Poor Angie

We are taking Angie to the vet today because she ripped out a few nails during the flight here.  She clawed at her carrier the whole way while crying.  When I cleaned out the carrier I found this whole nail and a handful of pieces of broken nails.  I don't want her paw to get infected so this is a cautionary visit to ensure her paws and nails heal correctly without infection or other complications.

View on road in Fredericton

The reason why I love Julia Wertz:

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This is me every night

Mike took this picture of me and the cats napping while he was back last week.  This is basically every night now that he is gone again.  When he is here there is barely enough room for us to all fit in the bed.

One day we will get a nice big King Sized bed and the kitties will be able to sleep with us both.

More of PR

The vine things that are hanging down are actually tree roots.  

This is a skeleton of a leaf.

weird plant

court yard of the hotel we stayed at in Luquillo

our room

Rainbow!  As soon as we got to our hotel this was the first thing we saw from our balcony.

This is in San Juan, in the old historic part of the city.

Probably the only restaurant that serves vegan food in PR.  If we were to ever move here we will probably go out to eat once a year, to this place.

Cloud Mountain, I love you.

Last Day in El Yunque

 This lay out of food is after everyone ate their fill.  Every night a group of two workers will prepare food for everyone else.  All the food has been delicious.  Everyone here is really great about making sure the vegans get fed :).

 They have this game here called BananaGrams and it is almost like Scrabble except you don't need a board.  It is a lot of fun and this guy Mark in the white shirt kicks everyone's ass at this game every single time he plays.  I was very impressed.

 Everyone playing BananaGrams

Every night everyone gathers to eat... again, I caught everyone at the end of the meal.  But imagine this whole table full of people making eating sounds and having conversations about their adventures collecting data out in the jungle.  This group of people is also particularly nice and wonderful so it has been a pleasure to make everyone's acquaintance.  I am sad to leave them but really excited to have Mike all to myself.

We leave for Luquillo Beach today and we will be renting a car as well.  I am hoping that we get to see the Old part of San Juan and take a day trip visiting small towns and beaches along the coast.  There is also a mangrove swamp that everyone recommends we go and see.

you might not here from me for a couple days because I am not sure if we will have a computer where we are staying but I will do my best to update the blog with pictures and stories from my blackberry.

Until then, Buenos Dias!

Welcome to the Jungle

Today I went out into the field with Mike and his team.  I had a great time taking these pictures and looking for wildlife that was willing to pose.  My camera actually got humidity caught in the lens at one point it was so humid.  There are so many spiders and bugs.  I only stayed out there for about two hours and I was exhausted so knowing Mike does that everyday for 8 hours... it is very hard work! 

The hike was not too long and it was enjoyable.  The forest is truly a magical place.  I can't wait to explore PR some more once we get a car and can visit other parts.  This island has so much to offer.

Day two and three

 The beautiful palm tree is in a courtyard right next to the girls' dorm room.

This comfortable sleeping/reading apparatus is located right next to that palm tree.



























 On Saturday the whole group decided to go to the beach.  On the way there it was raining and this made mike cry a lot.











Fortunately, the rain stopped and we spent the day at the beach.

Aaron and Kevin burying Ed

 Yesterday we went to a swimming hole with Danni and Josselyn. 

It is basically a waterfall.  There is a small opening in the rocks leading to another water hole.  We climbed up into the opening to get there.  I don't think I ever would have attempted to do something like that on my own.  Everyone here is really nice and adventurous. 
At the end of the day we all gathered for dinner and Danni had baked me Monkey Bread for my birthday!  She brought it out and everyone sang happy birthday to me.  It was so amazingly sweet.  Then we had rum drinks and I danced with Josselyn and Seth while Mike debated about government issues with Kevin and Rachel. 

Today they are all out working in the field so I am hanging close to the station reading in the hammock and eating leftovers.
There is still so much to see and do.  I'll post more as it all happens.

Puerto Rico!!!! (so far)

So, Life here is beautiful and sunny and relaxed and filled with new people!  I actually take back the relaxed part just a little bit because my mind is swarming with thoughts and feelings seeing as I am surrounded by new people and my husband who I have not seen since September.


I really really like it here and today we are going to the beach so I will have lots more to show later.