Five Beautiful Things

Isla del Encanto

To me, travel is one of the most exciting aspects of life. When one is given the chance to see a different part of the world, I think that opportunity should be seized. My husband and I recently returned from Puerto Rico, which is where he was born and raised. His family lives there and we visited them for the holidays. While I have been to Puerto Rico several times, this trip was special since it was the first time my family and my husband’s family had ever met! My parents joined us for the last leg of our vacation for their first visit to the island and it turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. Below are five of my photographs of sites around Puerto Rico, including the historic fort in Old San Juan (El Morro) which dates to the 1500s. If you have not been to this U.S. Commonwealth nation, I urge you to visit. It is filled with colour, sound and life.

1. One of the old guard posts in El Morro, the historic fort built by the Spanish in the 1500s.

2. The ceiling in the San Juan Cathedral in Old San Juan.

3. Old San Juan has been listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site and is one of the most beautiful places I have been. Blue cobblestone streets wind between pastel-hued abodes that look out over the sea.

4. Off the east coast of the island is a small satellite island called Culebra where a community of fishermen and inn-keepers support the local economy. The beaches here are exceptionally serene and beautiful.

5. I snapped a photo of this charming vignette in a restaurant called La Casita Blanca (The Little White House) in a region of San Juan called Santurce. It is a legendary place that serves authentic Puerto Rican cuisine.

Happy New Year, everyone!