Tag Archives: vacation

September 26, 2024 · 4:26 PM

¡Viva México!

My baby girl did it again! She made reservations in honor of my birthday. We flew first class to an all-inclusive Playa del Carmen resort in Cancun! This would be an unforgettable adventure, a perfect celebration of my special day.

After we landed, we went through customs. We retrieved our luggage, and our shuttle bus arrived in no time. Our five-day mini-vacation commenced, just she and I.

By sunset, we walked along the beautiful beach. A nice breeze was blowing, and we took many pictures for our hubbies back home.

At the resort, we had a plethora of activities to choose from. We had our pick of five restaurants to dine in. A daily buffet served international foods for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Of course, room service was also available. We ate and drank to our hearts’ content. I’m not sure, but I swear the Coke tasted better in Mexico!

The next morning, my daughter and I hopped on a shuttle bus. For part of the day, we joined a coworker and his family. They were also vacationing in Cancun at another resort. We enjoyed an outing at Riviera Maya to experience Xcaret’s natural waterpark. We put on lifejackets and jumped into the cold underground river. We paddled along with our arms and feet. It was such an accelerating experience!

Back at our resort, my favorite spot was to hang out and swim in the peaceful lagoon. The weather was perfect with blue sunny skies. The turquoise water was so calm and clear, it was easy to see the fish swimming up to you.

On our final day, we caught another shuttle to a Catamaran and went on a snorkeling tour. The staff onboard provided us with a mask, fins, and snorkel tube. We dropped into the warm water and soon saw colorful marine life swimming along the reefs. I reached out and nearly touched a clownfish! I never realized how huge the manatees were.

Part of this Catamaran excursion was two hours of free time at the 5-mile island, Isla Mujeres. The beach there is stunning. Playa Norte is just off the coast of Cancun. It is jam-packed with tourists as other boats pull right up. We walked around and did some shopping. Street vendors and salespeople in the stores surrounded you from all sides. They tried to sell their goods and haggle over pricing. You just had to know how to haggle right back.
We did manage to walk away with some great gifts for our loved ones back home.

The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), celebrated on Nov. 2, is set aside to remember and honor those who have died. Wouldn’t you know we bumped into some folks already dressed in costumes?

My take on visiting Cancun is: I was pleasantly surprised and Lord willing, I SHALL RETURN! So many activities to visit, see, and do there! A GREAT place to visit!

¡Viva México!

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Filed under Cancun Vacation

Tagged as all-inclusive resort, Cancun, catamaran, Hispanic Heritage Month, Isla Mujeres, lagoon, Mexico, mother-daughter outing, snorkeling, vacation, Xcaret

August 25, 2023 · 11:52 PM

Daddy’s 90th B/day Celebration/Family Reunion/ Florida Vacation

Some of you know we had to say goodbye to my 88-year-old mama, a little over three months ago. Her memory continues to linger. She was loved beyond words. Missed beyond measure. At times, whenever I enter her room, sadness still floods my soul. I’ve given my grief over to the Lord time and time again, and every day I am strengthened. We did our best to care for Mama during the few years she lived with us. When she went through major surgery, we sought outside professional help.

If you have read my memoir, you know my parents divorced when I was very young. Daddy still lives in Florida with my stepmother. Since their marriage, my dear sister has taken excellent care of them both. I was anxious about visiting Daddy this year for his 90th birthday. Needless to say, it was important to me that I be there.

The day finally arrived when we flew to Orlando for Daddy’s milestone birthday party. However, due to illnesses, etc., this big event almost didn’t happen. I am so thankful the special day came to fruition. We were there to help celebrate this grand occasion.

We enjoyed spending precious time with Daddy, Mama Gloria, siblings, aunts, uncles, and several cousins. Fourteen of us stayed overnight at a lovely 2-story Airbnb. My sister had reserved it, providing more than ample room with a swimming pool. More family members arrived the next day to celebrate Daddy’s birthday bash. We gathered around and ate to our heart’s content. The catered meal included Puerto Rican and Cuban dishes. The dishes were pernil (roasted pork roast) and arroz con gandules (yellow rice and pigeon peas). They also included Congri (Cuban rice mixed with black beans). We had maduros (sweet plantains) and Cuban-style yuca with garlic mojo. Photos were taken with the birthday boy, with cake and balloons.

Mornings consisted of indulging in delicious home-cooked breakfasts with café con leche. We exchanged stories, laughter, great conversations, singing, and prayers. Wonderful memories were made to last a lifetime. Daddy’s party was a wonderful event.

After our stay in the Airbnb, we continued with our vacation plans. We attended a dinner and tournament show at the Medieval Times Dinner Theater in Orlando. The entertainment was fantastic with beautiful horses, jousting, and cool sword fighting. During the performance, a tasty four-course meal was served. You had to eat with your hands, just like in medieval times. Other outings that week included a one-hour ride at Wild Willy’s Airboat Tour through Florida’s Everglades. We experienced some of Florida’s wildlife. We saw blue herons. There were also gators and their nests. We spotted small, beautiful, orange-looking birds. We even saw a bald eagle! One evening, we visited Old Town in Kissimmee with our cousins. We enjoyed a 30-year-old tradition of classic hot rods and muscle cars in a parade. On another day, the chances of rain did not stop us. We headed towards the lovely Anna Maria Beach. It has warm, clear turquoise water and white sand. The scenery did not disappoint. This was a little bit of heaven for me. It was hard to leave! Finally, we stopped and visited my stepson in Tampa. Surprisingly, he treated us to his mouth-watering specialty: reverse-seared ribeyes, and tomahawk steaks!

Looking back now, I am thankful for all that transpired during our week in Florida. My main takeaway: Daddy remembered me. He remembered all of us. He was present, engaging, and loving. He even said a prayer over us. It felt good to feel his love while hugging him tightly. It was special to see my nieces and nephew and see how they have grown. I reconnected with some cousins whom I hadn’t seen in a minute. It was nice to get to know them.

Remember: family time is essential. Embrace all that God has blessed you with; weed out the pettiness and all that is cumbersome. Life is short and fleeting. You blink and you miss a moment. Count your blessings and focus on the bigger picture on this side of heaven called life’s journeys. It is a gift.

(I especially want to thank Titi Sonia and Tio Manny for graciously putting us up in their lovely home.)

Please enjoy some photos taken of our vacation week.

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Filed under Daddy's 90th, Florida vacation

Tagged as 90th birthday, boricuas, familia, Florida, memoirs, personal, Puerto Rican pride, reunion, thankfulness, travels, vacation

October 24, 2018 · 1:32 PM

Wintry Wonderland of Weston

Hi y’all!

Checkin’ in with my family, friends, & fans! I’m vacationing in Weston, CO with my husband and a couple of friends. More pictures to come! 🙂

What do you have going on this week?

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Filed under Vacation

Tagged as adventure, humor, life, mountains, relationship goals, snow, vacation

August 23, 2014 · 9:35 PM

Through My Lens

As I reflect on my vacation this year, I focus on the glitter of the glue in my family. The stuff that makes them glow through difficult circumstances, yet not fall apart. It is the Strength in their sails,
the Laughter through the tears, and the Light in the darkness. The waves may beat on the boat called Life, but their faith in God is the anchor that
keeps them from drifting afar.

Through my lens, I observed how one can remain playful and young at heart, laugh at themselves silly, and enjoy the simple things in life.
Through my lens, I saw how one so small can love so big; remain warm and engaging, lovable without reservations.

Through my lens, I noticed that when the going gets tough, the tough get going! They refuse to sit down, roll over, or give up on life. They know tomorrow is on the horizon, another day for new beginnings.

Through my lens, I observed that age is just a number; it doesn’t mean one ceases to exist, learn, or do.

Through my lens, I got to witness such amazing selfless love. The sacrifices and serving of others: putting themselves last, while thinking of others first.

I heard the cry of their heartbeat. Thump. Thump. Compassion. Thump. Thump. Forgiveness. Thump. Thump. Passion. Thump. Thump. Sincerity. Thump. Thump. Tenacity. Thump. Thump. Love. Thump. Thump. Puerto Rican heritage.

What did I learn in my ten days of vacation? If I can be just one example of what it means to love and to be loved, I’ll overcome what life may throw at me. I’ll face each trial with the certainty that God is still God of the ages and He continues to work on our behalf. No matter what.

Plans don’t always work the way we think they will. Situations may take a turn that differs from what we planned. We aren’t always prepared for the what-ifs. We aren’t perfect. But we are family. And the greatest gift of all is family.

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Filed under familia, family, Vacation

Tagged as Faith, familia, Family, heritage, memories, puerto rican, reflections, strength, tenacity, vacation

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Fun In the Sun!

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August 11, 2014 · 1:28 PM

Aside

That Special Someone

From the beginning, I loved Mark’s adventurous spirit for the outdoors and watching him interact with my gang. He took us on weekend outings and summer vacations. They included dove hunting with my son, camp-outs on the beach, air shows, the circus, barbecues at the parks, and a vacation to Disney World. Even though raised in Miami, I had never been to Disney World and recall that I was as excited to go as the kids were.

Our all-time favorite excursion: A ten-day road trip to his hometown in California. We stopped in San Diego and spent the entire day at the zoo, the largest and grandest I had ever seen or strolled through. Our second day was in Los Angeles, where I knew we’d bump into Hollywood glitter to brag about back home.

I was right, too. Well, sort of.

To my shock, a few yards away, I spotted a celebrity in the crowd at Universal Studios. I saw the back of his head, and then he turned just enough for me to see his profile. He wasn’t Tom Cruise. He wasn’t Mel Gibson. He wasn’t exactly your Prince Charming … Of course, my kids didn’t know of him. Yep, I called out his name, and he waved right at me. It was he, all right. Tiny Tim! His song, Tiptoe Through the Tulips played in my head for the rest of that day.

In Monterey, we cruised along the 17-mile drive, passing greenery, plush golf courses, Clint Eastwood’s home, and the infamous Lone Cypress tree we’d seen only in photos before. We hung out at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and toured the Museum of Natural History. We stopped in Salinas, visited Mark’s aunt, and continued to Modesto. We spent the night at his brother’s home and watched the children happily camp out in their backyard under a full moon in a tent.

Come morning, on to Yosemite National Park. As far as the eye could see, the view was breathtaking, beautiful, and serene. We enjoyed a picnic and watched a waterfall nearby, and then the little ones wanted to explore. Wherever Mark led, the children followed. The kids trailed him, fearlessly climbing one rock after another. I never cared much for heights, so I took pictures on “lower” ground.

Just as I started to worry, weren’t there bears around? My kiddos raced down the trail with Mark in tow.

“Mommy! Mommy!” they cried in unison.

“Where’d you guys go?” I asked. “I started to get—”

“You should have seen Mark,” they said, trying to talk at once.

As Mark drew closer, I noticed him soaking wet, a sheepish grin on his face. Apparently, when he wanted to venture farther along where the river ran, he instructed the kids to wait for him while he climbed higher. But when it was time to descend, Mark found himself in a tight spot. The drop was much too far down from where he stood to hop off. After some scheming, he threw his wallet and keys where the children were, then jumped into the cold river and swam until he could gain better footing and get back on track.

Amidst the chatter, I teased Mark by saying he had fallen into the river (instead of voluntarily jumping in). However, he and the kids insist that he deliberately dove in when he ran out of options. We would joke about this for years to come.

Unknowingly, those voyages were just the beginning of some wonderful memories my children shared with their step-dad, who lovingly, selflessly, and so “bravely” (as my brother puts it) stepped up to the plate. That husband of mine became more than just a “step” dad.

It takes a strong man to accept somebody else’s children and step up to the plate another man left on the table…

~ Ray Johnson

I love my husband for striving to be the best Daddy he can be for my children. It seems to have come naturally to him, ever since day one, when we crossed paths some twenty-three years ago.

By the way, that special someone makes a great, fun-loving “Papa” for our grandkids, too.