Thursday, May 20, 2010

Day 1 Puerto Rico Vacation-Vieques



After 10 years of marriage and a college graduation we thought it was about time we went on a real vacation without the kids....this was a first for us. We wanted to go to the Caribbean and we didn't have time or extra $ for passports so we headed to Puerto Rico. It was a great choice! We traveled with Jon's brother Clint and his wife Season. We had such a blast!

After my brother and his wife were robbed in Puerto Rico a couple of weeks before our trip...and had all their belongings stolen (laptops, camera, wallet, bags, snorkeling gear, etc...) we were a little hesitant about going there. But we are glad that we didn't change our minds. We loved it!

We spent our vacation snorkeling, kayaking, swimming in the Bio-luminescent bay, 4-wheeling, hiking in the rain forest, trying all kinds of local foods, tasting fresh mangos, coconuts and bananas, drinking many pina-coladas, body surfing in the ocean and lots of time relaxing on the beautiful private beaches.

We heard about the Bio-luminescent bay and knew that was going to be our main attraction. We heard that it was going to be the brightest in the Mosquito bay on Vieques island an 1 1/2 hr ferry ride from Puerto Rico. We decided to stay our first 3 nights in Vieques. We rented a Jeep and a 2 bedroom home on top of pretty much the highest point of the island overlooking everything. The view was breathtaking.

Day 1: Our arrival. After an 1 1/2 hr ferry ride from Puerto Rico to Vieques island...we arrive and get settled.

View of the main city Fajardo from the ferry.


Pictures of our rental home...amazing views of the island.

This is what most of the locals lived in on the island. Our rental home was one of the nicest by far. This shack was one of our neighbors.
When we arrived in Vieques we explored the island a little and then ate at Bili's restaurant...in a tiny little city (I guess that is what you call it) in Esperanza...the food was delicious!!! We spent every night hanging out with the locals in Esperanza. It was a cute little strip on the island with lots of charm and character...it had a few places to eat and a couple of places to shop along the beach. They would light it up with white lights at night. We saw a little shark and a manaray off the pier our first night in Esperanza. Which made me a little nervous for my first snorkeling experience which was going to be the next day.
Later that night we came back to our rental home and enjoyed the salt water swimming pool....well actually it was FREEZING so the men enjoyed it the most. They worked in their snorkel equipment....they had to make sure that it was all working, right?
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Salsa Recipe

Salsa Recipe--by Alicia Atwater

3-4 (14.5 ounce) cans of stewed/or diced tomatoes.
1/4 onion (I like to use red onion).
1 green bell pepper
1 lime, juiced (or you can use 1Tbsp lime/or lemon juice from concentrate).
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic salt (or one fresh garlic clove minced).
2 Tbsp white vinegar
sliced jalepenos from a jar to taste (I use about 10-15 slices...this will be pretty hot). (I also make sure I buy the hot jalepenos in a jar not the tamed ones).
3 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (or you can use dried cilantro same amount).

Mix all ingredients into blender or food processor. Blend on low to desired smoothness. Best if you refrigerate for a couple of hours before eating.

Eclair Recipe----by Stephanie Stephens

Elair Recipe

Filling
1-5 ounce instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cup. milk
1 sm. container cool whip
4 ounces cream cheese--softened

Mix pudding, milk and cream cheese with an electric mixer at least 2 minutes and until smooth. Fold in cool whip. Refrigerate 2 hours. (For smoothest results--without lumps--mix milk and pudding together, in seperate bowl mix softened cream cheese, then mix the pudding milk mixture with the mixed cream cheese)

Shells:
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sifted flour
1/4 tsp. Salt
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat water, butter and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat to a full rolling boil. Add sifted flour all at once and stir until a dough forms and pulls away from the pan. Remove from heat and transfer dough to a mixing bowl. Allow to cool slightly. Then add eggs 1 at a time mixing until well combined after each addition. Spoon dough into 16 strips on an ungreased cookie sheet (I will grease cookie sheet slightly). Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Satiny Chocolate Glaze (from allrecipes.com)
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

In a double boiler combine chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup. Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth, then add vanilla. (I don't have a double boiler so I just microwave all ingredients in a glass container for about 1 and 1/2 minutes).

Assembly: Fill shells by either cutting tops off of shells and filling with a spoon or making a hole in top or side of shell and fill with a pastry bag. Then dip tops of eclairs into warm chocolate glaze. Refrigerate until chocolate is set (about 30 minutes). Cover and keep refrigerated until ready to serve. (also good out of the freezer).