Feb 8th, Gabriella's Birthday!

My room that would be a porthole in the back!

Me and the Waterfall at El Yonque Rain Forest

Saint Teresa, Patron Saint of the Soldiers in honor of Ryan!
El Morro while our ship passes it at 6:30 am
Me and my roommate on the ship as we leave the Bahamas!
My Turtle tattoo (don't worry its fake!)

February 8^th

Well I’m just about the luckiest girl ever! I realized that Starbucks has their free wireless internet café and managed to get my butt to one of the 4 that we passed on our route around Old San Juan. So here I am, blogging on Gabriella’s Birthday! So HAPPY BIRTHDAY Gabriella!!! Something tells me though, my day was a little bit more exciting then yours!

So first yesterday, my goodness! I did a walking tour of Old San Juan. We were dropped off at San Cristobal Fort/Castle on one side of Old San Juan and then toured that and then toured El Morro Fort on the other side of Old San Juan. Both were really really neat, and provided that my internet here is somewhat good I will have pictures of everything for you! So first off, woke up at 6am to post to the internet and to take pictures of us going into San Juan. So one of the pictures from above is El Morro as we passed in the dawn light! After that I went to breakfast and went to the Student Union for our sort of Diplomatic Meeting. I say sort of because it implies that we need a diplomat and since Puerto Rico is USA territory, it wasn’t actually a diplomat. The governor himself came on and gave us a lengthy speech about how proud he is to be a part of the United States but about how it was difficult because we wanted them to assimilate and they basically said “no way!” and that would be why their culture is so incredibly important to them! So anyways, after meeting him (my pictures weren’t as good so I didn’t post them!), the first 3 trips were allowed off (including my own!) So we left got on a bus and went to San Cristobal Fort. We passed by the Capital building and the National Guard Building which I REALLY want to take a picture of but I can’t find it again L it has like a castle tower-ish thing on the corner. Oh, I just thought that would be perfect for Dad! Anyways, walked around San Cristobal, took a picture of a lizard. Paid respects to Saint Barbara the patron saint of the artillery. Left there and walked to El Morro (about a mile walk) where I got to see a picture of Saint Teresa, the patron saint of soldiers. So I have that picture posted up there for Ryan in hopes that will bring him some luck. I’m also on a hunt for a Saint Teresa medallion so that I can send that to ryan, hopefully get a chain for it so he can either wear it or at the minimum keep it on him. I want my baby bro to be safe! So after visiting El Morro we went to this other building that in 1868 in the Spanish-American War a corner of it was blown up. It turns out that this building is also famous for holding Marc Anthony’s first wedding reception to Miss Universe (also from Puerto Rico) awhile back (obviously before he got involved with J.Lo!) And after that we visited this 500 year monument. Every hundred years since Christopher Columbus found Puerto Rico they have added another layer. Its basically just a platform with two metal poles that stick up to show the 2 stars that he followed to get there. Then 10 steps and the 2^nd platform, another 2 layers of that and then as a 500 year commemorative, they put a big pole with objects that they found in the fort when digging. That signified the end of the tour and most of us broke off to shop and eat in Old San Juan. (Our alternative would have been to go on the tour bus back to the ship…. Boring!) So we ate at La Fonda El Jibarito and I spent LOTS of money but managed to get all of my needed souvenirs expect postcards for the rainforest and ryan’s pendent. I’ve decided that I’m going to make a quilt from fabric from each country, a doll from each country, a postcard for the scrapbook and then I’ll eventually inherit my Christmas ornaments back! After shopping we walked back to the ship (about 3 miles), at which point I was exhausted (and sun burnt L I applied sunscreen ALL day, my friends couldn’t believe it because we constantly had to stop for me!). And I basically put my things in order and went to bed.

This morning I woke up at 6:30am, got ready and went to breakfast. I met up with the Rain Forest tour at 8am. The rainforest was BEAUTIFUL! I have tons of pictures. There was one cool waterfall. It wasn’t as extravagant as I would have thought that it would be, but it was still pretty! So that would be me above at the waterfall! One cool thing I learned was there is a specific tree (and of course it’s in Spanish and couldn’t remember its name) that has male and female leaves. The male is identified by its gold backing and the female by its silver, so I have a picture of that, I don’t know how good it is, but I thought it was pretty cool. We got to wade in the waterfall area, and then the tour guide drew the turtle on my stomach. She used rocks found in the water to do it. I thought it was really neat and at least worth putting in here! After the rainforest went back to the ship to see if I had gotten mail and how that works and I don’t think they really understood me and so the answer was no- no mail L. Then Christina (my roommate) and Ashley (a girl we met on the Old San Juan tour) walked back over to here so they could do some more shopping. So now here I sit in Starbucks updating for Ms. Gabriella who I hope is having a WONDERFUL day, at least as good as mine is!

Well I guess I should go, the day is young and we have lots to do! I love and miss you all. And Gabriella when (and hopefully if this gets added in time) I hope you are having a wonderful 18, 21^st, whatever birthday it may be! You are truly blessed! And I hope you make the most of every opportunity that comes by you because if there is one thing I have learned in this amazing trip, You have to do everything you can to continue to expand your boundaries, even if it means doing things you may be scared to do- like leaving everyone and everything you love behind!

Love Always

Jennifer