Day 9
The view from the tower at El Yunque National Rain Forest
I recently read Wide Sargasso Sea, a novel told from the perspective of the madwoman from Jane Eyre. The book was a little haphazard and confusing, and I wondered if that was the author’s intent, to mimic a wild and untamed mind. I didn’t love the book, but I loved the book’s vivid sense of place. These days—especially after our time in Puerto Rico—sargasso seas (or beaches laden with heaps of rotting sargassum) have taken on a new meaning for me. I’m allergic to the fermenting grass and experience heart palpitations, scratchy throat, and overall malaise. I often have these symptoms in Florida, too. The sargassum problem can suck the fun out of a beach adventure, as it did in Puerto Rico.
But I persevered, and we still enjoyed our trip. The highlight was touring Old San Juan, a city built inside a castle fortress surrounding the island. Puerto Rico means rich port, and I experienced natural riches right before departing the island. We took a final beach walk on an ideal strip of sand lined with palm trees. A mucky conch shell crawled near the shore with an entire ecosystem adhered to its surface, and bleached coral littered the soft sand. Turquoise water covered a rocky coral shelf, making the tide small and tepid. Fish swam in the shallows. It was only ten a.m., but two beachgoers had four empty beer bottles by their towel and were digging into their cooler for another round.
I want another round of Puerto Rico!
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
A Killdeer
Day 13
Cemetery memories.
Day 14
Coral on the beach at Cabezas de San Juan.
Day 15
Our last sunset in Puerto Rico!
We’re flying home. Our winter travel season is done. But I still have many photo memories to share from Costa Rica, Arizona, Puerto Rico, and the Midwest. Stay tuned!
You certainly got some wonderful shots and created some wonderful memories!
Thank you for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2023/05/uh-oh-i-had-few-more-quilts-to-share.html
Hello,
It is sad the beaches are all lined with sargassum, it is a big problem in Florida and the Caribbean.
Love the mosaic bird and the view of the rain forest. The Killdeer is a sweet bird. The sunset is gorgeous.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great week.
Wonderful photos. You certainly had a grand time. Wishing you a grand week!
Feels like I’ve been on a wonderful trip. Welcome back North!
Such a lush landscape! I have asthma and am allergic to who knows how many things. I take Singulair and Zyrtec. I have an albuterol inhaler as well. Fortunately, I don’t have to use it very often.
Despite the allergy-inducing sargassum, it looks like you had a wonderful time. The intricate patterns on the coral are absolutely beautiful. Looks like those beach bums are starting their beer-filled day off strong.
Sounds like a lovely trip except for the allergic reaction. Yikes. Nasty stuff.
Hello :=)
It’s a shame you have an allergic reaction to the Sargassum seaweed, but you took some lovely photos and I enjoyed seeing all of them. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing the photos you have taken during your holidays Puerto Rico. Love the sunsets.
Lovely photos! I know that sea smoothed brain coral! I brought a few pieces back from PR, it lays all over the beaches like shells and sea glass.
It’s been many years since I’ve been to PR, but your post is bringing back some fond memories!
You make your memories vivid with your comments and great photographs. Now I want to go to Puerto Rico and spend at least one morning on the beach with a well stocked cooler.
Sharon – my husband and I have only been on one cruise, and one of its ports was San Juan. We fell in love with the Old Town, and have a painting of the architecture that we bought during our visit. Years later, with two kids in tow, we visited again and this time went further afield for a beach vacation in a remote village on the western shore. There we discovered snorkeling, which lead to our scuba certification. Thanks, Puerto Rico!
Love your photos, especially the brain coral. Thanks for visiting my blog recently!