Ride And Abide

Brian Ramos is teaching surfing these days. Surfing Puerto Rico - Brian Ramos, Laquillo, Puerto Rico (La Pared) Surfing is not getting old.... I was going for the coveted triple-entendre... but, I'll settle for a double. Surfing is not getting old.... Today was brutal.  La Pared (English translation:  Wall) near Luquillo, Puerto Rico was really giving us the business today.  The area where we were focused happened to be between to rip current areas.  Waves were smaller, but seem to be breaking every 5 to 15 seconds - and from different directions.  I definitely worked for it today. Surfing: is not getting old.... I think it also signifies and exemplifies... the overly used adage:  You're only as old as you feel.  And I do feel a little beat up.  The board hit me in the head at some point, which is minor compared to getting stitches from water skiing in San Diego when I was in the Navy.  Christ. There really IS something s...

Today is the day where things started to come together.  I got away from the city and I really started to appreciate what Puerto Rico has to offer.  Lack of building codes, or enforcement aside.. I love to witness the ingenuity and creativity to solve some of the problems at hand.  The frequency of the supermarkets and gas stations provided some additional confidence for traveling. Today was day 1 for surf lessons and that was awesome.  I am trying to frown here - not happening.

I was able to find a rental car and start to check out San Juan - this trip has changed direction... and I am starting to enjoy this place much more.  Once you are removed far enough away from Americana (sports bars.. Burger King) the beauty of this place may catch you off guard, as it did me. I visited Castillo San Felipe del Morro San Juan.  A 16th Century Spanish Fort which was pretty amazing - also a undeniable tribute to how stupid humans are.  The time we have spent (and still do spend) "protecting" ourselves.  Ugh.  Anywho... While I think cemeteries are a YUGE waste of space and real estate... I do LOVE them and I really enjoy visiting them.

Day 1 proved to be fairly uninteresting.  Well, other than the fact that Puerto Rico, the country, was out of rental cars.  My plan was to hang out at the hotel for a few days and relax.. then begin to make the trek to destinations involving driving.  As such, I did not have a car rented for entire trip - which I mistakenly thought would be no big deal.  Doh. I didn't really do much today - other than arrange for getting a car from Thrifty on Monday. I guess I have not really thought much about the idea of "unwinding" or relaxing.  But, today was definitely a day to just unwind and really let go of the idea of having a plan... or a schedule... or whatever.  I essentially didn't do a damned thing - while it was not glorious, it did seem to relax me a bit.  And once that happened, I started to ponder so many things.  Where I should live... what makes me happy... where I am going to retire... I think I surprised myself with what came to mind...

From the blog:  Why Wait To See The World Arrived in Puerto Rico today.  It's overcast, which I actually enjoy.  However... it has  been gloomy back in Minneapolis, and I definitely over it. My friend Tim asked if I was going to check out the Pork Highway.  F'in right I am... just not today ;-) I am now realizing that matching my experience in Costa Rica last year, might be a challenge.  Will be fulfilling to try though.

We see things as we are...     not as they are.  - Anais Nin