Asheville, North Carolina!

 Asheville, we love you! For nearly two years, we have been cloistered at home, cautious and fearful. We are vax'ed and boosted and unafraid! We are on a road trip, and feeling like we are 22. We left home with barely a plan, only some celery and turkey sandwiches, and a 10+ hour roadtrip through the breath-taking Great Smoky Mountains. We drove through the Cumberland Gap and had a poignant talk about Daniel Boone and the Conestoga wagons. We saw very few remnants of the past, but did notice one huge Confederate flag, which took our mood from 10 to 1 real fast.

Tomorrow? Biltmore Estates!

Apicoectomy!

Fun times today at the Endodontist!  After a root canal on Tooth 8 in November and another RC on Tooth 7 last week, today I had an apicoectomy on both teeth.  I had vital abscess tissue that needed to go, too.  The doctor was great.  He told me to bite down on this tube that removed saliva from my mouth while pretending I was at the beach.  I did all of that, and five stitches later, I'm out of there for a week.

Dentists!  And my new favorite dentist became one only a week ago.

It's the good and bad all in one breath.  It's life.

Bye, “Mon”!

It’s back to reality today, to the schedules and duties we have chosen, back to the lives we treasure.  We both agreed, a few days in, that we probably wouldn’t return to Jamaica, quickly adding, almost in unison, that we still are very fortunate to have the experience, to be on vacation.

Staying at an all-inclusive (Seagarden Resort) worked well for us, as we couldn’t find a real store anywhere nearby. The “markets” were no more than souvenir shops, and they were everywhere. But our needs were easily satisfied, as we flitted between the pool bar, the beach bar, and occasionally the piano bar.

The locals were chill, for sure, and we enjoyed the resort staff and all the vacationers we met, mostly Canadians. The flowers and trees were in full lushness, accented by the Caribbean Sea and mountains. It was the respite we needed; memories were easy to make.

A Warm and Windy Day of Lasts

Our last full day in Montego Bay was full of lots of fun.   We had our usual early morning run, followed by a hearty breakfast, a long walk on the Hip Strip, followed by a competitive tennis match.

Then it was time:  for the last strawberry daiquiri, the last pina colada, the last dip in the Caribbean Sea,  the last veggie “wrap” poolside, the last plate of fries chased by final Red Stripes.

While it was everything we planned for, times away also remind us of how much we love the life we’ve designed.  We are coming home to a freezing rain, chased by single-digit temperatures,  but we are also coming home to people who love us.  Can’t get that here!

Just Another non-Manic Monday

Another relaxing day, running in the morning, reading (and sipping) in the afternoon, dinner and socializing in the evening.  We met two sweet (and young!) couples this evening - neighbors from Oakbrook IL and a “female empowerment” hair colorist (she called me a “champagne blonde” - not ash blonde) from Wheeling PA. We also met a Jamaican woman who sold us t-shirts (and has been doing this for 42 years) and, when we asked her how she perseveres (Indians have moved in over the last several years and taken business away from the locals) she showed us her Bible and said she vents to God.

Sunday: No Blues

After a thorough night’s rest, we grabbed a piece of toast and ran south, coastline, to Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. The church was not what we’d imagine a cathedral to be - the building was in serious disrepair, and zero trappings -but as the congregation gathered, all of that slipped away. There was joy, so much real gladness and that beauty was so very real! It was an experience I won’t soon forget because there was so much confidence in the room.

We have spent other idle hours today, reading, talking, and gently gawking at wedding preparations underway, at “our” resort.

Saturday in th Sun

We spent our Saturday lazily.  The day before, the day of our arrival, I approached our ocean bar with a Beginners mind, and way too much gusto for the complimentary rum concoctions, mudslides, rum punch, something else delicious, and of course, the ubiquitous Red Stripe.   Today I approached everything like an expert, not yielding to anything more of a treat than a Diet Pepsi.

We watched the planes arrive, saw a wedding underway, and this morning took our first Mobay run. My favorite thing this morning was a FaceTime call w Miles and Matt, and then with Kate, Jacob, and Ava.  We don’t miss the snow back home but we sure do miss them, not because we would necessarily see them today, but because we are so far away.

We are staying in a four star resort, at least that’s what they call it.  As we are starting to learn, everything has a “resort” in its name.   It’s a little bit tired but the pool is beautiful, the Caribbean Sea is beside us and is very clear, the drinks are plentiful...there are several bars and restaurants on property and we are having a lot of fun!  The locals are very easy-going, and we do not feel out of our element because tourism here is everything.

Five.More.Days

We are fine. There’s no way around it, in fact, at home, they’re in the middle of a snowstorm and we are happy to escape that.  We are fine. There’s no problems. We like all inclusive, we like red stripe beer, we like Dirty Bananas.   We do not want to be anyone’s editor, but it seems like there is a local industry that is hyped up on marijuana, and maybe other stuff we avoid.

 We will persevere. We are on the right side of sunsets. The time will go quickly.  And did I tell you, it is an all-inclusive?

Jamaica in January!

Said goodbyes to my kids, my grands, and my parents. The doors are locked.  Nest is on Eco. We are on our way!  I smiled extra at the crabby TSAers.  I can’t imagine how tough it must be going to work and putting out money to get there, only to not know when I’d get a paycheck. Hopefully the government shutdown will be over soon. For so many reasons, these and others, I  remember Soc 101 and feel a product of conspicuous consumption today.

But, ya mon, we’ll rally! Leaving Chi with a grateful heart, and not just because a snowstorm is approaching.

New Year of Happy!

I’ve missed sitting w my thoughts and sharing some w you.

Let’s have a soft startup:

I have new kicks! They’re going with me soon to Jamaica!

Hugs.

T W E N T Y!

Geez...20 years with the same person.  That's like 7305 days.  And most of them have been highs with just a bit of lows.


Thanks to my BFF, my forever friend, for helping me grow into the human being I want to be.


And thanks to my family for supporting me on this "encumbered" journey!

The Millers...

...want to buy our home, our refuge.

I'm practical enough that I didn't vet them too much.  They want the house.  We need to give it to them.  We need to move on.  We have a new place.

They were the 2nd family to come through, and gave us a full price offer.

Life is bittersweet.  All is temporary.  Life is good.

The Ranch

We put the ranch on the market today.

It was just as hard as saying goodbye to the kids, one by one, over the years.

Let's hope we find the right family, who has the spirit (and cash) to enjoy this place as much as us.

Hasta Luego, San Juan

So long, San Juan.  You've been a great time.  You were easy, inexpensive, interesting, and convenient.  

It was easy to find you, passports are not required, the USD is a universal language, and English/Spanglish freely spoken everywhere.

Puerto Rico is 100 miles long and 35 miles wide with almost 4 million people living on the "Island of Enchantment," (with a bit more than a million in the greater San Juan metropolitan area). 

It is vibrant and multicultural, and evidence of Spanish, African, Native American and stateside influences abound. Fascinating!

San Juan is a welcoming community and we didn't spend one minute worrying about where we were or where we were headed.  Their collective reputation is one of kindness and gentleness, and we saw it firsthand.  The sentiment is more than the very enticing "live and let live" - it's more like "Live and let live and BE WELL!" I really noticed it on our bike ride yesterday.  We biked about 10 miles, mostly on busy city streets.  I didn't get any sense that we were honking off anyone.  In fact, to the contrary.  So many smiles and so much courtesy.  

There is so much fun to be had and we are sorry to say adios.  

Backside of the hotel

Park next to the hotel

Our view

He picked us up at ORD and got a souvenir!

Last full day

We've had a great day! It started with a FaceTime session with JSS - he wanted to see the ocean.  He loves to see the ocean when we talk.  We then headed out for one of our last runs, got back, and hopped on the hotel bikes for a ride out to Carolina Beach, near Pinones.  It was great fun to see more of the city.  We returned to lounge one last day by the pool and then cleaned up and ventured to Old Town for a nice, final dinner, at AguaViva.  It was another perfect day.

FaceTime with JSS; showing him the ocean.

Riding the city, oceanside.

At Pinky's they give you the blender, which means seconds on your smoothie!

Love their lattes.

Stepping out, without my stepping out shoes.

I'll have the salmon, and he's ordered the mahi-mahi.

I'm going to miss this place.

Thankfully, he's coming home with me.

It's a Holiday!

We started the day with a 5+ mile run to old town and then returned, donned our day clothes, and went to Pinky's… A hole in the wall favorite place only a few blocks from this beautiful hotel. Pinky's is known for cheap healthy food. We ordered eggs and a green smoothie and lattes.  We lounged poolside a lot of the day, then walked over to the local market, Santurce, a tripadvisor recommendation (my recommendation:  don't bother).  In the evening, we walked around and had drinks at the hotel (Ola Oceanfront) and Tijuanas and then brought some pizza (PJ's, across the street, and unback to the hotel. What a perfect day.

At Pinky's West

El Viejo San Juan, on a Sunday

Sunday fun day...Old San Juan consists so much charm, lots of history, color, friendliness, and many Spanish colonial buildings. There's a lot of history going on around here!

We found our way to old town via a 3 mile easy stroll on Sunday morning.  We were feeling a bit hungry and stopped by CB - Cafe Berlin.  Their service is slow, just what we wanted.

After a luscious and somewhat early breakfast, we headed to the marina (port of call) where all the cruise ships dock, to have a look.  Then, we strolled down Paseo de la Princesa, a charming and shady promenade, restored from the 19th century, and lined with trees and street vendors.  Above, towering 40 feet or more above, are the fortification walls of old San Juan, and at the end of this is the well-known Raices Fountain, which highlights the diversity of the Puerto Rican people and their commitment to family (with the family silhouette at the center of the fountain).  From the fountain, you can look across San Juan Bay and across to Isla de Cabras, now a recreational space, but formerly, a leper colony.  If you continue on the path after encountering the fountain, you will follow the walls of the city, and eventually encounter San Juan Gate.  Continuing on for 1/2 - 1 mile, will take you further on the path, called Paseo El Morro, a national recreational trail which leads you to El Morro Fort, a fort constructed by the Spaniards about 500 years ago.  Just a little history in the middle of so much beauty.

Listed as the collective "San Juan National Historic Site", this includes in one easy afternoon, the following:

• El Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a 16th century citadel that’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
• Fort San Cristobal, build by Spain to protect against land based attacks,
• Plaza de Colon (Christopher Columbus square),
• Plaza de Armas (the main square, that features a round fountain with 4 marble statues representing the four seasons (not that they know about winter here).

After lots of walking and fort seeing, we stopped by Eclectika for earrings and then a happy hour on the town square at Artesanos Cafe for local beers, before we walked back to the hotel, for more pool lounging, and eventually for dinner at the celebrated Serafina for dinner and a Tempranillo (Lambuena, Ribera Del Duero, Spain).  

Breakfast at Cafe Berlin

San Juan Gate, once the city's official entrance for Spanish dignitaries

Encircling the city are the historic walls of Old San Juan, about 3 miles in total.
Construction started in 1630 and finished in 1790.

A view from Castillo San Felipe del Morro, built by Spain to guard San Juan's harbor

Isla de Cabras - a view from the fortress - in 1876, a hospital was built there as a colony for people sick with leprosy

Cargo ship, loaded up at the marina and took off again we think

Outside our "home" - Condado Vanderbilt

Serafina, with Tempranillo (and with Shawn)

The best tour guide, and history lover, 

Puerto Rican beer - Magna - like Heinekin without the burn