Puerto Rico Day Dios!

Friday morning, we rose for our next adventure, noting that we were now one hour ahead of US time. Such a strange little time warp!  

The day was hot; hotter than we expected it to be in the dead of winter, but there always seemed to be some kind of breeze, and there was always cool shade to walk in.   We were off that morning to the next restaurant on our list; Waffle-Era Tea Room.  The waffle joint was like no other waffle joint I have ever been to. This was no IHOP!

Boasting many different types of teas and coffees, both hot and cold, we ordered some refreshing drinks while we poured over the fascination menu; savory waffles with ingredients like rosemary, egg, manchego cheese, pesto, tomato, ham and more, and sweet waffles with choices like guava paste, whipped cream, honey, chocolate sauce, and tamarind jelly!

We were served by a petite woman dressed all in black with fifties-style glasses which turned-up slightly at the corners and painted on eyebrows (later that night I spotted her on the street drinking and smoking with friends). She was great. 

The area we sat in opened up to the sky above us (not sure how they handle rain), and the restaurant was bright and white with tall archways between rooms, a rod iron door which allowed light to flow in and interesting art on the walls (including random posters of parrots in the bathroom accompanied by a sign which read in spanish “It’s dangerous to drink when you’re pregnant!”  Got it).

Of course we had to document before we enjoyed!

Libby shoots

Libby and I both went for the "wafflito" (a mini waffle) called The Big Breakfast, with a poached egg, manchego cheese, ham, rosemary oil and maple syrup. It was to die for!  Nirvi was very happy with her wafflito of guava paste and manchego cheese.

With our bellies full of goodness and fresh cold tea, we ventured we ventured out into the heat to explore the city. First, we headed out to the outer wall of the city and followed it around for a bit, admiring the views and the ancient beauty of it all.

The Roots Fountain. The Raíces (Roots) Fountain was commissioned to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the discovery of America and also to celebrate Puerto Rican culture. This allegorical fountain has a large grouping of sculptures on a raised pedestal in the center of the basin of a fountain. The basin represents the sea and the pedestal the island of Puerto Rico. Each sculpture represents an aspect of Puerto Rican history, culture, or character.

the City Gate. This is the only remaining city gate. It was one of six original massive wooden doors that, centuries ago, were closed at sundown to protect the residents. This pretty red-painted Puerta de San Juan or San Juan Gate is where you re-enter the city. Above the gate is inscribed “Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini”- Latin for “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”. As you walk through, notice how the wall is about 15 feet thick. Go straight through the gate and up the hill. You are following the same path many sailors took after a long voyage – straight up the street, to the cathedral, to thank God for a safe journey.

We did a lot of meandering on this trip and it worked fine for all of us. We ended up at the Fort San Felipe del Morro fortress near the water, which was also next to a park very popular for kite flying.

We explored the Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery, nearby wondering if the cemetery operated like those in NOLA; stacking of bodies in the tombs.

Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is a colonial-era cemetery. Apparently they built the cemetery to overlook the Atlantic Ocean to symbolize the spirit's journey to cross over to the afterlife.

From there it was time for a break, so we ended up at a nice place for smoothies (and a super chocolaty chocolate frappe for me) and where I was introduced to quesitos; delicious pastries which were light and flaky and filled with a slightly sweet cheese (and sometimes mango or guava - ack!)

After a nap in the apartment, we sat down to make plans for the next day. We decided that rather than drive to Fajardo and wait in line to hop the ferry, which would be a 90 minute ride and had very questionable reviews, we would fly on a small plane from Ceiba airport to Vieques. It would allow us a bit more time to get to Ceiba in the morning, and allow more time at the other end too. We were satisfied.

Our transportation for the next day settled, we took a long walk to the beach across the street from the capitol building - a beautiful building made of marble. On the opposite side of the building from where we were, there stood statues of all the American presidents who had ever visited the city. One of our cab drivers would later tell us when we passed by "The little girls, they sit on the lap of the man in the chair (Roosevelt), and the women? They hold Obama's hand!" It was the one spot I wish we’d seen close up but missed.

heading to the beach (though we might not have known that at the time)

One thing we learned about was the abundance of sea glass in PR, so we took advantage and collected a ton!  There was lots of coral too, which looked like an eerie combination of turds and bones. Of course I collected some of those too. As the sun sank lower and we headed back, a heavy, mist-like shower started and a huge double rainbow streaked across the sky.

We had a long trek back and enjoyed the look of the city in the fading light.

the bricks paving the streets were blue from age and moisture

Friday night we ate at Mesa Verde where we had one if the best meals ever! With the hanging mason jar lighting, white iron gate details and general garden feel, the space looked like it could be inhabited by fairies (but fortunately we're not run by them). The restaurant boasted a vegetarian menu - but did serve fish.

I drank ginger and pomegranate martini (in a mason glass of course!) which was so interesting with it’s peppery bite.

The beautiful meal started with bruscetta with olive tapinade, mango chutney, manchego cheese. To die for!

I was beyond content with my main meal of couscous with raisins and some other perfect spice, little spheres of goat cheese, tomatoes, asparagus and seared tuna.

Cheers!

I have no idea what Libby and Nirvi had because I only had eyes for my own plate.

I’m loyal like that.

Puerto Rico Day Uno!

Every year Nirvi, Libby and I take a trip together. The first year, we went to, of all places, Leesburg, VA. It was so great! There was wonderful food and lovely wineries to visit. We went for massages and downtown Leesburg was so nice to explore. We were all so pleasantly pleased at how well we traveled together that we decided to make it a yearly event.

Last year was New Orleans and it was great fun too.

It took us a while to decide on Puerto Rico for this year's adventure. Initially we thought Santa Fe would be great. And it would be, if it wasn't cold this time of year. Libby had a friends who sang the praises of PR and we were decided.

I arrived in San Juan around 3PM after a long day of travel which began with a 5AM taxi ride from my home to Logan.

Nirvi arrived first and settled into our very cool apartment which we found on airbnb online. Libby arrived an hour after me so I waited for her and we caught a cab into Old San Juan to connect with Nirvi together.

It's a beautiful city, though seemingly pretty quiet for the height of the vacation season. We settled into our new home for the next four nights. It's a beautiful open space with tall ceilings, air conditioned bedrooms, a kitchen and two bathrooms. Marble floors throughout and big wooden doors.

During our stay, a few locals took note of the fact that we were in Old San Juan. Apparently most visitors stay in San Juan, in a hotel or resort. Not us! We wanted to be where we were closer to local and everyday life of the city.

this is the apartment's sort of hallway. On the left it opened up completely, no windows or anything. We left the canopy out most of the time because it really made a difference with the heat.

cool stairs leading to the street from the apaprtment

We dropped our things and took to the streets to explore. Admittedly, the fact that Nirvi knew her way around made me quite lazy and unconcerned about my sense of direction. I never really learned where stuff was because somehow, she always knew, or with the help of Fodors and a trip advisor phone app, we could quickly orientate ourselves (no, I’m not getting a kick-back sadly).

Nirvi with a local!

At one point, we passed a strange shop which had wall-to-wall displays of butterflies. Libby chirped, “Wow, There really is something for everyone." It becomes a bit of a catch phrase.

Puerto Rico, where there’s something for everyone!

We needed both a traditional map and our phones to navigate around. The phones seemed best when we were driving, but a good old map served us best when we were wandering the city by foot.

The patio at Rosa de Triana

That evening, we went to the first of many restaurants on our list of must-sees; Rosa de la Triana. We sat outdoors since the evening air was milder than the heat and humidity of the day, and the patio at the back of the restaurant was pleasant, with tall walls on all sides with plants creeping up them, and oddly but charmingly, blinking lights in the shape of icicles! We had some lovely tapas and the server was great; coming over to our table and gesturing to us. He soon realized that Nirvi is quite fluent in spanish and communicated to him that we loved the sangria and our fod was great too. Libby and I shared some crab mofongo for the first time. We were a bit underwhelmed but mostly it was a great meal.  

I was very happy as I toasted over red sangria with my friends, celebrating this tradition of a yearly trip together, and looking forward to the adventures that awaited us in PR.

Back at our home, Nirvi settled in to a single room with a big bed and Libby and I happily shared a room with two singles. Large fans hung downs from all the high ceilings and the AC was refreshing after the heat of the street.

Squeaky Monkey Head

For Christmas Harlow was blessed (and I was cursed) with a monkey head squeaky toy from my brother and SIL. I don't mind it for the most part, unless I'm trying to do something that requires concentration. But she loves to try and scalp it and carry it around by one of the dread-locks she's made in her scalping attempt (see video below).

Last night she was very involved with Monkey Head. He went everywhere with her at bedtime. When it was time for her to go into her crate (which is now my nightstand because I don't have room for both), I took Monkey Head from her, informing her that she could have it in the morning, but that  I wasn't going to let her squeak into the night with that thing!

I put Monkey Head out of her reach and out of view on top of the crate. She then sat just outside the opening to the crate, and looked longingly the direction of her toy, and whimpered.

It was equal parts adorable and pathetic. She was like a little human child.

Or me when I get to the bottom of my bowl of ice cream.



Harlow's favorite and most annoying toy at the moment from C.M. Scott on Vimeo.

Ocean State Jobs Lots

Ocean State Job Lots is completely awesome. I assume they sell stuff that has imperfections but I sure don't see them. Not in the high-end dog toys I get for a quarter of the price they cost at other stores.

Here's Harlow figuring out the new one I gave her tonight.



Figuring out the new treat dispensing toy! from C.M. Scott on Vimeo.


And here she is again, transfixed by the popcorn popper last night...


It's amazing! from C.M. Scott on Vimeo.

Hair

I don't remember the last time I cried over a haircut. Well, I am tonight.

I asked for this...

And what she should have said was "your top layer is too short to pull this off so let's just let it grow some more. I'll make some long bangs and clean up the back"

Instead, she told me she could blend my top layer, which I'd complained to her that it had become too heavy, and that for months I had been growing it out. In truth, the last time I saw her five months ago I told her I was trying to grow it out and she told me she'd blend it then and I was back to square one, with a heavy short layer on one side. Why did I go back this time? I thought it was a fluke.

So, she "blended" my top layer and now I look like I have a weird bob with longer hair poking out of the bottom.  And, you'll notice, uneven sides. Great.


 

this is what it looked like when I came home from the salon. not bad.

and this was this morning. Hideous. 

So now I am sad I don't have pretty hair for my trip to Puerto Rico with my friends. I'm sad that I have to start from scratch with my hair growing. And I'm sad that I have to find a new stylist now, and trust they won't fuck it up either.

Frisbee

I use my time outside with Harlow to try and tire her out. Really that's my main goal. Tire. Her. Out.

It's an ongoing project which I basically never succeed in because she never tires. Ever.

I was using one of those projectiles to launch tennis balls for her but with the snow burying them there's no point right now. The other day I launched one and it went into the neighbor's yard, just on the other side of our chain link fence. Once the snow melted a little bit and Harlow was wandering that way for some other purpose, she suddenly became very alert "My tennis ball!" and started digging at the fence.

So, I invested a whole two dollars to buy not one but two Frisbees the other day!  They've been a successful alternative since they don't sink as easily.

It is hard for her to pick them up though and at first she just jumped up and down on them which resulted in these little ice disks once the snow melted a bit and her compression effort remained.

Now she's a bit better at retrieving the frisbee even though it takes a bit of time each time. She won't be joining and ultimate frisbee league anytime soon.




Mastering frisbee retrieval from C.M. Scott on Vimeo.

Catching Up

I have fallen behind. And here I thought having a puppy would reinvigorate my blog writing. Turns out I'm too busy chasing her around.

Harlow gets smarter every day and learns more every day. I had a long break from work and it was a great opportunity to work on some thing. Coming when called being the primary one. With the help of a great treats every time she comes to me, she has made strides. The issue was that at the dog park she would wander off to the perimeter or the park (which is large) and not come back when I called her.

Yesterday when she did this I tested what I'd learned. I called for her and then walked away. I would peak back thinking she's bound to be coming, she's SO far away from me now and I'm leaving!  Nope. But she was watching me and eventually caught on that the speck in the distance was getting even smaller. She ran to catch up.

She did her best to be a good girl at Christmas. I was amazed at how she left all the beautifully wrapped packages alone, until someone began to open one. This year I made tissue paper flowers to put on my packages. She liked them and went for Mom's. It was funny actually.

Every once in a blue moon, she'd be quiet, but for the most part she was moving moving moving.

She loves the snow which is fun to see. I let her outside and often when I peak out, she's going some kind of happy prancing dance in the deepest parts of the yard.

She's extremely smart. Keeping her in the crate has become a real chore. On days when I know I won't be gone more than two hours, I've been able to entertain her by leaving bits and toys throughout the first floor. But in leaving, I put her in the crate but only latch one of the latches. Getting out of it is a time-stalling activity in itself.  For Christmas I asked for a few brainy toys for her. She liked this one that CJ and Jodi got her...

122913.game from C.M. Scott on Vimeo.