2 weeks in paradise!

Sooooooo....I went with my boyfriend to Puerto Rico and the Domincan Republic...get ready for lots of pictures! We had such a great time. We started in the Dominican and spent a week there then went to Puerto Rico for a week. 2 of my co-workers are from Puerto Rico and were there the same time as us so we got to hang out with them and really get a taste of Puerto Rican life! It was wonderful and we never wanted to leave.

Since I always forget that Blogger puts the last pictures uploaded first, we are going to start with the end of the trip and go from there....sorry. :)

Last moments on the beach in Isla Verde, PR

Last night in PR, we ate traditional Mofongo with Churrasco (mashed plantains with steak....soooo good)

In Old San Juan, PR many of the streets still have the cobblestone from when the island was settled over 500 years ago!

San Cristobal Fortress in San Juan, PR. It is one of 2 large fortress built when Spain first discovered PR. The fortress wall is more like a city wall and goes all around the coast/city of Old San Juan to this day!

Below the city wall enjoying the blue blue ocean in Old San Juan, PR

You can see the wall in the background that surrounds all of Old San Juan, PR

My co-workers and friends at a waterfall in San Sebastian, PR

Climbing up a hillside on some vines at a local hike in San Sebastian, PR

Brenon likes to be like a monkey and climb to the impossible spots.

Enjoying the day at El Rincon beach in PR

Waterfall in the jungle of El Yunque, PR

One of my favorites things about PR is the coqui...small little frogs that make a chirping sound at night, lulled me to sleep every night.

My co-workers dad was about as energetic as the energizer bunny. He taught me how to dance the merengue!

Three Kings Day is celebrated and we got a traditional feast of roasted pig!

First traditional food in PR, blood sausage, pork, rice and beans and tamales made with plantains.

Now to the Dominican Republic.

Beautiful waterfall in Jarabocao, DR

Revolutionary Monument in Santiago, DR

One of our favorite beaches in DR, Cabarete. Lots of wind/kite surfing goes on here and it is just so relaxing and beautiful.

Over looking the bay in Puerto Plata, DR

We spent New Years in Bayahibe, DR. We made some Canadian friends and had a great time!

Our first outing in Santo Domingo, DR
An old fortress.

Likes/Dislikes in Puerto Rico:
LIKES:
-People treat you like family, even when you just met them.
-Yunque Rainforest, need to go back and spend more time there
-Small island so it isn't too far to go anywhere, only a couple hours end to end.
-Old San Juan and the cobblestone roads
-Having hot water in the hotels
-Mofongo with Churrasco
-People have such a positive energy, passion for life, music and dancing
-Coqui
-I didn't have to use my horrible Spanish skills, most people understand English and many speak
-Traditional feasts/parties
DISLIKES:
-Very Americanized, could easily live there because it is so Americanized
-People party too much, and too long, we were up until all hours of the night all weekend long
-Mosquitos
-Ferries got closed to go to Culebra, supposedly the most amazing little Island in the world

Likes/Dislikes The Dominican Republic
LIKES:
-Met some awesome Canadians to hang out with for a few days
-Crashing all-inclusive hotels for free food and drinks
-Beaches are beautiful
-Beautiful waterfalls
-Very green and beautiful
-Gua-gua's(local minivan transport but imagine shoving 20 people into one van) Such an adventure!!
DISLIKES:
-Mosquitoes ate me alive....I think I had like 20 bites on one leg at one point.
-It rained on our plans to go see/hike a place called 27 waterfalls
-Driving/traffic is ridiculous, no rhyme or reason, just a lot of honking, cutting off, and crazy driving, gave me a headache just being a passenger.
-No hot water