Some friends had a copy of Voyaging with Kids. We were flipping through it and discovered that we had contributed to the book way back in the Travco/Blue Bus days. I had forgotten all about this. I had to smile at the last paragraph, “Our latest cruising adventure may have come to an end, but we no longer fool ourselves into believing that we are done with cruising.” I read that while sitting on my third boat, on yet another cruising adventure.
In the city, but we still need to find some green spaces to stretch our minds and muscles now and then. No trees, or children, were harmed in the filming of Lowe’s hatchet movie.
One of our little “games” that we play whenever we are in a new town is to pick one or two signs, and then while we’re out walking, if you see the sign and call it out first, you get the coin. Each outing there is a new coin. In Old San Juan we noticed that there were stickers plastered everywhere (like graffiti tages, but with stickers) for Camo Crew. So that’s what we’re on the hunt for as we wander the streets each day. The games can get pretty heated with us scrambling down the street ahead of each other to look around the next corner or on the back of a sign. It’s fun, and it also helps us learn our way around the neighborhoods.
Rico went to the vet for one night. That was almost two weeks ago. Turns out he had a couple of health issues to get past before he could get neutered, cleaned up, and returned. Conveniently, I have yet to see a bill, which doesn’t necessarily mean that Ali hasn’t gotten one.
Every hurricane season we venture off the boat for a bit of a stretch. We moved to a condo here in Old San Juan with a view of the fort, the plaza at the entrance to Old Town, the harbor, and an airport. A nice spot to wander around and really get to know the town. Without tourists (the vast majority usually come in on cruise ships) it is incredibly quiet—probably unrecognizable to those that are familiar with the city—and thus, perfect for our family.
18 Comments on “Swallowing Anchors”
My old man used to have business trips to PR. He always groused about it. Hmm. Wish I could ask ’em why?
Yes, I wonder if it would be about not everyone speaks English. Americans visiting from the “main land” seem to think that Puerto Ricans should speak English, but from a 2000 study only 20% of them do.
Again, thanks for taking care of Rico. He’s quite handsome. Where is he while you are in the condo?
He was at the vets for over 2 weeks, then he came to the condo with us for a few days. Then I was rushed off to Arizona to help with Pat’s mom, and he was sent to the local rescue who has been helping me out.
The photos of the streets with cars and a few people were a relief from a sense of apocalypse I felt seeing all the lovely pastel empty and eerie streets. I hope the vet isn’t relying on your account to keep him whole during the pandemic. Go Rico.
The area looks so tidy and clean. Such architecture. Seems like some other countries might have some advantages to the Good ole USA lifestyle. Crowded ugly freeways, cities full of graffiti and trash. I have followed your adventures for years. Always amazed at the photos and lifestyles of others.
We love the Spanish old towns – the plazas, colors, and care. There are a few ugly freeways and of course graffiti – but for the most part the people seem to care about their neighborhoods.
My dad was always a fanatic about us kids wearing heavy shoes when using a hatchet or axe. He almost cut his big toe off when he was a kid. The accident caused his big toe to dangle loosely when he’d raise his foot. So when going barefoot he’d have to tie a piece of string around his big toe and then tie the end around his ankle to keep it from tripping him when he walked. As a kid growing up in the depression in Oklahoma, you barely had shoes in the winter, never in the summer. The thought of this toe rigging always made us kids laugh as we’d humor his reasons.
Gross, Judith! haha
Love the colorful photos but sad to see it’s a ghost town there as well as most cities here in the states. 🙁 Thanks so much for the big laugh I got reading about Lowe & his hatchet! It brought back a funny memory-my mom bought my brother a hatchet when he was Lowe’s age. He promptly went out & chopped down a small tree in our neighbor’s yard. When the neighbor complained to my mom, she asked him what was he thinking? I still see his confused face when he answered “But you bought me a hatchet! That’s what they’re for-to cut down trees!” Too funny!
Awesome memory!
you had forgotten about a contribution…the contribution you are now making to your children’s lives might well be generational? when they are tellin’ their grandchildren of the adventures growing up…will They get the opportunity to experience wanderlust? i sure hope so. go get’m tiger(s).
Rico looks like a cat with deep wisdom beyond his years. And lucky he found the Bums.
That the best picture of an “owned” cat i’ve ever seen on the Internet
Cute. Unfortunately after all the tests and being neutered! He was positive for Feline Leukemia and had to be laid to rest to stop his suffering.
Is thAt Justin Beiber?
haha – right?!
Ali, I’m so sorry about Rico. You certainly gave him the best chance for a better life. I hope it helps you to know he’s at rest. Have you and the kids read about the rainbow bridge? Hugs.