Day 3 – it’s the little things
Okay, so I keep meaning to finish up at night and haven’t gotten to. Sue me, I’m on vacation 
Spent all of yesterday at the beach, Gillian was the only one not burned to a crisp. The back of her hands were the only things that were red. Weird. Aidan looked like he had been cooked at 450 degrees for 30 minutes. Poor kid has true English/Irish skin. Gillian? I still think she’s a mutant.
Built sand castles, swam in the ocean – warm and clean, read my book, took several naps, and just generally had a great day being with friends and family. We tried to go to Metropol, a great restaurant right near here, but it was packed, so we hit a Middle Eastern restaurant and had some good food.
Aidan’s been good – we made an agreement that he’d try at least one thing each night at dinner. Lupis, he tried chicken wings – I know, big stretch. Middle Eastern he tried lamb from my kebabs.
So today we woke up around 8, got ready and met the Paleys in the lobby around 9. We spent the day in Old San Juan, mostly just walking around shopping. I was good – I didn’t pout or complain 
We went to a place we went to last time called Barranchilla and most of us had a dish called Mofongo. Mofongo is mostly plaintains, they deep fry it in an upside down pot shape with meat and gravy on top. Alex and I had skirt steak, Beth had Chicken, and Fae had shrimp. Personally, I liked mine the best. Aidan tried not only David’s steak sandwich, but my mofongo and steak. Very proud of my son.
We went to a place called Moon Dance, the owner is spanish, indian, and Puerto Rican and David decided that he wanted to use his allowance to buy an indian sword for him, and one for Aidan, and a bead headpiece for Gillian. He’s such a giving kid, I love him to death – and Hannah too
So, the high point of the trip to Old San Juan was to go to the town square and get a cup of cafe con leche. I don’t know what it is about it, or whether again, it’s all in my head, but I got a cup and sat in the square and my month was made. Fae went over with the kids to feed the pigeons, after a few minutes, a guy with some bird feed gave some to the kids and they started landing on their arms. Fae snapped some pics too. I don’t know what it is about the experience from two years ago, but it made such an impression that I couldn’t wait to go back and experience it again.
So the little things today? That little cup of manna from the gods in the square with the kids running around and my friends there.
Afterwards, we came back to the room and Fae went on a Shmata hunt (Beth has a cool wrap that Fae wanted to try to find) and I took the kids to the pool. Hannah and David elected to stay back. The kids jumped in for a little bit but got bored quickly so we came back and cleaned up. Watched a little Star Trek – I think I have an addict on my hands with my son – and got ready for our dinner. Lumie and Alex gave us an IOU for a great dinner here. We went to a place called La Casona and the food was unbelievable. We had fried goat cheese and tuna tartar – no it wasn’t sushi. It was raw tuna mixed with avacado. OOhh mama. Good stuff. I had Rack of Lamb and a potato. Yum!
Dessert was flan and rice pudding, both equally yummy. It was really nice to just sit with our two best friends and have a nice relaxed dinner and just talk and enjoy one another’s company.
Came back and put the kids to bed, left David in charge and went to the casino. Ended up breaking about even. Fun stuff. Love Craps – highly addictive. Fae played Black Jack and managed to hold back the monkey on her back – her addiction. Very proud of her.
Tomorrow should be fairly mellow.
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Update 3/3/08 – Pics here – Visit the Gallery
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