El Yunque National Forest and Luquillo Beach

Typical rain forest scene

After the hike

El Yunque National Forest in eastern Puerto Rico is the only tropical national forest in the United States. It only took us an hour to drive there, but the worst part was driving up a steep, narrow, and windy road to the visitors center in the rain. It was so crowded that we had to park by a picnic area, and some cars were just parking on the side of the road. While the grandparents hung around the area, we hiked down to see an impressive waterfall called La Mina Falls, where people were swimming in the pool below it. When we hiked back up, the sun came out for just enough time for us to finish the hike and eat our picnic lunch. We then drove all the way down the mountains to Luquillo Beach, which is supposedly the nicest beach in mainland Puerto Rico. The day was topped off by a chicken and ribs dinner near the airport. 

La Mina Falls

Luquillo Beach

On the hike

Walking in Old San Juan

A typical street
scene in Old
San Juan

San Juan skyline and the rest of the
larger fort

 Today we took the ferry across San Juan Bay to Old San Juan, where we walked around and saw some of the old sites of the city. The main attractions were the two forts, both built by the Spanish, and situated on either side of the peninsula. The first one we saw was right at the entrance to the bay. Together with another smaller fort across the bay, it protected the San Juan from foreign attack. The Americans later used the forts to spot Nazi ships during WW2. We walked through the six-level fort, saw a re-enactment of how the soldiers used muskets and cannons, and enjoyed the views of the Caribbean Sea. Afterwards, we walked through one of the oldest houses in the Americas, saw a cathedral, and grabbed lunch. We then saw the other fort in Old San Juan, which had less levels but was larger. It was a fun day, and we hope to see the rain forest tomorrow.

San Juan Harbor and the mountains

Rooftops of Old
San Juan

Passageway through
fort #1- looks to
me like an ancient
metro station!

A pile of
cannonballs

Inside the
cathedral

The first fort

Levittown, Puerto Rico

Ocean view from our hotel
room

After landing in San Juan very early the morning after Christmas, we drove west to our Comfort Inn in a town called Levittown. Our grandparents had arrived there Christmas Day. After a few hours of sleep, we woke up to rain showers outside. However, it was sunny during the day. This let us swim in the hotel's pool, and at a nearby public beach. The beach included warm waters and incredible tropical scenery. At the hotel, we got a chance to exchange gifts with our grandparents for a belated Christmas celebration. We all walked to an authentic restaurant and had dinner there. Tomorrow we plan on visiting Old San Juan.

San Juan from our
room

The beach

Getting a Christmas Tree

The Triadelphia Christmas
Tree Farm

With nice weather still around, we drove all the way up to the Triadelphia Christmas Tree Farm to chop down a tree and bring it home, which is a tradition we enjoy every year. We chose a healthy douglas fir tree to chop down. Though, once you chop it down, you have to get it shaken off and then squeezed and tied tightly so that it will fit in or on top of your car. The people there do it for you, so it is hard to keep track of your tree, especially on such a crowded day. We lost track of ours for a while, and got it confused with another family's. But, in the end, we found it, bought it, and took it home. It looks beautiful in our living room!

Final product: Success!

Us with our tree

Cleaning and
tying proccess