Puerto Rico Day 5 - Monday morning

 Oh, the joy of Puerto Rican food...for years Andy has talked about Pan Sabou (sp???).  As missionaries, they would stop in a little pasteria and get a few eggs and a 1lb loaf of bread with butter and sometimes meat on it if they were really hungry.  Being in a little town, we made tried this activity, although we shared the meal he used to eat alone!  Very yummy, but not quite worth the calories...

 Then we headed to Utuado for a hiking/zipline adventure.  I didn't think we were going to make it (see the road picture) because I thought we were going to die on the way in - in all honesty!!!  I'm terrified of heights - this was reallllllllly bad.  Had there been any way possible to turn around, I would have insisted.  There wasn't.  Actually, had another car even come on the same road, we probably all would have died.  It was the kind of road where you are continually honking so people can hear you coming.  (Good thing there is no reception so people don't have their radios turned up loud!)

 Two defining moments for me.  Above - after hiking though the forest, we explored a cave.  I saw this crack in the wall and thought there was no way I would fit through.  I did - with room to spare!!!  (thanks for many mornings of 6am workouts with a trainer who completely kicked my trash)
Below - again, I was completely terrified of heights.  After the cave, another hike to overlook what I am told is an amazing canopy of trees.  I glanced from my seat far far away from the edge.  I like hiking, just not steep edges or scary views!

 While we got ready for the ziplining portion, they provided snacks - little bananas still hanging on the vine (?) that were so sweet and yummy!!!

 Off to the ziplining and rappelling!  So much fun!  I started being completely terrified and just had a blast - although I might have caused a few trees to fall with some screaming the first time...Andy was brave from the first time out (and tried to scare me on a bridge) and chatted it up with our guide, who made this a fantastic experience!

 Yes, there she goes...feet up, arms down, reaching for the tops of the trees.  So much fun...want to go again!!!

 This is el coqui - a little tiny frog that makes a beautiful song all night long.  We went to sleep listening to them each night - absolutely loved it!

 THE Road...ridiculously steep!!!  Incredibly scary - when I was a bit nervous about the tour, the guides explained that if we made it through the road, we could survive any part ofthe tour.  Totally agree!!!  These little tiny cars have guts.  Most of the road, you couldn't see in front of you because the grade was so great.  Don't know that I have ever feared for my lift as much as that drive...so grateful for roads in the US!!!!  Off to lunch!

Puerto Rico Day 4 - Sunday

 We got up early to leave in time for church - 2 hours before it was supposed to start!  We were late according to our watches, but the website had the times wrong so we ended up being an hour early!  It was Fast Sunday and just wonderful.  The meeting was sooooo quiet (come to find out, there is no primary in this ward; no families with young children).  We chose this ward to attend as Andy served there as a missionary for several months.  One of the members of the Stake Presidency when Andy was there 13 years prior is now serving as the Bishop...pictures to follow.  Everyone was so welcoming and gave me kisses on the cheek - definitely not a tradition we are familiar with in the USA!  I think I understood about 1/3 of Sacrament meeting, so after being mentally exhausted (and receiving a dinner invitation for a few hours later), we headed to downtown Ponce!

 There is a little square that is the center of town, decorated all over with lions...Ponce de Leon discovered this area and is greatly honored.  We also toured the Parque de Bombas, which is a fire station!

 Some of the lions are painted crazy colors, each with a different pattern.  There is also a very elegant Catholic church in the square.  We arrived at the end of the services and had a very hard time finding a parking spot!

 It wasn't time for our dinner appt yet, so we drove around town and found some beautiful views and watched kids playing, just a relaxing and beautiful Sunday!

 Ahhh, the Feito family!  Much to say about them...this was the family Andy was closest to while he was serving as a missionary for a few reasons.  1 - he was in this area the longest.  2 - they had a teenage son that was preparing for a mission and an awesome mom that would feed them. 3 - they are just a great family to be around!!!  Laura on the left had returned 2 weeks prior from serving a mission in San Antonio, Texas - so we talked about that for a bit.  After a few translation issues, we did a pretty good job of carrying on a conversation.  Sis. Feito shared a few recipes with me - one that was Andy's favorite while he was there and that they made for dessert - a type of custard/pudding.  The best part was her description of the kitchen tool I needed to use.  Neither she nor Laura knew the word for it.  I guessed, but we couldn't be certain until they brought the tool out - a whisk!  I haven't made it yet, but it is on my list!  This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip!

Last, we went to see the Caribbean Sea, so I could touch it!  Then, back to our little cabin in the middle-of-nowhere mountains!!!