There is nothing as exciting as being whisked away from your daily life to a tropical destination and that is exactly what my husband, Lucas, and I were doing to celebrate our first anniversary. We had been invited to visit Dominica in the West Indies by Rosalie Bay Resort and Discover Dominica, however flights to and from the Nature Island required an overnight stop and San Juan, Puerto Rico was our layover city of choice. I had visited Puerto Rico once before when I was twelve years old, as one of the port of call’s on a cruise with my family. I could not remember much about the place, but I do recall leaving with the hope that I would one day return.
From our plane’s window it was quite easy to see why Puerto Rico is nicknamed “la isla del encanto,” or the island of enchantment, since it is a landmass decorated with colorful houses and coconut trees surrounded by turquoise-colored, picture perfect beaches. Lucas is Argentinean and I American, thus the fact that both Spanish and English is spoken by locals greatly intrigued us. We had less than twenty-four hours in San Juan, so the second we landed we went straight to our hotel, El Convento, dropped off our belongings, and set off to explore without a map.
We were instantely greeted by Spanglish, smiles, and stunning photographic opportunities abound! It was definitely love at first sight, in fact we even found ourselves fantasizing about what it would be like to live there.
Imagine waking up and planning your day over a cup of coffee on this beautiful balcony every morning.
We only had time to wander around Old San Juan, which is the oldest settlement on the entire island. It is a historic and colonial area characterized by cobblestone streets and architecture dating back to the 16th Century with a heavy Spanish influence. It is united to the mainland of Puerto Rico by three bridges.
Once the sun began to set, we returned to our hotel’s rooftop bar where we enjoyed too much sangria. Before you even have the chance to think that it is impossible to drink too much sangria, let me assure you that, yes, it is possible, as it took us until about 10:30PM to be able to sober up enough to go looking for a nearby restaurant.
Surprisingly, for a Friday evening we could not find one place open and just as we were about to give up and return to order room service, we stumbled upon one of the best restaurant’s I have ever eaten at. I am blessed with a photographic memory and normally I can remember every detail of a trip without having to write anything down. However, thanks to the sangria, the name of the restaurant escapes me now, which is heartbreaking, because I would love to encourage others to eat there. All I can remember is the taste of the sensational lobster with butter and champagne sauce that we devoured. I could not imagine a better way to began our anniversary trip!
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Believe it or not, Kike and I have not spent ONE anniversary together – he’s always on a mission or traveling for work. This year is our fifth anniversary, so maybe we’ll finally get there!
5 years wahooooo!!! I hope you can go somewhere fabulous!
There’s worse places to have a 24 hour layover, right?:)
Couldn’t agree more!
Can you pleeeeease try to remember the name of the restaurant?! My fiance and I are going to Puerto Rico in November for our honeymoon and I’ve got my heart set on some amazing food … and lots of sangria 🙂
I wil try try try, because I am telling you it was sensational. It was about a 5-10 minute walk from our hotel. I remember passing a Subway and a large park. It was very small, intimate, candlelight.
I love this! I feel like this post was meant for me to read – I currently live in Dominica, where my husband and I have lived for the past 2 years (and where we spent our third and fourth anniversaries!), and we are moving back to the US in 2 weeks. We are spending 4 nights in Puerto Rico on our way home! So I really enjoyed reading this post! Have so much fun at Rosalie – we have stayed there twice and it is awesome!!!
This post was sooo meant for you to read dear! We miss Dominica and Rosalie Bay terribly!!!! What an awesome place to live for many years. You will love PR too! Email me if you want any extra recommendations. <3
Love the pics of the balconies!! There are so many good restaurants in old San juan. I loved everthing that I tried in puerto Rico!
Thanks dear, the balconies in PR are amaaaaazing!!!
Awesome shots!
Thanks Lisa!
Love these pictures! Danny spent a day in PR on Saturday (crazy flight changes due to the storm), too short!
Thank you!!!!! What a shame he couldn’t get more time on the island.
I have been thinking about a trip to Puerto Rico, since it is so close, and they are have good flight deals. Your pictures make me think I’d really enjoy the old town area.
GO!!!!!!!! I highly recommend it, it’s definitely underrated. We’re for sure going back and hopefully this time we can rent a car and explore the entire island.
Happy anniversary, Andi! You two are so gorgeous!
I have never been there but I LOVE your pictures! So beautiful! Our first anniversary will be in November and we are planning to travel around in Europe!
Have a fantastic day!
Awww thank you SO much!!! I thought the pics we took together were so blah on this trip, because it the humidity was out of control and my hair hated it haha. After the sangria though I didn’t really care what it looked like! Europe is such a romantic and awesome place to go for your 1st anniversary. Thanks again sooo much for your kind words! XO
Oh my goodness. Seriously? You and I need to escape with our cameras in some faraway locale. No husbands. No kids. Just our Canon 7D’s. Let’s make that happen! lol
Totally entering this giveaway, by the way. 🙂
YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!! Oh my the pictures we could take together! <3
And…these photos are so freaking gorgeous!
Thank you!!!!!!! That is a HUGE compliment coming from YOU!
I have been to Puerto Rico and loved it!
Great huh?
Amazing pictures of Old San Juan. Hope you can go back one day and discover much more of the island. I am sure the beaches and the forests.
Yes me too! I have no doubt we’ll return for more time, because we LOVED it!!!
Wow what photos!!!!!!!!
Thanks Sheldon!
Shame it is just US residents for the giveaway 🙁
Great photos as usual. The first one of the river and the sea is pretty cool!
I know, I wish it was worldwide!!! Thank you darling, that is so kind of you to say!
You write your posts with so much whimsy that is very nice reading them!
Thanks Angie!
Oh my!!! What a beautiful place! You take stunning photos!
Happy Anniversary to you and Lucas 🙂
Thank you so much, it was back in May, but I appreciate the wishes nonetheless! And thank you sooo much for your kind words re: my photos!!!
Incredible photos, as usual! My passport is twitching again…
Thank you darling! Haha I know that feeling!!!
Our first year isn’t here yet, and we’ll be celebrating in Dominican Republic! Can’t wait!
How exciting, I LOVE the DR!!!
Goodness gracious, this is way too beautiful. I can’t handle…..
Awwww what a sweet thing to say, thank you!!!!!!!
We flew through puerto rico on our way back from the Dominican Republic… but other than that, that’s it!
Awww you should go back, you’d love it! 🙂
The only time I’ve been to San Juan was on a cruise as well, and I was 14. I’ve always wanted to go back though 🙂
And for the giveaway… lucky me, even though I live in France, I’ve got a US address so please count me in!
Hahahaha YES that’s awesome!!! I wish EVERYONE could participate. You should definitely return to PR.
Andi!
I just love your blog, and your pictures. My fiance and I were supposed to go to Puerto Rico in April, but we changed our plans last min and decided to have a longer honeymoon! The pictures are fabulous!
Jen
Hi Jen, what a lovely comment! I’m so delighted that you love my blog and cheers to long honeymoons!!! Where will you be going? XO
We are going to St. Croix for a week, we may island hop, but we are so excited about exploring the small island we will probably just stay put!
We are going to St. Croix, we might take a boat over to St. John, but I think we are looking forward to everything St. Croix has to offer so we will most likely just stay put
Happy Anniversary Andi, and thank you for the charming photos! Puerto Rico is now on my “bucket list” 🙂
Thank yooooooou! You MUST visit PR. You’ll LOVE it!!!
Hi Andi, Happy Anniversary to you and Luca! Looks like you made the most out your layover in San Juan. I love Old San Juan. Thanks for taking me back there through your beautiful photos. Looking forward to Dominica.
Thanks sweetheart! Isn’t Old San Juan magical? Ugh, I seriously could move there!!! So glad you enjoyed the post.
It is ok that you forgot the restaurant. This post makes me want to go to Puerto Rico, walk around the beautiful island all day, get drunk on a balcony, and then stumble out to find a restuarant: any restuarant. I am inspired.
Hahahahaha wahoooooo! I’m so glad that I inspire even when drunk. Miss you!
Gorgeous photos. I would like to go to Puerto Rico. Hope you are well.
Thank you sooo much!!! I hope you can make it there soon!
I’m dying over the pictures of the buildings in Old San Juan. I love love love that architecture, and combined with a Caribbean climate it sounds like heaven!
I want to go on a trip to San Juan with us and our hubbies. How much fun would that be??? The architecture and the Caribbean climate mixed together is perfection! 🙂
I have never been to PR or south there! 🙁 Nor anniversary trip! I would love to go there if tickets are right 🙁
If you find a ticket GO!!!!!
Our first anniversary trip… hmmm… I don’t think we had one! We had a fun trip for our 8 year dating anniversary to Curacao. I’d love to visit Puerto Rico– looks magical 🙂
I’m itching to get to Curacao badly!!!!! You and your hubs HAVE to get to PR.
wow..beautiful photos!!! And your photos make me smile because everything look SO familiar!!! I had great time in Puerto Rico 4 years ago drinking lots of RUM:)
Have a great day:)
BTW, you look beautiful also:)
Thank you dear one!!!!!!! Rum in PR is paradise! XO
I have not yet been to Puerto Rico!! Looks awesome!!
Saw you from Alyx’s tweet about the giveaway 🙂 advertisement works :))))
Yay!!!!! Welcome! 🙂 Good luck! PR = awesome
Wow – it’s so pretty! I know nothing about Puerto Rico and I don’t know what I expected but I did not envision it to be so colourful and beautiful. I love that wedding shot you captured. I hate it when we get too drunk before dinner and then have to hunt for it as well, haha!
PR is 100X prettier than my pics! We have to go together!!! XO
I want to go!!! I want to shoot a wedding there!!!
I can only imagine the pictures you would take…
What a great city to have a lay over in – looks fabulous Andy (sadly I can’t enter the giveaway but wanted to leave a comment anyway)
Awww I’m so sorry, I wish I could change the rules boo! San Juan is a fabulous place!!!
San Juan looks fabulous! Puerto Rico has been intriguing me quite a lot recently. Gorgeous shots, hun 🙂
Thank you my friend, you’re so kind! I hope you can check it out soon.
Sometimes 24 hour layovers are the best. 🙂 I’ve seen some amazing things just dashing out of the airport for a few hours. Beautiful photos. 🙂
Agree completely!!! Thanks dear!
Oh my gosh it looks so pretty!!! Beautiful images Andi!
Thank you sooo very, very much!
Dreaming about going to PR. Almost went last February but I was so pregnant and felt so awful I didn’t want to waste the trip to an island with food I dream about on a daily basis. Now plotting a trip there. Just need to find the time!
No first anniversary trip for us. Took us 3.5 years just to take a honeymoon. Thankfully once we did we never went more than 6 months without a trip and I just keep making them longer and longer. About to head out for 5 weeks in Europe!
Yeah, it would have been terrible to be in PR and not be able to partake in the food and alcohol surrounding you haha! I hear ya!!! Have the absolute BEST time in Europe. 🙂
i always enjoy your photos Andi. Thanks for the virtual vacay today!
You’re oh so welcome!!! 🙂