PHOTOS: SHAUN DEVINE
There is absolutely nothing better than taking a quick little surf getaway to escape from work, clear your mind, soak up plenty of Vitamin D, and release some endorphins in gorgeous Mother Ocean. It's been almost 2 years since my last trip to Puerto Rico which is a crime considering how easy it is to travel there from Florida. I could only go for a few days but that's all it took to recharge my batteries and (temporarily) satisfy my desperate craving to surf in a BIKINI :). We stayed in the little town of Rincón and surfed most days in Aguadilla, about a 30 minute drive north. I spent the mornings staring out the window of our minivan rental, hoping that when I lived here a few years back, I was able to fully comprehend how blessed I was to be surrounded by such divine beauty and perfect waves on a daily basis. Driving through familiar streets, eating meals at all my old favorite spots, and surfing waves I used to have memorized felt like a dream I couldn't quite piece together. How strange to be a tourist in the present of your own past life. I decided that regardless of time or distance, nothing compares to taking those first steps off the plane and into 80°F, crystal clear blue water to remind you where paradise lies.
There are lots of different types of people in this life ... there are people you meet that you know you may never see again in a a week or even a day. There are people you can have not seen or talked to for 6 months and pick up the phone and it feels as though you just spoke. And then there are people who, as unexpected as it may seem, consistently reappear, regardless of time or distance apart, offering insight and energy that is so unique it makes believing in fate a given. It had been 2 years since Shaun and I had talked last and almost 3 years since we'd seen each other when I asked him if he'd like to come on a short trip to Puerto Rico. I first met Shaun after agreeing to be his roommate on our separate but conjoined adventures to St. Augustine, Florida over 6 years ago. Our mutual passions for surfing, travel and adventure have been the foundation of our friendship and are exactly what rekindled it after all this time. After drooling over his gorgeous photos from his recent trip to New Zealand, I begged him to do a guest post (Part I and Part II) on the blog and share his story. We got rolling on a whole slew of dreamy ideas and hopeful plans to be manifested in our near futures, which brought us to the silly little concept that just mayyybe he would have time to tag along on our trip to PR :) The original idea was for him to come and snap some beautiful shots from his perspective which he most definitely did, but I was way more grateful for the reconnect with such a talented individual and amazing soul. So many great, deep convos had while drinking beers on our rooftop deck, staring at the stars or watching epic sunsets ... so many laughs, adventures shared, and classic stories reminisced that made my already heightened sense of nostalgia even more apparent. Its not every day you find friends this good. Happy to have you back on the radar, Shaun. Its good to know that no matter where we are in the world, I'm not the only one making bartenders change it to the Redskins game and telling Scoville stories 'til the sun comes up.
WHAT AM I DOING???
:) Xx
Keep checking back for lots of outfit posts to come!! Enjoy these lovely shots from Shaun Devine and follow him on Instagram and Surf and Adventure for more of his amazing work!
There is absolutely nothing better than taking a quick little surf getaway to escape from work, clear your mind, soak up plenty of Vitamin D, and release some endorphins in gorgeous Mother Ocean. It's been almost 2 years since my last trip to Puerto Rico which is a crime considering how easy it is to travel there from Florida. I could only go for a few days but that's all it took to recharge my batteries and (temporarily) satisfy my desperate craving to surf in a BIKINI :). We stayed in the little town of Rincón and surfed most days in Aguadilla, about a 30 minute drive north. I spent the mornings staring out the window of our minivan rental, hoping that when I lived here a few years back, I was able to fully comprehend how blessed I was to be surrounded by such divine beauty and perfect waves on a daily basis. Driving through familiar streets, eating meals at all my old favorite spots, and surfing waves I used to have memorized felt like a dream I couldn't quite piece together. How strange to be a tourist in the present of your own past life. I decided that regardless of time or distance, nothing compares to taking those first steps off the plane and into 80°F, crystal clear blue water to remind you where paradise lies.
There are lots of different types of people in this life ... there are people you meet that you know you may never see again in a a week or even a day. There are people you can have not seen or talked to for 6 months and pick up the phone and it feels as though you just spoke. And then there are people who, as unexpected as it may seem, consistently reappear, regardless of time or distance apart, offering insight and energy that is so unique it makes believing in fate a given. It had been 2 years since Shaun and I had talked last and almost 3 years since we'd seen each other when I asked him if he'd like to come on a short trip to Puerto Rico. I first met Shaun after agreeing to be his roommate on our separate but conjoined adventures to St. Augustine, Florida over 6 years ago. Our mutual passions for surfing, travel and adventure have been the foundation of our friendship and are exactly what rekindled it after all this time. After drooling over his gorgeous photos from his recent trip to New Zealand, I begged him to do a guest post (Part I and Part II) on the blog and share his story. We got rolling on a whole slew of dreamy ideas and hopeful plans to be manifested in our near futures, which brought us to the silly little concept that just mayyybe he would have time to tag along on our trip to PR :) The original idea was for him to come and snap some beautiful shots from his perspective which he most definitely did, but I was way more grateful for the reconnect with such a talented individual and amazing soul. So many great, deep convos had while drinking beers on our rooftop deck, staring at the stars or watching epic sunsets ... so many laughs, adventures shared, and classic stories reminisced that made my already heightened sense of nostalgia even more apparent. Its not every day you find friends this good. Happy to have you back on the radar, Shaun. Its good to know that no matter where we are in the world, I'm not the only one making bartenders change it to the Redskins game and telling Scoville stories 'til the sun comes up.
WHAT AM I DOING???
:) Xx
Keep checking back for lots of outfit posts to come!! Enjoy these lovely shots from Shaun Devine and follow him on Instagram and Surf and Adventure for more of his amazing work!
Wow, Lex it's beautiful and looks like you had an amazing time. :)
ReplyDeletethanks Meaghan! it really was stunning, it was a short but amazing trip. The travel bug has bitten!! I'm craving more ...
DeleteAmazing pictures! I cannot wait to see more! Not only were the pictures incredibly inspiring, but your words touched my heart. It made me want to pick up the phone and call an old friend who I haven't chatted with in ages. How blessed are we to share bonds with people over surfing, beers and sunsets? I wouldn't have it any other way! Great work chica!
ReplyDeletexoxo
CAITLIN! you are the best, thank you so much for the sweet words. we truly are blessed. thanks for all the love and support ... so much love to you xx
Delete