{"id":1095,"date":"2021-11-23T07:33:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-23T13:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.messysuitcase.com\/?p=1095"},"modified":"2021-11-24T06:41:52","modified_gmt":"2021-11-24T12:41:52","slug":"switching-homes-in-puerto-rico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/messysuitcase.com\/index.php\/2021\/11\/23\/switching-homes-in-puerto-rico\/","title":{"rendered":"Switching Homes in Puerto Rico"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We just spent a glorious month in the northeast coastal town of Luquillo, Puerto Rico. When we left our seventh-floor condo with its glorious view of the ocean after a month’s stay, we thought sadly that there was no way our next place could possibly be as good. Especially since it was in San Juan, a metropolitan area, instead of an idyllic beach town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The pink one on top is our house at Punta las Marias. This is the view walking back from the beach.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I Hate Halfways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I always have trouble with the concept of \u201chalfway.\u201d Any time I\u2019m on vacation, I get a little depressed when we pass the midpoint. In my mind, every minute from then on takes me a step closer to the end of vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So we have one month left of our stay in Puerto Rico, and that meant moving to our second residence, just 40 minutes west. When we pulled into the driveway of 6 Calle Villa Internacional at Punta Las Marias, a coastal residential neighborhood at the eastern edge of San Juan, we were greeted by John Lombardo, the gregarious American who owns this house, his friendly old dog Lola and cat Putzie. He immediately made us feel at home, giving us a tour of the property and our apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our house is the blue dot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are actually four apartments in two adjacent houses united by a covered courtyard. John and his wife Sylvia live in the front building, and there are two units on the ground floor. As he led us to ours, Kaylee in tow in her travel crate, we passed several comfortable seating areas, a desk and chair, two hammocks, and a barbecue grill. Kaylee hissed at the curious cat and dog as they sniffed at her before we ascended the stairs to our apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what an apartment!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It exceeded all expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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First view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First of all, the ocean is crashing against the rocks literally 50 feet from our front door. Salty breezes chase each other through the apartment. The unit is huge, with two large bedrooms, two large bathrooms, and a generous living\/dining\/kitchen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The master bedroom has a king-sized bed, a sitting area, a large desk, and a huge walk-in closet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The second bedroom, which Gavin will use when he comes home for Thanksgiving next week, has a queen-sized bed (which Kaylee the cat immediately claimed) and a desk (which Bob immediately claimed).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kaylee also loves the little rug in the living room. When we were in Luquillo, it took her a month to relax into the place. Here she has immediately adjusted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n