Due to computer issues I was not able to finish blogging from Puerto Rico. My apologies to those tuning in to receive wedding updates. Here’s how it went day one.

I arrived in San Juan on a sunny and perfect 75 degree Thursday afternoon. After meeting up with a few fellow wedding travelers, we traversed the city by cab to our hotels to Condado, a half residential, half tourist community east of Old San Juan bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north. Two boutique hotels rented out for the occasion were within a block from each other. Acacia, being closer to the ocean and home of the small pool sized hot tub that was the central focus of every evening’s rondevous, and At Wind Chimes Inn, home of a cool little bar frequented often by members of the group. Being so close, you were sure to see someone you knew at almost any hour of day or night creating a feeling of a weekend long happy hour. Truly, this was the perfect blend of a wedding weekend and a 5+ day vacation with friends and new and old acquaintances.

After checking in a group of us ventured into Old San Juan, the 16 century Spanish community accented by ancient walls, robust forts, and picturesque houses painted with the bright colors you see in magazines and postcards. Old San Juan is beautiful and relaxed. Glazed brick streets run through block after block of plazas, shops, and restaurants. There isn’t a square foot of this district that doesn’t lend itself well to taking a picture or two. Some toured the eastern fort, San Cristóbal. Some relaxed and enjoyed the view of the ocean. I, after a long flight and an early morning was in search of food. After our respective tours we met up and walked to a cleverly minimalistic, open air bar for a round (or two) of mojitos. This was followed, naturally, by dinner at a Puerto Rican/Mexican restaurant not far from the bar before returning to Acacia for a few hours in the previously mentioned hot tub. For a good few hours we sipped rum and guava drinks, or whatever people brought and just relaxed as people slipped in and out as the night progressed. This was a nightly ritual already well established by the time I arrived. The last two nights before and three after were much the same. And this is how the weekend went. Just good times with good people.

More to come including… rainforest hikes, parties, and of course, the wedding.