Puerto Rico (Alternate Title: Not a Bad Way to Spend Mother's Day) - Part I

51 weeks a year, we spend every waking moment trying to give our girls the perfect childhood.  1 out of every 52, we take one back (and refuel for the next 51).  This year we chose Puerto Rico for our destination.  Though I swear it is not a goal of mine to leave the country on Mother's Day, it just so happens that it worked out that way again for the second year in a row (last year we were in the Dominican Republic over the same time frame).  

We flew in to San Juan on Sunday - to this view.  Happy Mother's Day to ME!

Rest assured, it was still there on Monday morning.

Monday was declared "beach day" in accordance with our whatever-it-takes-to-make-Mommy-happy vacation-planning agenda.

Even in Puerto Rico I am a 100% dedicated employee (of course that is the real story and it has nothing to do with the convenience of the container for holding what is obviously water)

After an exhausting morning of lounging at the beach, we required a change of scenery

And finally, some time to relax in the hammock.

We may look happy and relaxed here, but trust me, this full day of lounging around stuff is hard work.

Tuesday was dedicated to exploration of Old San Juan in the morning, followed by the afternoon at the beach.  In the evening, we went to dinner at Texas de Brazil (a Brazilian steakhouse) to celebrate Kyle's great new job with Choice One Bank.  (Nothing makes Kyle feel appreciated quite like half a cow on a skewer).

"Lost" is such a harsh word.  Let's just say we went a little more in-depth with our exploration of the Old City than we meant to.

I have no immediate plans for death, but if I were to be stuck in a cemetery with a view like this, I would be okay with that.

One of two forts in San Juan.  I forget the name in Spanish, but in English I am sure it translates to "The Hottest Place on Earth"

Exploring the stone oven that was this fort

So THIS is what being baked alive feels like...

The fort had its own cemetery, certainly for tourists who succumbed to heat exhaustion while on the premises

Walking down to sea level

Any cooler on the inside?  No.  No, it wasn't.

Heading back to fresh air

No cannons were fired in the taking of this picture

Half dead at this point of our tour, but the view was still pretty spectacular

"No seriously, can we be done now?"

Literally jumped into the fountain after exploring the fort - it was a matter or survival

We found Pigeon Park, which does not appear to be a misnomer - whatsoever

What's left of a gorgeous old church in Old San Juan

Finally, let there be dinner! - and by dinner I mean dozens of different kinds of meat