There is a special place in my heart for the origin of my heritage. That place is called Puerto Rico. It was the most dazzling, gorgeous, and love-filled place I’ve ever had the opportunity to visit. Not only has it given me an extremely tranquil presence in my soul; but it also has given the most vivid and vibrant flame in my memory. Waking up early every morning of my vacation to the crowing of the roosters and the scent of the sweet sea breeze impacted my day in more ways than one. That was the best way to wake up, welcomed to the new day by nature itself.
Puerto Rico is the perfect paradise to visit. The island distinguishes itself from the rest of the Caribbean simply because it is the most diverse with an incredible range of attractions and astonishing sightseeing spots in every corner. No other Caribbean island has such beautiful beaches as Puerto Rico. “Crash Boat Beach” was one of the many beaches I visited. Saying that the beach was beautiful would be an understatement. At first sight when I arrived I saw an enormous wave crashing against the rocks. Immediately in that same moment as I was still in shock, an incredible thing happened, it seemed like the sun rays reflected on the tiny particles of water from the wave crash and a multicolored rainbow appeared for a split second. That second was one of the most beautiful experiences in my life. Instances like those are definitely worthy of re-telling within my family for generations.
Another significant part of my vacation was the food! Many childhood memories came back as I visited “Piñones”. Piñones is a street filled with kiosks serving traditional Puerto Rican food. Food from Puerto Rico is flavorful, salty, meaty, crunchy, and has a variety of exotic spices that make it taste delicious. The food item that stood out the most for me was a “relleno de papa”. A relleno de papa is a traditional potato dish, first the potatoes are cooked and then mashed, they are formed into a ball shape, typically filled with ground beef, and finally deep fried until golden brown. I could feel my taste buds tingling as I bit into the relleno de papa. The juices of the meat were pouring out of the potato shell, it turned out to be much messier than I expected but the enjoyment was incredible. I never spent a day without a satisfied stomach, everywhere I went I could find cheap, inexpensive, and scrumptious food.
On my last day of vacation I found it very difficult to leave. Just the thought of leaving Crash Boat Beach behind was draining my happiness away. Knowing that I wouldn’t be able to have the exact same food with the love and care from Puerto Rico made me realize something very important. I knew that I had to leave Puerto Rico physically but not spiritually. The island made its way to my heart and it will never leave. My perspective of life changed after this trip, I was made aware that distance is just a mental thing. No matter how far I am from my beloved Puerto Rico, I will always carry it in my heart no matter where I am.
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