Chicago –– The Magnificent Mile

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Chicago––the city where a myriad of skyscrapers stretch toward the sky. Tall architectural wonders erected in a petite New York that give way to business potential beneath their artful frames. A destination where shopping stretches for a mile, restaurants sizzle with taste, theatre wanes dramatic and architectural buildings beg to be seen. Chicago, you are my favourite travel destination. Magnificent Mile––you never disappoint.

?w=225″ alt=”The John Hancock Center” width=”183″ height=”256″ /> The John Hancock Center

Chicago’s downtown buildings are an Architectural sight to behold. I carry my camera and capture images of the Tribune Tower, Trump Tower, the Wrigley Building, and my favorite; the John Hancock Center with its cross bracing and observatory.

I love the way the black structure rises upward to embrace the sky a hundred storeys high, towering above me like a modern medieval fortress. The visit to the observatory will earn you an amazing 360-degree view of the Chicago skyline. Big John offers a fine dining experience in the Signature Room at the 95th floor. Or dine casually at the base in the Cheesecake Factory, which now has a slim menu. Jamba Juice is perfect for the morning exercise enthusiast with their delicious and healthy smoothies. Ask for the Gummy Bear!

 

The Tribune Tower––Home of the Chicago Tribune
The Tribune Tower––Home of the Chicago Tribune

The Tribune Tower––a gothic wonder, houses the Chicago Tribune newspaper. I captured pictures of quotes etched within the interior walls. (A big thank-you to the security guards.)

Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press

And that cannot be limited without being lost.

Thomas Jefferson

?w=300″ alt=”Notre Dame Cathedral Artifact” width=”300″ height=”225″ /> Notre Dame Cathedral Artifact

Robert McCormack, a war correspondent and eventual Tribune publisher, brought back historical fragments from his journalistic travels and asked future correspondents to also bring home to the Chicago Tribune, pieces of famous buildings by honourable means. Today, nearly 150 historical artifacts are cemented within the base of the limestone exterior. I walked around the Tribune building taking pictures of individual pieces of a roman ruin, the Notre Dame Cathedral and even a brick from the Great Pyramid of Giza from Egypt. I imagine each historical stone shares a silent story. If only time could talk.

Across the street, the Trump Tower and Wrigley Building stand together. My eyes follow a line of blue glass and white limestone upward to a beautiful blue sky. Despite the wind that causes my eyes to tear, I marvel at the beauty of new and old architecture and how their different ages seem to merge and mold together into one distinct form.

I take a deep breath and stroll onward, to what I really came to this city for––the shopping.

 

On the surface my recent trip to Chicago might appear like a shopping spree to the friends that know me well, and yes I did support the American economy. I’m addicted to shopping like an addict with a needle in the vein or the cup of coffee that requires a sip every morning. (Starbucks) I have a wallet full of American credit cards and nothing feels better than laying them down on the counter.

Macy’s, Nordstrom Rack, and Ann Taylor are my must visit stores. I like to be spontaneous, so when a make up artist asks if she can paint my face, I say yes. She is especially excited about the Photographer smashbox has hired; Steven Khan, who will be taking my picture after the makeup and hair are done. All I have to do is buy $75.00 worth of product. I’m giddy––a steal of a deal.

?w=200″ alt=”SBC468″ width=”149″ height=”224″ /> Shelley Kassian
?w=300″ alt=”Steven Khan” width=”300″ height=”225″ /> Steven Khan

I reflect now that in one moment I walked the Magnificent Mile and snapped pictures of buildings. In the next instant, Steven Khan, a celebrity photographer, snaps pictures of me. He asks me to smile while looking through his lens. Cynical, I wonder what he sees through his viewfinder? “Smile Shelley,” he asks again. Why? Is there something wrong with a serious expression? I think someone needs to teach me how to lift my lips upward into a feigned moment of happiness, because I feel like my smile is forced. And my face, my poor face that too soon witnesses tired eyes and wrinkled skin, might crack and break. But Steven Khan captured my imperfections perfectly. Sigh! I imagine the celebrities shine younger under their illuminating lights.

My day ends with a mouth-watering taste of Gino’s East deep-dish pizza. The small size gives my husband and I an ample serving of sinful cheesy tomato crust. There is no better pizza than Gino’s East and I love the graffiti environment that provides something to read while you wait the 45 minutes for your Pizza to cook. If you are ever in Chicago, you must visit! If you’re thinking about a great Chicago hot dog, Portillo’s is the place, but think twice about the chocolate cake milkshake.

All good things must come to an end and after four nights and five days, it was time to return home. Chicago, I can’t wait until I can visit again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L O S T

Picture taken from the window of an airplane on one of my journeys.
Picture taken from the window of an airplane on one of my journeys

As night descends, I am reminded that one more day has passed since Malaysian airlines flight 370 went missing. While the world speculates on the circumstances, searchers scan the ocean for lost wreckage. Family’s wait for a word that might bring their loved ones home and investigators pour over every piece of information that might help them solve this puzzle. A bitter truth is that the Boeing 777 plane may never be found and the hardest obstacle for those that wait might be the passing of time with scarce information. Sadly, I understand what waiting feels like, as sand slips through the hourglass burying hope with each falling grain.

On April 29, 1982, a small plane departed Fox Creek, Alberta on route to Prince George, British Colombia. Sadly, the plane never arrived at its destination. Ricky Allan Gascon, my then 29-year-old cousin, was on that plane. I remember my parent’s sadness when they learned his fate and shared the news. I recall their hope that the plane would be found and that by some miracle, Ricky and other passengers might have survived. Thirty-two years later, Ricky and those that took this journey with him are still missing.

At the time, the loss didn’t affect me much. I was 17 years old and had never met this cousin. It’s almost 32 years later. Now, I ponder what his family must have suffered as they waited for answers that never came. I’m sure my aunt and other cousins must still look at the sky and suffer, having never found their beloved son/brother’s remains. After 32 years, how can a plane still be missing?

I have faced loss. I understand how grief can twist like a knife in your gut while you wait for a resolution that might never come. Waiting is the hardest part. As time passes, the hope lessens for those who boarded Malaysian Flight 370. However, if there is hope to be found in this difficult situation, I pray the keen eyes of intelligence discover a seed of truth soon, so a world’s search will come to an end and Flight 370 will be LOST no more.

 

 

Niagara Falls: A Winter Wonderland

The Canadian Horseshoe Falls - March 2014
The Canadian Horseshoe Falls – March 2014
A portion of Frozen Handrail
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The Niagara Falls are a stunning natural wonder regardless of the time of year. I have now had the pleasure to view their beauty from three separate seasons; which include summer, fall and winter. During a recent winter visit, I found the falling water even more spectacular than usual. From behind a barrier of frozen white handrails, I stood in awe staring at the Canadian Horseshoe falls, whose minty white waters cascaded over the brink. And far beneath the rising mist, crystalline mounds emerged from the basin and a cracked stream of snowy glass stretched down the gorge to where the Maid of the Mist boat sits in the summer beside the American falls. The view took my breath away on each of my four walks along the pathway. For once in my life, I gratefully greeted a Winter Wonderland.

A night-time Illumination
A night-time Illumination

The night was bitter with cold when my husband and I arrived in the Niagara area on the evening of Thursday, March 6, 2014. The temperatures were not far below zero, but the precipitation falling in the air froze to our clothing, our hair and even the camera lens’ shut tight. Viewing Niagara Falls in the black of night conveyed a wondrous experience, as a frosted white clung to everything that grew or rested near the Canadian visitor centre. White ice-covered handrails, frozen trees, white lampposts, and every piece of nature that grew close to the falls, were all frosted in thick layers of snowy white. Combined with the nighttime illumination of changing colors, this sight held an enjoyable if not magical spectacle. The view simply took my breath away, to linger like the mist in the night.

A Journey behind the Falls
?w=300″ width=”300″ height=”225″ /> A Journey behind the Falls

Cooler temperatures during this winter season have worked their magic on Niagara Falls. I was drawn to ice formations on the rocks beneath the falls, which climbed up to fifty feet high into larger than life ice mounds. An ice bridge stretched across the gorge, which is a marvel that doesn’t happen every year. I especially enjoyed the “Journey behind the Falls,” offered at the Canadian visitor centre, which gave a different wintry view from near the base. I enjoyed viewing the ice mounds from below, which looked like mini glaciers in the distance and a close-up look of cliff edges that held long frozen icicles that streamed down the sharp incline. Not every winter season transforms to the 2014 degree, so I am very grateful I have had the opportunity to view the winter falls at their best!

A crowd of people enjoying the Falls
?w=300″ width=”300″ height=”225″ /> A crowd of people enjoying the Falls

The day after my night exploration and with temperatures rising above freezing, I walked along the very same handrails. I reflected on people who tampered with this beauty. I’m not sure what it is in human nature that desires to destroy. Several people pried at the ice on the handrails with their hands or kicked at the ice with their feet, attempting to break the frozen masses free. Those that were successful with their wintry exploits threw their ice prizes into the water, some watching as each white chunk fell over the falls. I was dismayed that further visitors would not see the beauty as I had first discovered, because of such hands. Only one day later on my third visit, most of the frozen art that had covered the handrails had vanished, and I’m sure not all due to the warming temperatures.

It was a genuine pleasure to have visited Niagara Falls in the winter. I have many delighted memories to hold onto, as well as a few hundred photographs. The next time winter is holding on too long, I hope to experience this Winter Wonderland again, as the landscape found was simply a joy to behold!

A view up the gorge to the American Falls
A view up the gorge to the American Falls

The Bracelet Gems

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An Uno de 50 Bracelet

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but the trinkets worn on our wrists, whether precious or semi precious, gold or silver, sea glass or rocks, leather or lace, or Pandora charms, equally excite this girl. I do not know how many bracelets I own, but each jewelled piece is a semi precious gem to me.

My favourite piece of jewelry is a bracelet; and my friends can almost always see me with varying pieces adorning my wrists. I love the way a silver bangle feels. I enjoy the sounds that different layers clustered together make when my arm extends. I adore the beauty of distinctive beads, shells, hoops or silver bands. Each piece captures a different splendor. I almost prefer a bracelet on my arm to a necklace around my neck, due to the ease of slipping the bracelet on in the morning. A bracelet easily enhances every garment, whether dressing up for a special occasion, or simply staying at home wearing jeans.

Shelley's Pandora Bracelet
?w=300″ width=”300″ height=”230″ /> Shelley’s Pandora Bracelet

I especially love my Pandora bracelet. Each charm tells its story of my travels across Canada, the United States and Internationally to Australia, England and Paris. Each delicate piece reminds me of these trips in a way a picture cannot. My tiny castle reminds me of the Chateaux Versailles. My Kangaroo of Australia, a guitar for Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry, and a flag for Britain. My Pandora bracelet would not be complete without a seashell!

My husband asked me on a recent trip to Puerto Rico what I purchased from a trendy boutique store in San Juan. When I stated the obvious, a bracelet, he asked me: “Don’t you have enough bracelets? Do you need one more?” My wrists always have room for a little more jingle! Plus my purchases don’t hide themselves away in a dresser drawer. I wear all my jewelry, but not all on the same day.

At our Hilton Caribe, I purchased a bracelet from a jeweller who sold designs from Uno de 50. (Cinqo) Uno de 50 is a Spanish jewelry designer, which produces only fifty pieces of each design. I love my little Spanish creation! This bracelet is the perfect summer accessory with all its tiny silver pieces and colourful glass beads. I especially appreciate the tiny blue piece of sea glass that reminds me of the ocean.

I think everyone should add a little sparkle to his or her wrists. Everyone has room for a new bracelet gem.

A Valentine Love Story

Swans in Hyde Park
Swans in Hyde Park, London, England

I knew I loved my Valentine from the first moment we chanced to meet. How many married couples can say love blossomed within their hearts at the very first sight? For my sweetest friend and this intuitive soul, this is where our love story began.

We met in high school, during a time in our lives when each day’s purpose was to achieve an education. My husband was driven to succeed. My life being more difficult, high school became a place to escape abuse. I did not expect to find a sweet friendship let alone love, but this is where our journey as a couple began.

It was an ordinary day when my girlfriend decided to introduce me to her brother, so books in hand we rushed to his chemistry class. (We had to hurry, because we had our own classes to attend!) As I stood at the door gazing inside the room, time unexpectedly quit. I found myself held in a time warp, where only my soul mate and I existed. My eyes were drawn to ‘one boy’ in a room of many students. I didn’t know him, and I grappled with the feelings that clutched at my heart. Feelings so powerful, I felt like I knew him already!

I’m sure I clutched my books a little tighter to my chest while I shook off whatever intuition had just overcome my senses. I remember thinking I was crazy, this experience, or vision; whatever had just occurred was not real! Then my girlfriend urged me inside the classroom and introduced me to her brother. What happened next would change my life forever, when a friend introduced me to the man that would become my husband four years later.

In the Twenty-eight wonderful years that have passed since our first moment, I can still feel the mystery. Together we have shared three children; two daughters and a son, five pets, laughter, tears, many vacations, a successful business, and so much love. I am grateful for the love of my life on this special occasion, my sweet husband, my Valentine!

Water Diamonds at Bio Bay

Laguna Grande in the distance
Laguna Grande in the distance

I will always remember Bio Bay or Laguna Grande, as a diamond experience observed both in the night sky and the ocean water. There were four in my party and we had already enjoyed a spectacular hike through El Yunque National Forest. By the time we arrived in Fajardo, we were eager to see a little bioluminescence. What an adventure we experienced.

Just as the sun began to slip beneath the horizon, one guide, two support crew and twenty guests climbed into dual kayaks. My husband and I shared one, while my daughter and her boyfriend shared another. This being our first adventure in kayaks, mastering the paddles did not take long. The challenge came when trying to close the gap with more experienced kayakers who easily maneuvered through the water and motored ahead. Or less experienced kayakers who simply failed and blocked our pursuit.

The Mangrove Channel
?w=300″ width=”270″ height=”204″ /> The Mangrove Channel

We set out across the ocean attempting to match our propelling arms. Left and right, stroke after stroke, we sailed through the marina and moved toward the Mangrove channel. Once we entered the opening, we followed a narrow, twisting and winding trail through the water. Sometimes we came too close to the mangrove trees, but we carefully pushed ourselves away from their roots and continued forward. We were told if we fell from our kayaks not to worry, because with the water only two feet high, we could stand. Fortunately, my husband and I are excellent partners and maneuvered together to stay seated in our boat.

I really enjoyed the voyage through the Mangrove channel. If there had not been other Kayaks behind us, I would have stopped within the stream to enjoy the serene beauty. Meandering through the channel with mangroves stretching over our heads was blissfully peaceful.

The sun had almost completely set by the time we entered Laguna Bay. The tour guide shared some history about the Taino Indians who first called Puerto Rico home and offered information about the bay and the organisms that emit a mysterious sparkling light called bioluminescence.

Tiny dinoflagellates, approximately 720,000 for every gallon of water, reside within the Bay. Once the sunsets and night blankets the sky, the organisms rise to the water’s surface, which is why the tour happens only at night. The Spanish believed the strange water to be the devil’s work, and they tried to block the channel to the Bay with large boulders. This only served to create more bioluminescence by trapping more organisms inside the Bay.

Bioluminescence
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My husband found viewing the luminescence difficult. He’s still not sure he saw any light at all. I found the light subtle and I would not describe the luminescence as neon blue. I would draw my hand through the water as we moved along in our kayak, and watch tiny diamonds dance around my fingers. To me the light appeared like tiny electrical sparks around my fingers or paddles, which quickly extinguished after being disturbed. When we did not touch the water, we did not see the light. Sometimes, you can see stingrays or other wish, swimming through the water. Sadly, no creatures came across our paddles.

The guide told us to take our time crossing the Bay as we moved on to look at a light circling round a Lighthouse. A deluge of rain began to fall! Thankfully, rain is brief in the tropics, so while the torrent was strong, we only faced the wrath for about five minutes. When you take this tour, you will become wet from the waist down, whether rain is falling or not, or water is coming into your kayak from paddling. The weather is warm in Puerto Rico. The night we went the temperatures were around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so we did not mind at all.

The tour lasted about an hour and a half. Soon we were travelling back along the mangroves at the Bay’s edge and making our way back to where we began. There was still the slightest glimmer of light, and I noticed that when I drew my hand through the water, the light was brighter on the kayak’s darker side, shaded from the Mangrove trees.

At one point when the night fell to inky blackness, and all we could see ahead was the illuminated rings on our canoes and jackets, my husband and I chanced to look upward at the night sky. We stared in wonder at a black velvet carpet of bright stars. I marveled at my adventure. Diamonds glistened in the sky, and sparkled between my fingertips in the water.

There are two tours a night. Now that I am more familiar with Laguna Grande and Bio Bay, I would recommend the later tour when the night is darkest. A later tour time might equal a stronger luminescence experience. Also, I know now that the worst time to visit Bio Bay is during a full moon, which is probably due to the light. However, I have no regrets and would not change our tour’s timing. Having never experienced the Mangrove channel before, we were grateful for sunset, which helped guide us through.

There are some beautiful pictures of neon blue bioluminescence on the World Wide Web. It would be special to experience neon blue, but I cannot say if this occurs at Bio Bay from my experience. My pictures were not taken by myself, as we were cautious about taking camera’s on the water. I could find no author attributes to the pictures I found on the net.

El Yunque National Forest: Puerto Rico

El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque National Forest

Lush, tranquil and picturesque. In my opinion, these three words describe the tropical rainforest of El Yunque National Forest. During a recent vacation in Puerto Rico, I visited this serene place, and I am grateful for the experience. My family reserved a private tour that walked us through the El Portal Rainforest Center, La Coca Falls, Yokahu observation tower and La Mina Trail to La Mina Falls. All four family members enjoyed this serene green experience.

The first destination in the National Forest was a stop at El Portal Rainforest Center. I enjoyed visiting the center and value the information I gained. Four distinct forest types reside within El Yunque, which rise from 300 to 3000 feet above sea level. The temperature, precipitation, soil and vegetation, change at each level. We watched a twenty-minute video in the center, which introduced the forest history, conservation efforts, as well as endangered wildlife such as the Puerto Rican Parrot. The displays, while some might not visualize as important, reminded me that we humans depend on the tropical rainforest for important medicinal ingredients, and many other personal products as well, so caring for this rich resource is important.

La Coca Falls

La Coca Falls
La Coca Falls

After the center, we stopped to view La Coca Falls. From the top of the rock cliff edge, the water drops 85 feet (26 meters) onto a huge rock formation. I loved listening to the cascading sound as water flowed over and down the sheer edge. With the suggestion of our tour guide, my daughter and her boyfriend climbed over the guardrail and maneuvered atop larger rocks, to get closer to the falling water for a scenic picture. I would not have had the courage to go that close, but the view and humid breadth must have been spectacular, when standing beside the plummeting water.

Yokahu Tower

A view to the Atlantic Ocean
?w=300″ width=”300″ height=”168″ /> A view to the Atlantic Ocean

We ventured higher up the mountain to a lookout point at Yokahu Tower. I climbed 96 circular spiral stairs to the top, while stopping to gaze out several rectangular windows. I usually do not welcome heights, but the observation deck provided a stunning view of El Yunque National Forest that was breathtakingly beautiful. I stood in awe looking down a sweeping vista to land and the Atlantic Ocean on one side. The view was––truly beautiful. I also enjoyed the higher mountainous scenery, as the treetops were mysteriously shrouded in mist. I simply had to take a minute to just breathe. Breathe, as I gazed at a tropical green carpet that magically stretched upwards. I could not completely capture the essence with my camera. I would love to go back and see this view again!

La Mina Trail to La Mina Waterfall

La Mina Trail
?w=768″ width=”768″ height=”1024″ /> La Mina Trail
El Bejuco Colorado or Red Vine
?w=300″ width=”240″ height=”180″ /> El Bejuco Colorado or Red Vine

Our tour guide then drove us to La Mina Trail, where we hiked downward along La Mina River. We followed a winding rocky path full of vegetation for about forty-five minutes until we reached La Mina Falls. I really enjoyed this walk. However, I was glad I purchased shoes with a good tread, because a slip on this rain soaked path is a possibility if you are not careful. The pathway along the trail is not very wide, and the continuous journey downward along stairs and different concrete rock-ways required careful footsteps. Good health is also required, because you need to be to be fit to walk in and out of La Mina trail. The trail was not busy the day we ventured to the falls, which I was grateful for, as we often had to step aside to let others pass us, who were on their way back to the road.

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?w=300″ width=”240″ height=”134″ /> A tiny Lizard

Oh, but walking within this tropical forest was beautiful. A picturesque serene emerald green world where water droplets slipped from moss covered trees, air plants held fast to their host, and tiny wildlife waited to be discovered. Green, everywhere my eye travelled. I loved finding snails seemingly stuck to trees, or Lizards hiding among the leaves beside the trail. The occasional red flower or El Bejuco Colorado red vine, was simply stunning.

Our tour guide found us enraptured within this tropical world, almost lost within the beauty as we attempted to capture each precious moment with our cameras. We hurried ahead to La Mina Falls and dipped our feet in the cooler water. My daughter’s boyfriend swam beneath the rushing current of water that fell onto his back. A refreshing stop for one, but this girl found the cold water that greeted her feet an acceptable refresher and I did not swim beneath the falls.

El Mina Falls
El Mina Falls

 

 

 

 

We walked away from La Mina Falls, following the Big Tree Trail. This required a bit more stamina as we walked upward, through more green foliage where the light slipped away to a shadier vista. As we climbed higher and higher, the forest changed, and became woodier. As we strolled along, we wondered when we would finally reach the top. Our muscles complained from the rise, but we enjoyed the sounds of birds that sang. At times you just had to stop, close your eyes, and listen. The sound of tiny Coqui tree frogs, no bigger than an inch and hidden from our sight, sang “co-kee, co-kee,” their throaty calls sounding more like birds than frogs. Amazing that tiny indigenous creature’s can make such a joyful noise.

Once we were safely back in the van, we journeyed onwards to Bio Bay for a night exploration. A luminescent experience, which I will share later in the week! But if you ever have the opportunity to visit Puerto Rico, you must journey to El Yunque National Forest. You don’t need a tour guide to visit, only transportation to get yourself there. Without a tour guide, I probably would have taken a picnic hamper, and enjoyed a glass of wine in a picnic enclosure along La Mina Trail. However, having had a tour operator, meant less walking, as we were picked up once we reached the end!

The Castillo de San Cristobal

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I have visited many historic structures, and have been fascinated by each building’s place in history. Walking through the Castillo de San Cristobal navigated my imagination back to a time when Spanish explorers dared to journey into an unknown sea. The sandstone is weathered grey with time, but the columns, turrets, tunnels and even the prison cell weave a story. The island of Puerto Rico where the Castillo is built breathes history, like the wind that whispers from a Caribbean sea.

Puerto Rico means ‘Rich Port,’ and indeed the island’s history is rich. Long before Tomas O’Daly and Juan Mestre engineered the Castillo during the main years of 1765––1783, the island held importance to Europeans who sought to exploit the new world of America. Christopher Columbus while searching for Asia and material riches, found this new world in the vicinity of the Bahamas in 1492. He discovered Puerto Rico a year later during his second voyage on November 19, 1493. He first named the island San Juan Bautista, but this rich port, which did contain gold; eventually became the port of San Juan and the territory of Puerto Rico. The island was Spain’s most important military outpost in the Caribbean and several fortifications were built to protect a key investment.

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The island faced many aggressors during the four hundred years that Spain held the land. The French battled from the sea in 1528. The English were defeated in 1595, but took control of the island for 65 days during a second invasion at Fort San Felipe del Morro in 1598. Illness forced their departure. The Dutch, a common foe, attacked in 1625, but were defeated. Philip IV fortified San Cristobal in 1634, and six other Castillo’s along the island, all linked by sandstone walls.

On May 10, 1898, Captain Angel Rivero Mendez ordered the cannons to fire from the Castillo de San Cristobal during the beginning of the Spanish/American war.  The soldiers endured a daylong bombardment, then yielded to the United States. Six months later, Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory under the Treaty of Paris. The people who call Puerto Rico home today, within this beautiful scenic port, are American citizens who have retained their Spanish cultural heritage.

I can now say my feet have walked a path where legendary explorers once landed, daring to go where most would not travel. I cannot imagine stepping onto a gangway plank, and sailing away to an unknown future, leaving my family, and everything I know behind to journey into uncertain waters. When the ship left port and sailed for months on shifting seas, the men must have grown weary with their constant search for land. The view from the telescope must have been scary and thrilling too, when land was finally sighted.

I stood in the square in the heart of San Cristobal, where men once fought to hold the land they had discovered. A square where soldiers were called to attention to practice drill commands, and prepare for the ships and men that would come. I wondered what their first thoughts had been when the bell rang to warn of such a sighting.

I stood in a garita or sentry box, gazing out to sea, and feeling the warm tribal winds on my face. It would have been hot clothed in military gear while on the lookout for invaders. However, for this tourist, the Cerulean-blue Ocean and sweeping shoreline was immensely beautiful.

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I walked down a sloping tunnel, of which there were many, and ventured into a prison, a dark cave with a slit for a window, where a mutinous captain was imprisoned for many years. I wondered what being trapped within this dark space would have felt like, gazing at a tiny slip of light from a narrow window and wondering if I would ever be free. I wondered when this captive man felt encouraged to document his story on the walls through the depiction of sailing ships. If only his pictures could give way to words, what a story they would tell. The images are still available to view today, and weave a haunting impression of a time gone by.

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Puerto Rico has an amazing rich history, and the Castillo de San Cristobal played a huge role in its fortification. This rich port was considered a stepping-stone, or the key to the Antilles in the new world, which is why so many Europeans desired the island. The port still serves as a good place to dock a ship, but the vessels that cruise are much larger today and the passengers are tourists.

Someday, I hope to venture back to old San Juan and discover its history again.

The Caribe Hilton – San Juan, Puerto Rico

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I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico for eight days. The resort is situated on a secluded peninsula with stunning views of a cerulean-blue Atlantic Ocean. Accompanied by my husband, daughter and daughter’s boyfriend, all four of us enjoyed the many amenities this Caribbean resort had to offer.

The Hilton brand is our first choice when booking a room, regardless of whether the stay is for business or personal vacation needs. The chain offers an excellent loyalty program; being Hilton Honor gold members, we have benefited from our loyalty to this brand. Aside from points collected that have given free night stays, our room is often upgraded and we appreciate a faster check-in line for members. During this stay, we received a complimentary continental breakfast each day, which we upgraded most mornings to the full buffet for only $10.00 per person. A delicious deal! The Caribe Hilton also has a tower set aside for Hilton Honors members, which made us feel special.

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Our room on the 19th floor came with a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean and the historic ruins of Fortin de San Geronimo. After lounging on the private beach, swimming in the salty ocean or the pool, we were delighted to return to our room and shower in our five to six foot wide marble space! The matching mirrors and faded blue sinks in the bathroom were a little dated, but the bed was comfortable and we slept well.

While my husband attended business meetings the first three days of our stay, the family worked on their tans, swam in the ocean, walked along an ocean rockway, gazed at tropical fish from a wooden pier, visited animals in the garden or walked along the private beach. With a reef break protecting the shoreline from a stronger current, and perhaps sea creatures too, we swam in mild waves. We never grew too warm with the wind gusting sea spray on our bodies to cool us down. (In fact, the wind may be the only shortfall of San Juan, Puerto Rico, which a tour guide did confirm is constant all year long.)

I didn’t mind the wind, as the breeze offered a cooling effect in temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or 28 degrees Celsius. Sunscreen is mandatory. You don’t even realize your skin is burnt until you see the red image in the mirror.

If you’re like this family, you visit beachside resorts to recline in a lounge chair with the pleasure of the ocean in front of you and a drink held in your hand. At the Caribe Hilton, there is ample space to find a lounge chair, whether on the private beach or poolside. One night, I especially enjoyed resting in a hammock that stretched between the palm trees. You might enjoy renting one of the many private cabanas, and resting in luxury.

DSCN9972?w=300″ width=”300″ height=”225″ />The Caribe Hilton has several restaurants. In the morning we ate at the Palmeras, which had an ample buffet with omelets, Belgian waffles, or French toast made to order. For those that want a smaller breakfast, Starbucks is on the property and their cinnamon roll is delicious. We had most luncheon meals, as well as Margaritas and Pina Coladas at the Atlantico Bar and Grill. At night, we enjoyed a cheese plate at the Oasis Bar, which interestingly enough is the birthplace of the Pino Colada; made famous by Ramon ‘Monchito’ Marrero Perez in August 1952.

One of our favorite spots at the Caribe Hilton was the garden. On a windy day, the pool next to the garden is sheltered, so we found this space a good escape from the wind. The garden is home to turtles, iguanas, lizards, black and white swans, ducks etc. We enjoyed this peaceful oasis and thank the staff member who gave our daughter lettuce to feed an Iguana.

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We enjoyed our stay at the Caribe Hilton and would stay again. Thanks to all the staff that made this business vacation restful and enjoyable.

San Juan, Puerto Rico; Geronimo Dreams

IMG_1893?w=225″ width=”225″ height=”300″ />I am enjoying the beautiful island of San Juan, Puerto Rico. This is my first visit to this Caribbean island, and I appreciate the sand, the surf, and especially the blue ocean. Whenever I find myself along a shoreline, I search for treasure. I pick up sea-glass, shells, or any other treasure that the salt water gives up. I could spend the entire day exploring. However, sometimes when you search, you discover the unexpected.

Outside my hotel window, stands the Fortin de San Geronimo, an old fort built by the Spanish government in 1609 to defend the island from attack. After my first evening, I dreamt of murder, and a Spanish man screaming. I’m intuitive by nature, but my island bliss should bring peaceful dreams. This is a discovery I never intended to find, but when your mind searches, sometimes the spirits answer back. (If you believe in spirits.)

I have asked the ghosts that linger along the shoreline to leave me alone for a bit, for this is my vacation. However, the dream captured my attention so fully, I decided to weave the threads into a poem. Be warned, this Geronimo is not for the faint of heart.

Your screams awake me in the night,

“Secreto, Secreto,” a man screams with fright.

A violent act,

Soldiers hold your arms,

They take a sword and stab straight down.

Whatever your words,

Secrets shall never be sung.

A dagger, bold and sharp, has taken your tongue.

Red blood, spanish wine, a traitor is free,

A life over, they return you to the sea.

Long ago san Geronimo,

Battles were lost and won.

Memories still linger,

And a writer discovers an island son.