We had an AMAZING first family trip to Puerto Rico! Actually, the family wasn't complete because we left Carlitos home with my mom- which was a killer for me- but during the week we were gone- I completely realized that it was the best thing for us. Family vacations are a new thing for us. Growing up- we didn't go on family trips. No lake houses, no beach trips, never been skiing. I think my family went to Disney Land when I was little- there is a picture of me floating around hugging some Robin Hood character- but I don't remember it. Ramon's family went on trips- week long car trips to the mountains of Mexico to visit grandparents where the only way to get to the house you had to ride a mule. Leaves for toilet paper- that kind of thing. NOT a relaxing vacation. We've been wanting to take the kids somewhere but wanted to wait until Diego was a little bit older. Well, the timing was perfect. We chose to stay at El Conquistado Resort and it was so family friendly. After a day of flying and traveling, we arrived at the hotel in the late evening so the kids didn't get the full effect of seeing the ocean up close for the first time until the next morning. My favorite quote of the vacation was when I opened the balcony door, Diego said, "Mommy! Look at that swimming poool!" Sweet thing- he was pointing at the ocean! 
We spent the first day in the pool and then getting to know our surroundings. The second day was BEACH DAY! The resort has a private island with a really sweet beach. To see my kids play in the sand, find shells and explore the shallow ocean water was a beautiful thing. It makes me so grateful that we are able to provide these kinds of experiences for our children. If you take your family on vacations every year, or if you have memories of going with your own parents as children, please, PLEASE don't take it for granted. I don't know if it was for financial reasons that my parents didn't take us places or if it was my father's health- maybe a little of both. I KNOW that Ramon's family would never have been able to fly to a beach and stay at a resort back then. I really don't want to get on a soapbox about it right now but it really hit me- what a blessing it is to be able to bring my children to a tropical paradise and to experience the world beyond Dallas, Texas. Did you know that there are children in Dallas who have never been downtown? That seeing the skyscapers is like leaving the state or country?
Okay- I went way off subject.... sorry!
The beach- they loved it! Sophia was so determined to find a starfish but had to settle for shells, coral and hermit crabs. Diego just wanted to splash in the water and dig in the sand. Ramon buried them in the sand and that was so funny! I,of course, just took advantage of not having to change diapers, clean the kitchen, fold laundry, and sat out in the sun reading on my Kindle! Just what this busy mama needed! Oh-and yummy beverages made it even better!
We also took a walking tour of Old San Juan, which was just breathtaking. The colors of all the building were so vibrant and the architecture just took us back into history. We toured one of the island's forts and the kids really got into the history of Puerto Rico- especially at the mention of pirates! Boy, did we ever do some walkng that day but my two troopers kept up with us. I was so proud of how well they did because walking through the streets of Old San Juan was really more for Ramon and I- not a quite a kid-friendly day trip.
We spent the last two days going back to the beach and spending time at the pool. We considered going to the rainforest but we were afraid that the kiddos wouldn't be able to "hang" with all the hiking. I was a little bummed about not going bc I knew they would've seen and heard animals not native to Texas and give them a better background of what a rainforest is all about. But the memories we made swimming with the kids in the ocean and playing with them at the pool will stay with us forever. Now, a month after the trip, it's neat to hear them talk to each other about Puerto Rico. "Hey, Sophia, remember when we saw the hermit crab?" "Yeah, and Diego remember when we hear the Coqui frog at night?" They want to go back and take Carlos with us. Well, actually, Diego really wants to go back because he REALLY enjoyed the buffet breakfast at the resort! Ha! My scrawny, petite little one chowed down on donuts, toast, bacon, sausage, fruit and all the cereal his little tummy can hold. And, of course, by the end of the 5th day in Puerto Rico, I was ready to come home to my Carlos. My arms were aching to hold him and I was missing his warm-I-just-woke-up-from-a-nap- breath on my neck. The plane ride home was long and rough (we had to be at the airport at 6:30 in the morning! GASP!). There is no place like home- especially when you have your sweet baby waiting for you. But we will hold Puerto Rico in our hearts because it was our first real family vacation. Now, the question is: Where to go next year?
We also took a walking tour of Old San Juan, which was just breathtaking. The colors of all the building were so vibrant and the architecture just took us back into history. We toured one of the island's forts and the kids really got into the history of Puerto Rico- especially at the mention of pirates! Boy, did we ever do some walkng that day but my two troopers kept up with us. I was so proud of how well they did because walking through the streets of Old San Juan was really more for Ramon and I- not a quite a kid-friendly day trip. We spent the last two days going back to the beach and spending time at the pool. We considered going to the rainforest but we were afraid that the kiddos wouldn't be able to "hang" with all the hiking. I was a little bummed about not going bc I knew they would've seen and heard animals not native to Texas and give them a better background of what a rainforest is all about. But the memories we made swimming with the kids in the ocean and playing with them at the pool will stay with us forever. Now, a month after the trip, it's neat to hear them talk to each other about Puerto Rico. "Hey, Sophia, remember when we saw the hermit crab?" "Yeah, and Diego remember when we hear the Coqui frog at night?" They want to go back and take Carlos with us. Well, actually, Diego really wants to go back because he REALLY enjoyed the buffet breakfast at the resort! Ha! My scrawny, petite little one chowed down on donuts, toast, bacon, sausage, fruit and all the cereal his little tummy can hold. And, of course, by the end of the 5th day in Puerto Rico, I was ready to come home to my Carlos. My arms were aching to hold him and I was missing his warm-I-just-woke-up-from-a-nap- breath on my neck. The plane ride home was long and rough (we had to be at the airport at 6:30 in the morning! GASP!). There is no place like home- especially when you have your sweet baby waiting for you. But we will hold Puerto Rico in our hearts because it was our first real family vacation. Now, the question is: Where to go next year?
No comments:
Post a Comment