Anticipation came with every step, coupled with our lack of sleep while we waited in line to go through security. We had gotten very little from sleep the previous night. I recalled the night before we had gone into Starbucks that night and were bragging to the baristas of our trip that would be happening the next morning. So there we were, the four of us: My father and my friends Adam and Frank about to go through security. We had spoken of our new life plans to travel more and that this would be the one that gets the ball rolling. Before we left Oklahoma, be bought some energy drinks because we had to drive to Dallas for our flight. We knew we would be tired. We decided while waiting in line, we would drink our recommended energy drink Redline. We had no food in our stomachs and we were very jittery while boarding the plane, with nowhere to expend our energy.
Once I was on the plane, I couldn't sit still because the energy was through the roof. We taxied, and before we knew it the engines where whirling and we were in the air. Our layover was in Florida. We got a bit to eat at a sandwich place, and we were in the air once again. I watched a little of a movie on dad’s laptop and then wrote in the journal a bit. I was periodically looking out the window between things, when I eventually noticed that the land had disappeared and we were over nothing but water. I decided to put my Indiana Jones replica hat over my eyes for a little nap. What came next was so beautiful, our decent. As we approached I looked down and saw boats on the water. The island was coming into view. I felt my excitement rise and a smile crept on my face. There it was: Puerto Rico…
After landing, we got our luggage and took a cab to our hotel. We had just got our luggage in, when I turned around to leave again. “Where are you going?” asked dad. “I’m going for a drink” I said while exiting. The bar was right outside our door. As I approached I heard Bob Marley playing. I asked the barman to give me a good island rum. He gave me “Ron de Barrilito” with a bit of coke. There I was in Caribbean heat drinking rum with the sounds of Bob Marley painting a brilliant atmosphere. Soon, everyone joined me. We met these girls from Texas at the bar and we all took a shot of the liqueur they had persistently recommended. We also got their number with the intention to meet up later on. We were a little drunk when we made it to our first authentic Puerto Rican meal at a place called “Bebos”. I was forced to use my Spanish. It turns out that I did very well with speaking the language. I was complimented by our waitress. We got to take a good look at the beach that night.
We decided to hit up a grocery store to buy Ron de Barrilito and Coke. We also bought a little ice chest and some of the one-of-a-kind beer from Puerto Rico, Medalla. (meh-daya). Drunken pirates we were, on the beach. That was our first night on the island. We went back to the hotel and changed while Dad took a nap. I was the first one out. As I left onto the San Juan streets, I looked to my right and there was a beautiful specimen that recommended that we go find a place called “La Ventana del Mar”. We never did find it, but we pissed away money all along the way. We met Pedro and Camilla (locals) at a place called “Buddha Tai”.
The next day I had a cheap breakfast complete with delicious coffee on an outside patio restaurant that was right by the ocean. We decided to take the bus and visit “Old San Juan”. I got a glimpse of “El Morro”, the Fort used in the 1600’s by the Spanish to fend off pirates and attackers. When we got back, we got dressed up and went out to a place called “La Placita de (Something)” and I got pretty wasted talking to people from around the world. They really know how to pour their rum there. Everyone eventually went to be, except frank and I. We met some more people and mingled, then we retired late.
Day 3 we woke up a bit late from the long night. We walked around the corner and got a HUGE pizza they called “La Manzana Grande”, or “The Big Apple”. After lunch we walked around and checked out local shops, grocery stores, tattoo parlors, etc. Dad decided to go back and take a nap. Meanwhile, Adam, Frank, and I went to the beach. There were beautiful women everywhere. I though to myself this really is La Isla Del Encanta. After we got back and showered we had an excellent Pina Colada at the hotel bar. We asked the bartender where a good place to go was. We found out when we got there that it was a formal place. So we took another cab ride to Old San Juan again. We found this cheap little place serving Medalla for two dollars a can tax free. After that we went to Club Milk. Though everyone danced incredibly Latin and sexy (something we could not do), we decided to go home early. I was a bit disappointed.
By day four, money had been wearing pretty thin. I knew I had to make an awesome day from it to counterbalance the previous evening. For lunch we had great hand made burgers from “Fuddruckers”. We waited a while for them, but we met this dude from Florida that said he went there on vacation and he’s been there ever since. He was a modern day pirate serving burgers. We met up with those girls from Texas later on that day and went to Old San Juan once again. Although they had a rental car. We four rode in close proximity to one another in the back seat.
While on the way this brown boy jumped in front of the car on the bridge to thrust his pelvis at our new attractive friend who was driving. We had a laugh and stopped to fill up on gas. There was a skinny druggy there asking for change at the gas station. Eww, move along…. For dinner we had overpriced Pizza. After that we found some street vendors selling homemade cigars and leather bracelets. I found a new charm that day for my charm necklace. I loved it so much, that I had made plans to get it as a tattoo. We went back to the room and waited on the girls, who came dressed to kill. That night we went to “The Oyster Bar” and Adam, Dad, Frank, and I learned a bit of Salsa.
After out night out, we decided to go to the beach with the girls on their last night. It would remain one of the most memorable nights on our trip. I formulated a bit of an attraction to Carly. We went to the store to buy some rum and beer, and had a few convos with some locals. We went back to the beach where Dad and Frank had a Spiritual experience of sorts involving Substance. Nice of the girls to share. We made huge sand penises and posed on them. It was a blast. That night, we went back to their hotel’s huge hot tub and got waaay drunk. Adam peed off the side of it. Carly went to bed and I noticed right after I saw her room key sitting on a chair. I grabbed it and went to her room. (Stumbled more like) I unlocked the door, and then realized upon hearing a running shower, that she had made it in just fine. I put the key on the bed, and then realized that Dee may need it to get in. So I turned around to return, when the door creaked open behind me. I turned around, and to my delighted surprise found a wet Carly in a towel. Before she could talk I explained my situation and returned. It was only the next day that I realized the kind of opportunity that it presented. I wouldn’t have been well represented at the time anyway were something to happen, because I was at a level of inebriation that would render me a bit disappointing.
We Woke up the next day around 1PM and found a delicious Cuban restaurant close by. We had agreed that it was the best place we had found so far. Later that night we wanted an expensive seafood dinner. We were not impressed with it at all.
We had some serious intention for the day as we woke up. Realizing that we haven’t done enough exploring, we rented a car. We found out how incredibly inexpensive it is compared to taxiing around. We went to “El Yunque” (El Joonkay), the rainforest. I bought my son, whom I was missing to the extreme, a stuffed Parrot that was unique to the island. I called my mom and talked to him that day. We walked around and trekked that whole day. I remember passing a Chupacabra sign. We stopped and had Coconuts, ice cold.
They were chopped at the top, and served with a straw. We trekked on for another 20 minutes until we got to a waterfall. We went swimming in the rainforest. It was Ice cold. We met a few more chicas there. After the rainforest, we went to Fajardo and bought ticket for the ferry to Culebra. It was that night when we got back that I got a skull and crossbones tattoo on my leg that I drew. It was inspired by that very trinket I bought earlier on in the trip.
After breaky, we left on the ferry to the island. Let me say, that was a freezing cold boat. It was colder than a refrigerator. The movie “10,000 B.C.” was playing. Two hours later we arrived at La Isla de Culebra. We had some more “Pinchos de Pollo” (chicken on a stick), and then went and snorkeled after we got our gear. It was another long walk. It paid off though. Once while we were under water dad nearly came right up on a jellyfish. We’d nearly have to pee on his head. After we went to the other side of the island to La Playa Flamenco. It was there we discovered the whitest beaches and the clearest water we’ve ever seen! I drank Rum on the beach, “Don Q”, our island favorite. We went home burned to a crisp. We applied Aloe and Apple Cider Vinegar, boy did we smell good.
Finally, Our last day in the Caribbean. We spent a little bit of time in Old San Juan again until it was time to depart. I was missing my little boy so much, that I was ready to be home. I have missed the beaches, memories, and the beans & rice ever since I left the Island of Enchantment.
