#cristo munoz | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ophelialoveshandsomemen · 2 years

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I posted 1,916 times in 2021

25 posts created (1%)

1891 posts reblogged (99%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 75.6 posts.

I added 504 tags in 2021

#fic rec - 310 posts

#santiago garcia x reader - 46 posts

#duke leto atreides x reader - 31 posts

#llewyn davis x reader - 23 posts

#poe dameron x reader - 22 posts

#the mandalorian - 20 posts

#din djarin - 14 posts

#pero tovar x reader - 13 posts

#duke leto atreides - 13 posts

#my precious duke - 12 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#because they thought i was flirting with them when i was simply politely letting them engage in conversation 'cuz they're senior citizens

My Top Posts in 2021

Masterlist of my masterlists.

Other actors.

Dean Winchester fanfics

S.I.M.P.L.E. (retiring as farmer!Dean x ofc) on hiatus.

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Oscar Isaac characters.

VIctoriano “El Catorce” Ramirez fanfics

Cristo y Tú vivís en mi corazón. (El Catorce x ofc / Time Travel AU! Apocalypse AU!) in progress

Un Amor. (Victoriano “El Catorce” Ramirez x wife!ofc. He survives the war in this one...) in progress

December Writing Challenge (Oscar characters only.) (2021) in progress

13 notes • Posted 2021-08-02 14:00:00 GMT

Kisses of Chocolate.

Richard Alonso Munoz x fem!reader

A.N. I wrote this in one hour when I got a spell of inspiration when I saw a december challenge. It’s cute, it’s fluffy. It’s Richard.

Warnings. Food and fur and mention of Advent.

See the full post

17 notes • Posted 2021-12-02 02:59:46 GMT

Hiya Honeybee...

Werebear!Dean x femReader

A/N’s. This is my contribution to the awesome @deanwanddamons 1st blogversary and 2K followers challenge. My quote was Gone with the Wind’s - “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Well, here goes nothing!

Extra author’s note. I had to reblog this again “cuz I did the tagging in the author’s notes wrong...sigh...I hate tumblr sometimes...

Summary. For a little context, Dean, instead of dying in the finale, is bit by a were-bear( think Beorn the Shapeshifter from The Hobbit.) And he decides to move to southern Yukon. He’s not so much dangerous as peculiar I guess, and a bit understandably awkward around crowds. The only specifics for Reader is: female, likes living in the woods, likes honey, and is relatively capable of long walks. That’s it. Oh and cooking/baking. So if you ain’t good at that, pretend you are for the sake of the oneshot. ;)

Warnings are as follows. Dean is a bear. Dean is a woodcutter. One f-bomb. One damn. A lot of fluff. A lot of cozy things mentioned. One kiss... plus another one! There is no weird bestiality/exophilia stuff going on, despite the title.

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Dean remembers the day he met her. The sun shone down thru the trees like a blasting fireball, the birds were a chirpin' like mad and there were a lot of bees. Probably a bajillion more than he's ever seen in these parts at one time. In hindsight, the bees were definitely all her fault. That's why he calls her his Honeybee...

He was walking towards the glade of trees on the edge of his property where he sources the wood for his carvings. As he neared his destination, he heard soft, hummed notes traversing the wind from a tiny, dandelion wrought meadow just to his right. He stopped and turned his head. Through the rows of birch and juniper trees, he caught sight of a beautiful, barefoot woman happily constructing a straw bee skep. In the middle of a field of bee hives and bee skeps. She hummed oldies as she concentrated on her task, sunlight gleaming off her gorgeous hair. A shiver had coursed through his spine, giving Dean the impression that he was trespassing on a moment not meant for him. Then the woman lifted her head, her eyes captured his and she'd smiled. The rest as they say, was history.

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She remembers the day Dean told her of his past. They'd gotten close over the course of about 7 months. Then, one night as they walked hand in hand under the aurora borealis in the dead of winter, she'd held her breath, pulled him in by the nape of his neck and thoroughly kissed him. Cold noses, frosted eyelashes, bulky wool toques and all. The next morning, he'd knocked on her door, a thermos of hot coffee in hand and a slightly worried frown gracing his features.

"We need to talk." He whispered.

Sitting down in front of the lit fireplace on a pile of old wool and flannel blankets, he'd told her everything. His rough childhood, life as a monster hunter, a passing comment was made towards stopping an apocalypse or ten. And how, on his very last hunt, he'd been bit by a fucking were-bear. Something neither he nor his brother even knew existed. That was why he'd moved to the Yukon, not a lot of people to be bothered by him. Lots of wilderness to hide in when he feels the need to shift into a bear. She'd sat there, unsure how to respond, confusion and tears marring her eyes. When he finished, she wiped her face clean with the long, cotton sleeves of her shirt. She lifted her eyes to level with his.

'Dean isn't lying to me.' The thought was at the forefront of her mind.

Eventually, after some thinking and a bit of hugging, she'd asked Dean for a little time and space. She needed to get her thoughts and feelings together. Go over all he'd told her. Dean seemed hurt, but he left before she could properly clarify her need.

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Two days later, she made up her mind. Dean wasn't dangerous, merely uncomfortable around large amounts of people. Dean would never hurt her, he himself told her he's basically a domestic bear. So, she decided to keep him. To love him. To cherish him. And she knew just what to do to let him know.

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The moose and the fish burgers were staying warm in the cast iron dutch oven by the fire, the lingonberry and blueberry pie resting on the stone floor beside it and finishing the party was the hot mulled cider in the cowboy coffee pot swinging over the flames. VHS copies of old time movies lay strewn in front of the antique tv nestled away in the corner. Now all she needed was her man. To whom she owed a tiny explanation.

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The walk to Dean's cabin is spiked by the chill in the air, only marginally softened by the meagre warmth from the setting sun. She isn't sure if it helps or hinders her rapid beating heart.

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Dean isn't too difficult to find. Especially since he's in bear form, all sandy brown with sun-kissed tips. Staring at the setting sun.

"Dean." She calls out.

He gently turns towards her.

" I made supper. Want some?"

The tall, tawny bear lumbered over to her. He sat down before her, more like a dog than a 13 ft bear, and lifted his head. She saw that this truly is Dean, for even if the rest of his appearances changed, his eyes remain the same.

" I want you to." She whispered. Then added a smile, just for Dean.

He nods, and walks into the cabin.

She's left confused for a minute. Before seeing Dean in human form saunter from the cabin's front porch all bundled up and ready to go.

See the full post

17 notes • Posted 2021-01-28 03:12:45 GMT

A december writing challenge that I will try. If you want to send me one of Oscar Isaac’s characters and a day to write for, go ahead! If I don’t get any prompts, I will be writing my own choices. Ask me if you wanna be tagged!

Female reader or GN reader only please!

I’m more comfortable with female reader, but I can easily write gender neutral. Male reader, however, I am NOT comfortable writing for too many reasons to state here.

Just a warning, I’m not big on cities, so this will feature mainly rural/country settings.

Warning. There may be religious themes in some of these, which I will tag accordingly.

** indicates smut, both light and heavy.

Day 1 - Baking || Vanilla, sprinkles, and chocolate flavored kisses. (Richard Alonso Munoz x fem!reader)

Day 2 - Frozen Lake || Cold hands, Scarves, and Snow.(Duke Leto Atreides x fiancée!fem!reader) **

Day 3 - Hot Chocolate || Marshmallows, warm hands, and soft smiles.(Abel Morales x fem!reader)

Day 4 - Cozy Cabin || Patterned rugs, soft blankets, and warm baths.( Santiago Garcia x wife!fem!reader)

Day 5 - Fire Places || Fuzzy socks, soft rugs, and hands intertwined.(Pt.2! Duke Leto Atreides x fiancée!fem!reader)

Day 6 - Blanket Fort || Fluffy pillows, movies, and snacks(Modern!Poe Dameron x pregnant!fem!wife!reader)

Day 7 - Catching a cold || Tissues, savory soup, and cuddles.(Llewyn Davis x fem!reader)

Day 8 - Snowed In || Candles, snow drifts, and quiet.(Mikael Boghosian x fem!reader)

Day 9 - Sledding || biting wind, cold noses, and laughter

Day 10 - Winter Market || Murmuring crowds, rows of stalls, and the smell of food.(Blue Jones x gn!reader)

Day 11 - Snowball Fight || Heavy breathing, footprints in the snow, and warm hugs.

Day 12 - Lonely || Gloomy skies, soft blankets, and a warm fire.

Day 13 - Warm Bath || Bubble bath, soft music, and gentle hands.

Day 14 - Homemade Meal/Cooking || Savory spices, hot meals, and family.

Day 15 - Sleigh Ride || Sleigh bells, foggy breath, and the smell of cedar.(Nathan Bateman x fem!reader)

Day 16 - Mistletoe || Warm lights, smoke, and friends.(Jonathan Levy x fem!reader)

Day 17 - Gingerbread || Icing on their cheek, smell of cinnamon, and playful kisses.

Day 18 - Sunsets || Golden hour, towering pine trees, and warm coats.

Day 19 - Movie Nights || Laughter, snacks, and cuddles.

Day 20 - Hiking || Rough ground, crisp morning air, and sunrises.

Day 21 - Sweaters || Cozy feelings, goosebumps, and comforting hands.

Day 22 - Unique Traditions || Smiles, acceptance, and making memories.

Day 23 - Proposal || Nerves, candles, and a tasty meal.

Day 24 - Holiday Traffic || Car horns, comforting words, and snow.

See the full post

23 notes • Posted 2021-12-02 03:05:53 GMT

Cabin+Santi+You=Heaven

Pairing:Santiago Garcia x fem!wife!reader.

Warnings. uhh, implied sex, I think, it’s not even worthy of an 18+ rating,

Day 4 of December writing challenge. Just a sweet short blurb for this one!

You're awakened from a dreamless sleep by thunk of logs falling on the French-style stone floor. The sunlight streams through the nearby south-facing window, warming your face and forcing you to keep your eyes closed. The sound of your husband shushing the fallen wood as if the wood had willed itself to fall and wake you causes a bright smile to light your sleepy face. You allow yourself to drift in the foggy land between waking and sleeping as Santiago adds fuel to the woodstove, radiating it's warmth throughout the tiny, two room cabin. One room for the kitchen and the bed, and the bathroom. The increased heat threatens to lull you right back to sleep.

" Santi? Come sleep with me, my love. I'm lonely on this rug!" You pout.

You hear your querido snort in response. " Maybe I would join you if you were laying in the bed not 6 inches away from you! Instead of laying on the red Persian rug in front of the stove like a tired, world-weary bloodhound."

You lovingly snap back without opening your eyes or missing a beat. " You know, for an old man, your comebacks are terrible sometimes..."

" Ouch!" He laughs. " Guess I deserved that..."

He laughs some more when the only reply you give is to stretch out your arms, inviting him in, and peek open your eyelids to give him your best set of puppy-dog eyes.

He hangs his head in defeat and hisses beneath his breath. "Every time!"

You grin at your easy victory. Santi lays down on the rug with you, though not before snatching some fluffy wool filled pillows and the vintage floral down comforter from off the bed. He sets one pillow for your heads, and the others are your makeshift mattress. Your breathing's already getting deeper by the time he drapes the plush and well-worn blanket over the both of you. You fight sleep long enough to press a long, warm kiss in thanks to Santiago's sweater covered chest, then you nuzzle in for a short winter's nap.

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You're awakened much more pleasantly this time by the scent of sage soup and the sound of a kettle whistle and sensation of your favourite pair of lips leaving butterfly kisses on the tip of your nose. You snicker as you open your eyes and pull said lips to your own in a searing embrace. "Santiago." You lightly scold him. "I was supposed to make supper tonight!"

Santiago smirks into your kiss. "My knees were in bad need of that tea blend of yours anyways. Decided that a quick soup at the same time would give us plenty of time for a long, luxurious bath." You giggle some more. "Oh really? You're going to entice me with a bath?"

Santi growls as he bites your neck in retaliation. " The idea of soaking in hot water with your even hotter husband not doing it for you?"

You turn serious and stare into those big, beautiful brown eyes.

" I'm wondering what's taking you so long."

You shriek as he picks you up and carries you to the bathtub in record speed.

25 notes • Posted 2021-12-06 04:35:50 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

#my 2021 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

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realmadridnews · 5 years

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CD Guijuelo - Real Madrid Castilla 2:1

Castilla lost and fell to the 5th place. Losing 1 point to 3rd SD Ponferradina and 4th Pontevedra CF, 3 points to the 2nd Atletico Madrid B and 6 points to the 1st CF Fuenlabrada.

scorers: 0:1, Cristo Gonzalez 45′

1:1, Carmona 48′

2:1, Fuster 81′

CD Guijuelo: Felipe Ramos; Raul Ruiz, Ochirosii, Ivan Perez, Munoz, Ruben, Gil (58′ Acosta), Luque, Espina, Fuster (89′ Jonathan), Carmona (83′ Juanra)

Real Madrid Castilla: Belman; Sergio Lopez, Martin, Javi Sanchez, Zabarte; Grau (77′ Calderon), De Frutos, Fidalgo; Seoane (62′ Dani Gomez), Fran Garcia (46′ Alberto Fernandez), Cristo Gonzalez

red card: Ivan Perez 54′

#real madrid castilla #Real Madrid Castilla results #Segunda Division B #CD Guijuelo

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keepingupwithlinmanuel · 6 years

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Reaching the ‘Heights’: O’Neill honors Lin-Manuel Miranda

Years before he created the phenomenon that is “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda was toiling away as a substitute teacher and trying to develop a musical called “In the Heights.”

And then in 2005, he and his “Heights” collaborators came to the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford. The then 25-year-old Miranda and book writer Quiara Alegria Hudes saw their musical selected for the O’Neill’s National Music Theater Conference, and it became Miranda’s first professional production.

It was an intense — and intensely gratifying — experience. All these years later, he and “Heights” director Tom Kail still quote a line to each other from when they were feverishly working on “In the Heights” at the O’Neill. They took full advantage of the chance they had to develop the piece, which meant little rest — so little, a shower that was supposed to be invigorating didn’t do the job.

“I remember getting in the shower and getting out of the shower and feeling just as tired — but wet. Now I’m just wet and tired; it didn’t work,” Miranda recalled with a laugh.

“It was a sleepless two weeks, but we worked so hard and we worked so much,” he said. And, he added, “It was life-changing. ... It holds such a special place in my heart.”

Miranda was reminiscing about his time at the O’Neill because, on Monday, he received the 18th annual Monte Cristo Award at a gala in New York City. The O’Neill gives the Monte Cristo Award to a prominent theater artist whose work has had an extraordinary impact on American theater, in memory of the theater’s namesake. Previous recipients include Meryl Streep and two actors who attended Monday’s festivities at the Edison Ballroom: Michael Douglas and Judith Light. The event supports the O’Neill’s commitment to developing new work and new artists for the stage.

The night wasn’t just about honoring Miranda. It also helped raise money for scholarships at the O’Neill’s National Theater Institute for college-aged students. There is a link between the honoree and NTI scholarships; last year, Miranda established the Miranda Family Fund Scholarship for the NTI to “further the inclusion of artists of color across all disciplines of theater.”

Being at the O’Neill, Miranda said Monday, “was a really special time in our lives. ... I just want more artists to have that opportunity, which is why my family partnered with the O’Neill to create the scholarship program.”

During the gala, singers from Miranda’s musicals performed with a band conducted by Alex Lacamoire, who was music director for “In the Heights,” “Hamilton” and “Dear Evan Hansen.”

Chris Jackson and Javier Munoz did “One Last Time” from “Hamilton.” Karen Olivo, Perry Young and Mateo Ferro, who have starred in different productions of “In the Heights,” sang “It Won’t Be Long Now” from that show.

A shout-out from Missy Elliott

And, of course, artists praised Miranda during the ceremony. Rap legend and Miranda fan Missy Elliott taped a video message honoring — and joking about — Miranda, who uses hip-hop in his musicals. Elliott said they need to work together. “I mean, you ain’t called me or nothing. I got all these phones ... I got the Blackberry, the Sidekick ...” she said.

Javier Munoz, who was in “Hamilton” and “In the Heights,” spoke admiringly of Miranda’s “creative fire.”

Preston Whiteway, executive director of the O’Neill, described Miranda as an artist who operates at the highest level in every medium, moves the needle on issues, uses his philanthropy for good and pays it forward.

“You are a kind, brilliant friend and collaborator. Basically, you’re the most wonderful person on Earth,” he said.

“I am so moved by tonight, you have no idea,” Miranda said to the audience. “It’s very weird for me. I’m usually pretty good at having the words to make the moment, but this has been such an incredible journey tonight.”

He mentioned something Priscilla Lopez, who was in the original company of “In the Heights,” once said. When the “Heights” actors were gathering for a prayer circle before a performance, one actress instead spoke about what an impact seeing Lopez in “A Chorus Line” in 1975 had had on her. Lopez turned to Miranda and said, “Lin, you have no idea when you throw a rock in a pond the kind of ripples that will come back.”

Miranda said at the end of Monday’s gala, “I feel like I have been overcome by a tsunami of ripples tonight.”

Writing songs for ‘Hamilton’

During the evening, Miranda was interviewed onstage by actress Lindsay Mendez, who is currently on Broadway in “Carousel.” She asked him an array of questions, including whether he approaches writing a song for a role that he will play differently from one for a role that will be filled by someone else.

Miranda, who portrayed Alexander Hamilton in “Hamilton,” noted that he delayed writing Hamilton’s final monologue until two days before the show started previews because he didn’t want the other actors thinking they didn’t have what they needed. He compared it to a Puerto Rican mother who feeds everyone else first and says, “No, no, no, I’ll eat after, I’ll eat after.”

At the same time, while creating a song for a certain character, Miranda gets to play that character, in a way. He said that every time he wrote a song for Aaron Burr, he wanted to play Burr (Leslie Odom Jr. was Burr on Broadway). Every time he wrote a song for Hamilton, he wanted to play Hamilton.

“Cut to being backstage at the Richard Rodgers (Theatre) watching Leslie bring the house down with ‘The Room Where It Happens’ and me being like (he affected a pouty disposition), ‘I want to play Burr,’” he laughed.

Mendez also asked what everyone could do to help the situation in Puerto Rico, and Miranda encouraged people to keep Puerto Rico in the conversation and to donate to organizations that matter to them. Miranda has raised money and supported efforts to help people in Puerto Rico after the devastation from Hurricane Maria. In January, he’ll star in a production of “Hamilton” there, hoping to help spur the economy and tourism.

Miranda’s experience at the O’Neill

Monday also featured throwback images of Miranda at the O’Neill. A video pulled together clips from that summer, showing him joking with other artists there (he said he captured that 2005 footage on his Kodak EasyShare) and rehearsing “In the Heights.”

“The other thing that is so incredible at the O’Neill is we also fell in love with everyone around us,” he said. “The interns who were bringing us coffee but (were) also mounting their own show, so you then go to see their show. ... You’re surrounded by people who are all doing the same thing.”

As for working on “In the Heights” during the National Music Theater Conference, Miranda said, “I’m really a deadline writer, which is why the O’Neill was an ideal situation.” At the O’Neill, he said, you have nothing but time, and it’s a question of what you want to get done.

For the moment, however, Miranda was blissfully enjoying not knowing what the Monte Cristo Awards had in store. “I’m really happy that I know nothing about what’s going to happen tonight,” he said through a sly grin. “I get to be the recipient of the surprise party—and we get to raise money for people of color to go to the O’Neill, so I feel great!” Indeed, past recipients Judith Light and Michael Douglas delighted in raising a glass of Champagne in the name of furthering an important cause, and many reflected on how far Miranda has come. “One of my favorite Lin things is watching him cross the street,” said Christopher Jackson, who originated the roles of Benny in In the Heights and George Washington in Hamilton. “For the longest time, Lin was afraid of getting hit by a bus (this was before In the Heights was on Broadway) because he was worried he’d never get to finish writing.”

#lin manuel miranda #javier muñoz #chris jackson #awards #local media #vogue #articles #hamilton #in the heights #omg missy

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2traveldads-blog · 7 years

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After spending a few days diggin’ on the incredible nature of Puerto Rico’s east coast, we relocated to San Juan, the capital. Wow! What a city! From the historic forts and Old San Juan to the vibrant district of Condado, visiting San Juan was a blast! It’s hard to pick what we enjoyed the most about exploring San Juan, so I’ll just share how we did it and what the highlights were.

On top of San Juan being warm and beautifully set on the Atlantic Ocean, it’s also home to one of the coolest National Park sites I’ve ever visited. I really kicked myself for not bringing the whole family with me, especially since we’ve all enjoyed St Augustine and the Castillo de San Marcos, but it’s just one of the reasons I know we’ll be returning together soon. Just see what I mean…

DONATIONS OPTION: with the devastation that hit the Island of Puerto Rico, now more than ever they need to support of their fellow Americans and tourist. In addition to planning future travels to Puerto Rico, please consider the good a donation to reputable foundation, such as Direct Relief, can do. Direct Relief puts 99.4% of its funds into its support efforts.

Getting to San Juan, Puerto Rico

Visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico is on so many people’s bucket lists. For thoese living in or already visiting the USA it’s a pretty easy destination to get to. No passport is required for US citizens or if you’re traveling from within the USA. The currency is the US Dollar. The primary language is Spanish but it seemed that EVERYBODY spoke English.

Direct flights to San Juan are available from all major East Coast cities, with the shortest ones coming from Miami, Orlando and Atlanta. If you’re traveling from the West Coast, you’ll find some of the best flights stopping over in Houston, Chicago, or New York. For those in the Midwest looking to get to their tropical dream, MSP or O’Hare both offer direct flights as so many other major airports.

Tip: some cruise lines now have San Juan as a port of call. The historic areas are very easy to get to and you could catch the highlights in just one day if you really wanted to.

Biking San Juan, Puerto Rico

We LOVE LOVE LOVE biking when we’re traveling. Daytona Beach was a thrilling challenge. Victoria BC was a beautiful adventure. San Juan, Puerto Rico was idyllic. With bikes provided by San Juan Bike Rentals, we headed out from our home base at the Condado Plaza Hilton and were immediately on the clearly painted bike path. There’s nothing like having blatantly designated riding zones to make you feel right at home biking in a new city.

After crossing Laguna Condado we immediately were riding down our own biking promenade, cruising past Luis Munoz Rivera Park and then through the neighborhood on the way to Viejo San Juan. We could choose to take the high road eventually leading down below the Old San Juan historic district or take the low road towards the Malecon and piers. We opted to stop at Castillo San Cristobal at the eastern end of Viejo San Juan and do a bit of exploring at the fort prior to riding bikes down to the Malecon and parking.

Our paths were clear and easy nearly the whole 3.5 mile ride with ample opportunities to stop if we wanted. Our experience with the drivers was also great, with being given a wide berth when we blended with traffic and having clear crossing areas at intersections. I can’t say that will always be the case, but it was ideal for us. Really, biking San Juan was one of our favorite activities and clearly was our best transportation option during our visit.

Tip: make sure you always have plenty of water while biking, particularly when it’s as hot and humid as San Juan. Also, if you’re renting bikes, be sure to get a lock and cable so you can park your bike in safety.

Note: while helmets are not required/citable at this time, the law may change in the near future to require bikers to wear helmets at all times. In any case, safety first.

Exploring Viejo San Juan

My traveling companion, Maureen, had a wonderful phrase she kept using: “Meet me in Old San Juan.” Every time she said it I thought of Humphry Bogart or Frank Sinatra strolling the cobblestone streets of some movie I saw once upon a time. And Old San Juan was just like I pictured and wanted it to be. Each building, tightly built onto the next, was colorful with all kinds of balconies. The narrow side streets had vegetation growing out of cracks in building facades. The street lamps cast an orange glow at nights. A lone musician sat in a small square playing an accordion. It’s a dream. It’s a movie set, I swear.

Calle San Sebastian was quietly hopping with some dimly lit bars and cafes. The San Juan Gate with its bronze art depicting 16th century ceremonial arrivals loomed over the plaza at the edge of the city wall. In the day time the light filtered between the balconies and overgrown nispero and banyan trees.

Key sites to visit in Old San Juan

You could invest days and wander street by street and chat it up with every wonderful person you meet, or if you’re pressed for time, here’s what you need to experience:

Callejon Hospital – this pedestrian street is full of cats that are clean, healthy and fed thanks to the donations of visitors to the Callejon.

Cathedral Square – directly up from the San Juan gate, it has the 16th century cathedral that dignitaries would visit immediately upon arrival in San Juan to give thanks for their safe passage. It’s the second oldest cathedral in the Americas. The square also has some fascinating art and a handful of night spots for a beverage or tapas.

Walking the southern city wall – the city wall stretches from the Malecon to the San Juan Gate. At night it’s gorgeous and mysterious. During the day the huge trees and flowers are complimented by the perfect blue waters below. And the Paseo de la Princessa is great for strolling too.

Casa Blanca – built in 1521 this was Ponce de Leon’s house while governor of Puerto Rico. It has a small admission charge to enter the museum areas, or you can explore the grounds and gardens on your own.

And then of course, visiting San Juan National Historic Site, which was epic.

Tip: Calle del Cristo has a kinds of shops for both souvenirs and Puerto Rican fashion/handicrafts. The prices are the prices. This isn’t a place to bargain. Puerto Rico isn’t a place to bargain or haggle.

Visiting San Juan National Historic Site

And this is why the National Park Service’s slogan is “Find Your Park.” For somebody who’s not totally into nature but is crazy for history and just plain old beautiful sights, visiting San Juan National Historic Site will cement their love for National Parks. Encompassing several castillos (forts), an historic district, cemetery, city wall and shoreline hiking trail, it’s an unforgettable place.

Castillo San Cristobal is the first one you encounter upon entering Old San Juan. Exploring the castillo and wandering through the tunnels and bastions, you could spend all day just here. We actually visited Castillo San Cristobal twice to get to fully explore it.

The next site is Castillo San Filipe del Morro, aka “El Morro.” Surprisingly larger than San Cristobal, El Morro contains green fields, lookout towers, a chapel, barracks, a lighthouse and more. Truly unique to the many forts we’ve visited, El Morro is colorful and a photographer’s dream with unusual architecture and iguanas everywhere.

The last aspect of San Juan National Historic Site that’s a must-do is hiking the Paseo del Morro. This level hiking trail connects the northern entrance of Castillo San Filipe del Morro to the San Juan gate. The views of Bahia de San Juan and the city wall, including a peek-a-boo view of El Cañuelo across the harbor entrance, make for a relaxing and impressive stroll through history.

Tip: try to hike the Paseo del Morro as early in the day as possible so that you can do it in the shade. In the afternoon the trail is completely unsheltered and you’re not supposed to swim in the harbor (we got in trouble).

Also, don’t forget to bring your National Parks Passport! You can get a stamp at either of the castillos and they also have a Junior Ranger program for kids to participate in.

Kayking on Laguna Condado

With the waves that roll in from the Atlantic being so strong, it can be tricky to find perfect spots to get on the water when you’re visiting San Juan. Laguna Condado is an interesting spot to go either kayaking or Stand Up Paddle-boarding (SUP). Located between Playa Condado and the larger part of San Juan proper, a good portion of the lagoon is towered over by hotels and condominiums. Another segment is lined with mangroves, just like the Florida coast, and still another part has sandy beach.

Tip: we got our kayaks from VIP Adventures next to the Condado Plaza Hilton. Centrally located to be able to paddle either direction around the lagoon.

A coolest bit of Laguna Condado is actually at the mouth where it is fed by the Atlantic Ocean. Here there are breakers to calm the rolling waves but they’re still pretty big. The coolest sight though is the small castillo at the mouth, Fortin San Geronimo. This fort belongs to the City of San Juan vs being a part of the National Parks Service, and as of summer 2017 was inaccessible by the public, but you can paddle around the lagoon-facing side and check it out.

Wildlife to watch for while kayaking in San Juan’s Laguna Condado includes pelicans, manatees, egrets, urchins, sea stars and more. The combination of cityscape, history and nature is amazing.

The Food Scene of San Juan

We hadn’t considered how visiting San Juan would shape the way we thought of Puerto Rican food, but boy did it ever. Tapas. Tapas. Tapas. And mofongo. I’m sure that there are plenty of other wonderful aspects of Puerto Rican cuisine, particularly if you venture into some of the street food and carts down on the Malecon, but we stuck with dim, vintage hangouts in Old San Juan. Some of our favorite tapas finds to try are:

mofongitos (plantain balls)

bacalao (fish stew)

chorizos (cured sausages)

We really enjoyed one spot in particular, SanSe Marisqueria Bar de Tapas on Calle San Sebastian. With good beverage prices and a really comprehensive, traditional Puerto Rican tapas menu, we actually popped in here twice. And as a side note, the art within SanSe was strongly in an LGBT motif with a small but mixed crowd. It was great to feel so welcome and at home… and full of great food.

But there was more food to discover!

Eight courses of heaven: Pikayo

Although Pikayo is located within the Condado Plaza Hilton, it is its own independent restaurant. The atmosphere is high class and yet the dress code allowed for us to come in from a day on the town still wearing shorts. The service was top notch and subtly impressive. A nice touch of service was when selecting a wine, the lead server brought us both his preferred selection and what we’d requested (because he was truly more knowledgeable about the dining experience in store).

Note: just because we were welcomed in wearing resort-wear, Pikayo is exceptionally upscale and warrants tasteful, cocktail attire.

The food. Something we’re always cautious of when it comes to modern restaurants is the need to incorporate “fusion”. Visiting San Juan we wanted solidly Puerto Rican food and Pikayo provided exactly that AND seamless fusion in the menu. Puerto Rican food has become a fantastic combination of tradition elements and latin flavors influenced by cooking methods and ingredients from around the world. Pikayo reflected the island’s cuisine perfectly with the freshest locally sourced ingredients and fascinating techniques. Example: sous vide octopus served with delicate beads of olive oil and local microgreens. Amazing.

The art and private dining space reflected this same perfect fusion, including photography by the chef himself. Seriously, Pikayo showed us exactly what Puerto Rican cuisine has become at the highest level. We’d be thrilled to get to dine there again.

Note: Pikayo is open for dinner and private events only and you MUST have a reservation. The full experience is unforgettable and will set a new standard in what you expect when you dine while traveling. Not recommended with children.

Where to stay: Condado Plaza Hilton

We’ve talked before about what makes an ideal hotel for a family or just grown-up vacation, and the Condado Plaza Hilton delivered on it while visiting San Juan. On property we had three different pools at our disposal, a water slide, beach access on the lagoon, hot tubs, gym, restaurants, bars… Everything.

We were able to kayak from the lagoon side of the Condado Plaza Hotel as well as easily ride directly out onto the bike routes of San Juan. We were also able to walk eastward down Calle Condado to find more tapas and beverages beyond the hotel when we wanted.

Our room had an unobstructed view looking across the aqua colored Atlantic which we enjoyed each morning from our balcony. There was an enormous bathroom stocked with top of the line products, and then a wonderfully comfortable bed made the room complete.

We dined at Cafe Caribbe for both breakfast and lunch and each was delicious with both traditional Puerto Rican standards as well as comfort foods that sometimes you just need while traveling. The lobby bar, Moon Bar, was fun on a Friday night, being much more chill than some of the other night spots in the neighborhood. Also, Pikayo that we dined at, was there in the Condado Plaza Hilton. Everything about this hotel rocked our stay while visiting San Juan. Totally ideal on this trip and would be too when we return as a family.

Tip: if you book at the Condado Plaza Hilton request an ocean view room at the west end of that tower for both the best view and easiest pool access, as there’s an elevator at the end of the building that gets you to the pool and beach much faster than the main elevators.

Visiting San Juan was such a treat and I cannot wait to return. The fun, the history and the food made for a great time exploring. We did it in three days, but if you wanted to add to your itinerary with activities such as snorkeling, hiking in El Yunque National Forest (the rainforest jungle) or diving into rum history, you could easily add another few days or a week.

Ready to plot and plan an adventure in San Juan, or maybe consider booking a cruise with Old San Juan as a port of call? Go for it! And be sure to pin this for later when you’re finalizing your plans.

Exploring San Juan, Puerto Rico: from strolling Old Town to kayaking the lagoon After spending a few days diggin’ on the incredible nature of Puerto Rico’s east coast, we relocated to San Juan, the capital.

#biking #Condado #Hilton #history #kayaking #San Juan #San Juan National Historic Site

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