We’ve been to Puerto Rico a couple of times, and each visit has left its mark on me.
My first trip was for work. At the time, I was working for a university that recruited directly from the island, so my boss, a coworker, and I packed our bags for a weekend in La Isla del Encanto. Our students and their families were ready—and determined—to show us the beauty of San Juan.
Let’s start with the clapping on the plane after landing. An experience, for sure—and one that made me smile. Yes, you should clap for the pilot when they take you to paradise. That’s what I call best practices.
The weekend flew by, but between meetings we managed to see glimpses of the island—and I was hooked. I knew I’d be back, and next time, my only job would be to explore. I tried lechón, learned how to make tostones de pana, fell asleep to the sound of coquíes, tasted bacalaitos from a food truck by the beach, and discovered chicken chicharrones—hands down the best fried chicken I’ve ever had.
Puerto Rico never disappoints.
I returned again, this time with Matt, for a wedding. We drove from San Juan to Ponce so we could experience more of the island and its people. Ponce introduced me to a different side of Puerto Rico—this was months after Hurricane Maria, and the impact was still visible. Parts of the town were deeply damaged, but what stood out most was the resilience. People were rebuilding together, restoring beauty with determination and pride.
We wandered downtown, ate at local spots, and celebrated the union of two wonderful souls. From there, we made our way to Vieques.
I had heard stories, but nothing prepared me for the untouched beaches, the wild horses roaming freely, and the peaceful rhythm of life there. Vieques felt magical. The ferry experience? Less magical—but memorable. We arrived, bought tickets, sat down… and waited. And waited. The ferry was delayed—hours behind schedule. We ended up waiting about four hours, but locals took it in stride, chatting, laughing, and somehow making the time pass faster.
That trip stays vivid in my memory: sancocho simmering with comfort, greasy and perfect alcapurrias, lechón and pasteles from roadside stops, swimming at different beaches, salsa music blasting in the background, and building memories with Matt and our dear brother from another mother, John.
It was a magical trip—but the real magic came from the people, their traditions, their music, and the joy of experiencing it all with the love of your life by your side.
Mesa Confession:
I love Puerto Rican food—but there’s one thing I’ve tried multiple times that still hasn’t made it to the top of my list. Drumroll, please… habichuelas.
Yes. Beans. I’ve never been their biggest fan, and maybe—just maybe—I still haven’t had the right homemade Puerto Rican version. I remain open to conversion. So please, don’t judge me too harshly… and if you’re proud of your habichuelas, feel free to send a recipe—or better yet, send a bowl. 😉
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