It's been a while since I last wrote here. Since 2018, my life changed so much that it took a while to find myself able to write again.
But still, my soul is too restless to let go of the dream, and in an effort to bring myself back, I reached out to my community and asked who would like to embark on a painting journey that would culminate on a trip to Puerto Rico.
La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña and Executive Director Leticia Rodríguez welcomed and hosted the workshops at La Casa in El Barrio's Art Space. We had workshops that included learning watercolor, acrylic painting and tile painting. It was really nice to sit together, paint and learn some facts about nature in Puerto Rico.
Nobody would be obligated to go and others who wanted to join only for the trip were welcome. My goal was to test an idea. How would it feel and how would it work to invite creative people for a workshop in my house-studio in Puerto Rico? Is it something I would like to do more formally in the future. Most who joined the class knew me and had been with me for many years, some for 20 years. They would be my guinea pigs and in exchange I would do my best to give them a memorable experience!
The workshops in NYC were meant to be a preparation so that the guests could have the basics before arriving. For me, it was a way to reconnect and raise my own energy.
The small group arrived in the third weekend of August 2023. I asked them to arrive in San Juan so that we could take some time to visit Old San Juan or do anything else we might want to do.
Hilda arrived that day, while Lily, Cristian and Julia were already in the island. I enrolled my mother for the trip to San Juan, about 2 hours away from San Germán, where my house is located.
Photos by Hilda Massoud and Lillian Pérez
On the way to San German, we stopped at Guánica. This is supposed to be the place where the Americans arrived in or invaded Puerto Rico. The big rock on the promenade commemorates that moment.
We decided to go see a beach, deeper into the coast of Guánica. It is the kind of landscape that most tourists don't get to see. As my guests had previously all visited Puerto Rico or even lived there, I planned to take them to visit places that most people don't know about or don't get to see when visiting Puerto Rico as regular tourists.
Our friend Cristian made sure he got into each of the beaches we visited. He was always ready!
We arrived in Playa Santa, one of the best beaches in Guánica. It used to my my favorite back in the 90s. I had not been there for a while because there has been a lot of development and the last time I had visited during the Pandemic, it was incredibly full of people. On this beautiful day, it was not full and we even found the drinks stand open.
My mom and I had some piña colada.
We finally arrived at my house. My friend Waldemar, who helped me prepare everything for the guests, left the lights on for our arrival. He also placed candles all over the living room. I wish I had a photo of the candlelit place!
The terrace is always a wonderful place for rest and talk, a tertulia, some guitar music... we didn't have a musician, but next time!
Sounds of the night in Puerto Rico
Downstairs in the morning, the light is so beautiful.
Hilda got served some coffee in my cup creation. "Because of a kiss..." see the lips on the right. The kiss bit off a piece of the saucer :)
Well, it's impossible to visit Puerto Rico and not have the national beer, right?
El Combate Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of the west of Puerto Rico. We had visited Boquerón beach earlier and then drove to Combate for a great lunch next to the beach. This photo was taken by Hilda from where we were sitting. The restaurant is called "Annie's Place" and you could see the sunset as you eat. We had lunch and a lot of fun.
Here we are, Cristian, Waldemar (VP of Fun), me, Julia, Lily and Hilda, selfie master.
Our original plan was to visit a waterfall but our guide got sick so we had to change plans. Instead, we went to a very special place called Manglillo. It is in Guanica and it's a mangrove forest in the Caribbean Sea.
Enter through the mangroves.
Cristian, was he happy?
Lily and I. The sea opens after crossing the mangroves.
A beautiful pool among the mangroves.
For a wonderful traditional meal cooked by Walde. See how happy these two look? They are about to eat.
Food is ready. Panas con bacalao (Breadfruit with codfish) and rice and beans.
Here is the meal. It was so good!
Julia is happy.
Happy after eating. Our chef, Waldemar, really outdid himself. I'm sad we don't have a photo of the welcome Asopao. We light a fire outside and cook a chicken and rice soup as our welcome to the experience.
This is the floor upstairs. I decided to transform the simple plywood with some free hand flowers.
The rocking chairs are waiting for Walde to fix them. These are traditional furniture made of wood and straw, so they require a special technique to fix them.
The little creatures that keep me company...
Unexpected and unplanned visit to El Pozo de la Virgen in Sabana Grande. Poor Julia was waiting for us in Cabo Rojo. Next time, everyone must stay in one town!
Statue of Ramon Emeterio Betances in Cabo Rojo, where we finally met Julia again!
The colors on the salt water were amazing!
Next stop: Boquerón
Cristian wanted to attend a bombazo in Boquerón. So we all decided to go there. We also went in search of alcapurrias, a traditional fried food. But now I know that the west of Puerto Rico is not the place for eating alcapurrias. Most restaurants don't have them.
Musicians in el Bombazo, or bomba music and dance. Many Puerto Rican people in NYC attend classes to learn to play and dance this type of Puerto Rican traditional music. And Cristian and Lily, and even Hilda, who is Palestinian, had taken dance classes. So Lily danced in a bombazo for the first time.
This is Cristian.
This is Lily.
Cristian and I
Hilda and Lily (below) next to the "chinchorreo" bus. This is a new tratition in Puerto Rico. A group of friends rent a big, colorful bus together and visit all the roadside "chinchorros" eating and drinking places while playing music, singing, dancing and drinking some more.
My guests could not leave without visiting San German. My beautiful town is full of antique buildings and beautiful places. It is a small and quiet town, so there are very few tourists.
Porta Coeli is the second oldest church of the Americas.
Old pharmacy, now a museum.
Our last morning, after having breakfast in a traditional panadería (bakery, but much more) where you could order any type of food you could think of, we went to the last site planned, the Maricao State Forest. It is very high up in the mountains, so I learned that I need to tell people that before bringing them there!
Little Cristian
Little Walde
Little Lily, Tanya and Hilda
Adiós San Juan! This was the last stop before the airport. No photo of the airport. It's too sad to say good bye!!
This trip was very important for me for many reasons. It gave me an idea of something I can do in the future when I have the opportunity to spend more time at my house. It taught me that I have all the elements in place to create an unforgettable experience for those who may be interested in visiting Puerto Rico from a different perspective, and for a creative experience. And while my house is not for everyone as not all are willing to brave the lizards and other little creatures, it is a great place to share a meal, learn art and engage in a tertulia, nourishing the inner bohemian in all of us!
Sketch of the Experience
Activity: Paint a Spirit of the Forest or a Taino Symbol painting
Day 1 (Night)
Airport Pick up
Asopao by fire
Day 2
Coffee and Breakfast at my Casita
Starting a Painting
Visit to Boquerón Beach
Dinner at Combate Beach at sunset
Day 3
Coffee and Breakfast at my Casita
Continue painting in the morning
Visit a waterfall (my wish for next time) or visit Manglillo Magrove forest in the Caribean Sea
Day 4
Finish painting
Maricao State Forest
Back to the airport!
Food: Asopao de pollo, bacalao con viandas, panaderia food (sandwiches, hot lunch -rice and beans and other complements), Coffee in special cup and saucer (haha :)
I hope my guests had a good time and learned new things about Puerto Rico. And I look forward to a new adventure with new guests in the future!
