riding since we got engaged when I stopped my lessons to save money for the wedding. I just haven't got around to starting again!
But I found a riding tour company that I actually have a really good feeling about. I am usually really hesitant about trail riding on trips because 1) I don't want to see horses that are mis-treated and 2)they are usually geared toward non-riders and can be kinda boring.

The company I found is run by a women who seems great and to love the horses she has; the reviews on Trip Adviser are outstanding and the rides take you to the beach and seem to be good for those with a little experience as well as newbies. It's the only planned activity we have- otherwise, we'll be snorkeling every day. You can pretty much walk into the water anywhere and find amazing reefs and sea life.

Can't wait!!

 

[ronnmel]

Gorgeous! I especially love the picture of the beach with the palm leaf in the foreground.

 

[khertz]

WOW! Looks beautiful!! Have a great trip.

 

[amazingact21]

Talk about a beautiful little getaway spot! That picture the hammock with a book looks my idea of paradise. And deserted beaches are such a nice treat. Living on a beach, I get tired of having to search for a few free inches of space on the sand...

I'm glad you were able to find a riding company, and that you're getting to ride again while down there. Sounds like a fun time!

 

[oboedm]

WoW ! Your pictures of PR look great! I can't wait to see your pictures from this trip. Please take pictures of the bay! I will have to live vicariously through you!

 

[Joyciemc]

Gorgeous! I especially love the picture of the beach with the palm leaf in the foreground.

I love that picture... it is just exactly what a beach on Vieques looks like!

WOW! Looks beautiful!! Have a great trip.

Thanks! I can't wait

Talk about a beautiful little getaway spot! That picture the hammock with a book looks my idea of paradise. And deserted beaches are such a nice treat. Living on a beach, I get tired of having to search for a few free inches of space on the sand...

I'm glad you were able to find a riding company, and that you're getting to ride again while down there. Sounds like a fun time!

The house we rented on that trip was great- the huge verandah was awesome, we spent a lot of time out there. We're staying somewhere different this time, so I hope it's just as nice!

WoW ! Your pictures of PR look great! I can't wait to see your pictures from this trip. Please take pictures of the bay! I will have to live vicariously through you!

I will try! We got a waterproof case for our camera, so I am hoping to get lots more pictures.

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

That island sounds amazing! I went to Puerto Rico once when I was younger and I loved it!

Oh, and I know what you mean about the turbulance on a small plane! The only tiny plane I've been on was to get to the Bahamas. We took off right after a huge jet that apparently left an air pocket behind. We literally fell through the air - I was terrified! For a minute I thought I was going to die!

 

[annmarieda]

Those pics are great! The microbes in the water sound intriguing. I bet that is quite a sight to see.

 

[Nermel9]

Wow the island you're going to looks amazing! I've never been anywhere tropical, I really need to go to the Bahamas or something, just to see water like that! I love that there are horses everywhere, too!

 

[Joyciemc]

That island sounds amazing! I went to Puerto Rico once when I was younger and I loved it!

Oh, and I know what you mean about the turbulance on a small plane! The only tiny plane I've been on was to get to the Bahamas. We took off right after a huge jet that apparently left an air pocket behind. We literally fell through the air - I was terrified! For a minute I thought I was going to die!

I'm just hoping the flight goes nice and easy- I know it will be short, at least.

Those pics are great! The microbes in the water sound intriguing. I bet that is quite a sight to see.

The Bio Bay is awesome- it just looks like the water is glowing where things are moving through. You can see fish swimming because they light up!

Wow the island you're going to looks amazing! I've never been anywhere tropical, I really need to go to the Bahamas or something, just to see water like that! I love that there are horses everywhere, too!

This was my first tropical vacation, 6 years ago. I could not stop gawking at the color of the water!

 

[klacey1]

Looks like paradise!! Normally I'm go-go-go at home or on vacation, but that looks heavenly! Have a great trip!

 

[Imagineer5]

I seriously can't believe it!



Jake is more mobile than he used to be, but he still weighs the same. I hate to cut back his food even more- he gets so little!



Yep, I work at an animal shelter in Brockton. It is rewarding, but also frustrating and tiring! Sure does make the days go by quickly, though!

you're right- I do suck! Honestly, I never would have thought I'd get to go so often... the stars aligned perfectly this year! It doesn't hurt that DH has become just as addicted as I am.
The May trip is sorta free- I'm going to pay for Mark's food to make up the difference in him using his points.

In October we will probably fly out of Providence. We really like Southwest (free bags and AWESOME cancellation policy), and they don't have direct Orlando flights from Boston. We may stay in Pawtucket over night if our friends haven't moved yet (the offer they had accepted on a house fell through, so they are still looking)

Wow you work so close! How is the animal shelter there? is it no-kill? I couldn't deal with that. Have you heard much about the Taunton Animal Shelter? If I ever quit work as an engineer, I could see working or volunteering for them or another local place. They say they are no-kill though I don't know if it's true. We went daily for like 4 months straight when our cat got outside and then disappeared, and ended up getting a cat from them who is just amazing (Jake, in my pics).

Love flying out of Providence, though it's a bit more convenient for us. Flights for October open up February 20th - can't wait to see what we'll get!!

I just realized I never finished posting my plans for my May trip. I can't just leave it hanging, can I?

Well... I don't really know what we are doing that day! Our flight home leaves at 8pm, and we'll both have APs, so I am sure we'll visit a park. I think it will just depend on where we feel like we want more time. I sorta like the idea of leaving it open. Of course, I am itching to make an ADR for lunch... but I just can't decide where, so for now I am just leaving it open.

Now that we have flight info, Day 1 plans changed a little. We are arriving in Orlando at 9:45, and plan to head right to AK. We'll have been up super early, but I know adrenaline will keep me from sleeping quite yet. I moved our Boma dinner up so that it is really early, with the idea that we can take a nap afterwards. If we do, then we really might make EMH at MK that night. But then again, I might just sleep straight through to the next day at that point!

LOL I do the same thing, make an ADR for lunch on my last full day and it generally means that's where we end up, though we both love EPCOT so it usually works out pretty well.

Ben and I are only about a month away from our trip to Puerto Rico! I am very much looking forward to some relaxation on the beach. We'll be flying into San Juan, then taking a teensy-tiny plane to the island of Vieques. Ben thought I would be nervous about the small plane, but I am actually ok with it. My main problem with flying is the sudden turbulence that feels like you are falling a bajillion feet. The bumpiness of a small plane is expected and the flight will be short.

We traveled to Vieques in 2006, but we took a ferry over that time. This will be a new experience! If you're not familiar- this island is very rural and not at all commercial. The beaches are amazing and we were often the only people on them. It's a reef island with incredible snorkeling and also has a Bio-Luminescent bay... microbes in the water that are like fireflies (that sounds gross, but it wasn't!) and make the water light up when you move through it. Seriously, ridiculously, beautiful.

Horses are everywhere on Vieques... they just roam around grazing wherever. I've ridden since I was very young, and love horses. I actually haven't been riding since we got engaged when I stopped my lessons to save money for the wedding. I just haven't got around to starting again!
But I found a riding tour company that I actually have a really good feeling about. I am usually really hesitant about trail riding on trips because 1) I don't want to see horses that are mis-treated and 2)they are usually geared toward non-riders and can be kinda boring.

The company I found is run by a women who seems great and to love the horses she has; the reviews on Trip Adviser are outstanding and the rides take you to the beach and seem to be good for those with a little experience as well as newbies. It's the only planned activity we have- otherwise, we'll be snorkeling every day. You can pretty much walk into the water anywhere and find amazing reefs and sea life.

Can't wait!!

Vieques looks ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I love that they have horses everywhere and you found a great trail ride. That is one of my favorite things to do, and I'm also worried about doing it on trips for the same reason you are (though I haven't yet seen any sort of mistreatment of horses...that'd be HORRIBLE). It's actually one of the things I'm most worried about with having a child - on family vacations we'll need to either skip this or have someone watch her until she's old enough. Is it sad I'm worried about THAT?? LOL. Can I go in your suitcase????

Wasn't Vieques owned by the US Navy until recently when it was turned into a resort island? I think that's why there's so many untouched beautiful beaches & then wild horses. IDK that just comes to mind.

I can't wait to hear all about it, you'll have to let us know about your hotel & all that too. It's someplace I've been wanting to go to so I'd love to hear details (when you return, don't want to sound like a mega-stalker LOL).

 

[Joyciemc]

Looks like paradise!! Normally I'm go-go-go at home or on vacation, but that looks heavenly! Have a great trip!

Vieques is definitely our most chill vacation!

Wow you work so close! How is the animal shelter there? is it no-kill? I couldn't deal with that. Have you heard much about the Taunton Animal Shelter? If I ever quit work as an engineer, I could see working or volunteering for them or another local place. They say they are no-kill though I don't know if it's true. We went daily for like 4 months straight when our cat got outside and then disappeared, and ended up getting a cat from them who is just amazing (Jake, in my pics).

Love flying out of Providence, though it's a bit more convenient for us. Flights for October open up February 20th - can't wait to see what we'll get!!


LOL I do the same thing, make an ADR for lunch on my last full day and it generally means that's where we end up, though we both love EPCOT so it usually works out pretty well.

Vieques looks ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I love that they have horses everywhere and you found a great trail ride. That is one of my favorite things to do, and I'm also worried about doing it on trips for the same reason you are (though I haven't yet seen any sort of mistreatment of horses...that'd be HORRIBLE). It's actually one of the things I'm most worried about with having a child - on family vacations we'll need to either skip this or have someone watch her until she's old enough. Is it sad I'm worried about THAT?? LOL. Can I go in your suitcase????

Wasn't Vieques owned by the US Navy until recently when it was turned into a resort island? I think that's why there's so many untouched beautiful beaches & then wild horses. IDK that just comes to mind.

I can't wait to hear all about it, you'll have to let us know about your hotel & all that too. It's someplace I've been wanting to go to so I'd love to hear details (when you return, don't want to sound like a mega-stalker LOL).

My shelter is open-admission, which means we don't turn anyone away and take in animals that are not adoptable: Sometimes people bring us animals with severe medical or behavioral problems that would not be appropriate to place. But adoptable animals can stay with us until they find homes!

I can't wait for October flights to be out! It will make plans so much more real

Yup, Vieques was only fairly recently opened up for travel, and certain parts are still off limits. It's been 6 years since we've been there, so I am curious to see if it is still as natural as it was then!

I will definitely do a mini-TR when we get back from PR!

 

[AKL LOVER]

Vieques looks beautiful! It hasn't even been that cold here this winter and still, I cannot wait until we get some tropical time. Jealous that yours is coming up so soon! Enjoy

 

[Joyciemc]

Vieques looks beautiful! It hasn't even been that cold here this winter and still, I cannot wait until we get some tropical time. Jealous that yours is coming up so soon! Enjoy

Just about 3 weeks till I am on a beautiful beach
I seriously can't believe how quickly it is coming up!!

 

[Joyciemc]

Double digit dance for the May trip! It's not so far away at all, now! Mark took his niece and nephew to WDW last week, but he is ready to go back already- I guess traveling with a child and a teenager meant that he didn't get to do much that he wanted to do. So he is really, really looking forward to making up for it on our trip.

My weekend was insane... but fun! My friend's shower is over, and it was a success! She had a great time and really enjoyed what we put together.

She loves to knit and has incorporated balls of yarn into her invites, so here's what I came up with for the shower deocorations:

I framed pictures of the happy couple and had them all throughout the house.

Some more pictures:

Super cute invites one of the bridesmaids designed. I'd show you the back, but it has my address and phone number.

And when she walked in...

It was sort of a surprise, but she obviously saw all the cars out front and knew when they pulled up. Her fiance honestly thought that if he didn't look at the cars, she wouldn't notice them and he really thought she didn't see them! It was very cute.

Anywho, it was tiring having it at my house, but I'm glad we did! Now it's time to work on the bachelorette...

 

[ronnmel]

Ok, I totally saw a hidden Mickey in one of the decoration pictures. The one with the three ornaments hanging in front of a window. Obsessed much, me?...

Decorations looked great! I hope she enjoyed it.

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I'm glad to hear the shower was a success! Everything looked great!

And yay for double digits for the May trip!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I love the yarn theme for the shower - everything looks so nice!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Such cute decorations, and an awesome cake, too (love the knight in shining armor)! Looks like it was a smashing success!