My First 24-Hours in Puerto Rico Were....
Updated: May 20, 2024
As much as I like to claim I'm Puerto Rican, it's rare when I get to visit the homeland. The last five years have been such a whirlwind that going to Puerto Rico eventually became the farthest thing from my mind. Who has time for tropical getaways when you're busy trying to move cross country? Needless to say, when the opportunity to visit arose, I snatched it faster than the Mexcian Pizza at the nearest Taco Bell. Obviously, my time in paradise is too much for one article, so let's just start with the first 24 hours of being immersed in paradise.
After experiencing a full 24-hour layover in Miami, I finally made it to San Juan at 6 pm and was whisked away to the San Juan Water and Beach Club Hotel. One wardrobe change later and I was given access to the rooftop pool and got a glimpse of their exclusive restaurant, KUMO. With the change in climate (and time zones), I opted out of making reservations. Pizza City was right down the block, so I grabbed a slice before walking down the length of the beach and getting lost in the nightlife.
I cannot begin to capture the magic that the beach holds at night. The warm sea breeze caresses you as the saltwater laps at your feet. The constant lul of the waves crashing onto the shore is hypnotic and the water is like bathwater (perfect for skinny dipping). Being the backyard of many hotels, I witnessed everything from party bus groups blasting music and smoking weed on the sand, to a few drunk girlfriends laughing as they walked arm in arm, barefoot and carefree.
Before I decided to head over to Caguas and rest for the night, I stopped at a local gas station and tried a Sangriiia, which is basically an alcoholic pouch juice. Drinking it was a fascinating experience. Except trying to get the straw inside. But that can just be a "me thing". Fun fact, the gas in Puerto Rico is advertised by the liter, not the gallon. I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw it was only a dollar. Then I learned the ways and realised it's just as expensive as the rest of America, so I composed myself and moved on.
A quick drive to Caguas and my original mission was almost complete. See, before the full day of layovers in Miami, I was originally tasked with surprising my brothers. After not seeing them for over three years, emotions were high when we were finally reunited.
Fast forward through watching Sneakerella and Hamilton on Disney+ until 6 am, sprinkle in three hours of sleep, and I'm back out in the world. Today's mission: beach day!
After acquiring some amazing breakfast sandwiches from a local panaderia (bakery), we were off to Carolina Public beach to turn up and have the best beach day ever! Let me be abundantly clear, this was 100% a reconnection trip. So lots of shenanigans were made in the making of this beach day. We set up shop under a private gazebo and had a blast.
As the sun hung low in the sky, we drove along the ocean's edge to a hotspot for local food called El Rinconcitio Latino. Nothing but street parking, good food, and live music. I'm happy to report that I inhaled a Bacalaito (fried fish fritter) the size of my head as I sat on a forgotten log with my family and watched the day set on my first 24 hours in Puerto Rico.
Huge shout out to my sponsors, who will remain anonymous for the sake of security. Without you guys, this wouldn't even have been something that I thought possible. The memories are more than can be encompassed in a few blog posts, so thank you, thank you, thank you. Cheers to more adventures together!
The fun is just getting started! Find out what else happened on this trip to Puerto Rico in some of the upcoming articles! Until next time!
About the Author
Crystal Cabrae is a storyteller who specializes in writing dystopian, romantic, and adventurous worlds for animation and fantastical fiction. She is a proud graduate of Full Sail University, AMDA, and New World School of the Arts. Her six years of acting training in both New York and Miami gives her a unique perspective when approaching her characters. She has a passion for sharing how to create stories with the world and inspiring the storyteller that lives within all of us. Follow her on IG or Pinterest to know the latest.
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