Current mood: vacation. I’m enjoying some time in my beautiful island, Puerto Rico. Have some great stuff to share soon, stay tuned, it’s going to be a good summer. 🙂
Tag: beach
If You Like Piña Coladas
How did it get to be 2016 already? I’ve been MIA, I know, all for good reasons though. I’m excited to be sharing some things about my blog and my life, just bare with me!
In the meantime, please enjoy this photo of a piña colada that I enjoyed during my time in Puerto Rico earlier this month. Ahh, to be sipping frozen drinks by the beach. Those were the days. Also, you can always catch me on Instagram, of course.
[California] Sausalito Sunsets & More Rosé
During my recent trip to California I got to visit a lot of fun and interesting places, one of my favorite was the city of Sausalito. After spending the earlier part of the day at Muir Woods (more on that later), we were taken to this lovely waterfront town. I love the water and although I can appreciate the beauty of the mountains and forests, there’s nothing like being by the shore.
I immediately knew I wanted to spend more time exploring my surroundings, but knew we had a ferry to catch back to San Francisco. Relying on just online reviews and outside seating, we decided to have dinner at Salito’s.
Knowing that it was our last day in California, we were taking it all in. Everybody seemed happy and without a single care in the world. Except maybe the couple next to us, they were clearly on a first date and it was so fascinating to watch them both react to each other. No, I was not creeping.
That, my friends, is Salito’s crab alfredo. Not bad at all, although I must say, their mussels and sauce was delicious!
Note on those sunglasses, got them in California, love the reflection but totally lost them. They must be in some unpacked bag in my room right now, but that may not be the case. I’m not so concerned about the money (they were super cheap), I am saddened more by how well they photographed. Check us out on the shot below!
After dinner, we still had some time before the ferry departure. I saw people drinking by the water and I immediately knew where I needed to be. Turns out, this place called Bar Bocce allows you to eat and drink by the water in a very casual and comfortable setting. I only had drinks, but people around us were enjoying some very delicious pizzas. Note to self: return to this place with a blanket and a big appetite.
This is me at Bar Bocce’s backyard. That face says: “I love my wine, I love this place and yes, I know it sucks that I have to leave”. It’s like you can already see the inevitable sarcasm in my eyes, right?
Waiting for the ferry was not bad at all. Perks of waiting for the last ferry? You get to see the sunset as you leave Sausalito behind. You can also attempt, for the one hundredth time, to take the perfect picture of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Beyond the lens
I rarely post a picture of Puerto Rico in black and white because I feel like my little island is always screaming colors and igniting positive emotions. Still, I really like this edit of one of the shots I took during my recent trip home. It keeps things real, even if it’s a filter. Even paradise can seem black and white sometimes and even the most picturesque views can hide struggles beyond what your lens can capture. Brighter and more colorful days are in store for my island, that’s just the way it has to be. Even in this somber look, my island still looks beautiful.
(Photo and edits by Cristina Nogueras)
It’s called enchanted island for a reason
Just in case I don’t give you enough reasons to visit Puerto Rico on a regular basis, this video by Javier Letour should do it. It’s sweet torture for me right now, facing this bitter New York winter and counting the days until I can return to my one true home. Enjoy!
Dear Summer
Dear Summer,
I miss you. I miss the warm rays of your sun that never quite tanned my skin. I miss the warm breeze that caressed my face, as opposed to feeling like small knives are puncturing my lovely cheeks.
Where are you, Summer? Why do we have to be apart for so long? I’m sorry if I ever said I was tired of you, it was my empty bank account speaking or you maybe caught me sweating at the Subway, it wasn’t the real me. The real me loves you with a never ending passion and I anxiously await your return.
You see, Summer. When you’re away, everything is a little colder, a little gloomier. People are not as cheerful as they are around you. It’s only ok because I know they are all secretly missing you too.
Summer, remember when I used to be with you all through the year? Back in the day only a few rainy days could keep us apart. Why did I move away from you? A few months a year are not enough for all the love I have for you. I don’t think humans are meant to be apart from you for too long.
I can’t wait to be reunited with you and get sand in every corner of my apartment, even after you think you have cleaned it all. I can almost taste the fried coconut shrimp I will be enjoying by the sea or the Miami Vice I will be sipping by the live band outdoors. Yes, outdoors. I know my bank account cringes when she knows you’re approaching, but my heart leaps with joy.
My dearest Summer, we can’t be reunited soon enough. Until then, I will try my hardest not freeze in this dark, murky winter and I will look at countless summer pictures to get me through this endless wait.
Forever yours,
Cristina
Joyuda, Puerto Rico – Take One
It’s always sad when one exciting trip ends, but there’s always the comfort of coming home to a bunch of photos. This was my first trip with my DSLR camera, which obviously means I took more photos that I now can handle. I must admit I am obsessed and can’t get enough (something I have no problem with).
Here are a few to begin with from my days at Joyuda, Puerto Rico
Joyuda is one of my favorite areas in Puerto Rico, located in the South West, you can get amazing seafood (which I had) and pass out by the beach with a food coma (which I did). In my humble opinion, this area has some of the nicest beaches in Puerto Rico, but I know that can be highly debated.
I love the fact that you can find a handful of seafront restaurants in Joyuda, allowing you to have your fish by the sea (you can think that’s awesome or tragic, your pick). I also love this random picture that I took of my boyfriend, he might seem serene but I can tell he is a little freaked out by the huge fish swimming right below (they were like 4 feet long!).
For better or for worse, I am a steak person, but seafood here is so good that I can totally make an exception. You can find seafood empanadillas, seafood mofongo … seafood EVERYTHING. I would show you pictures, but most times I was very excited to eat and forgot to shoot first (I know, horrible how I dared to enjoy my food without any technology). I do have some good places to eat that I will be sharing soon, more to come!
* All photos in this post were taken and edited by Cristina Nogueras, please do not use without permission *
Wordless Wednesday: Back to Reality
Yesterday I flew back to real life in New York City after spending two wonderful weeks home in my warm Puerto Rico. I took this picture during take-off and felt inspired to edit it on the spot.
Can’t wait to start sharing all the great pictures I took, stay tuned!
“Great things never came from comfort zones”
This has been my mantra for this past month. Not only is my big Europe trip right around the corner, but I got a new job and started a new professional journey (basically the reason why I have abandoned this blog for a few weeks) but cry no more, I’m back! (Only to leave in a week, but still!)
I also went home to my beautiful Puerto Rico and got to spend some wonderful days with my family and friends. It was really the perfect way to end a great chapter in my life and freshen up to start a new one. So really, I can’t complain. Sure, I’m peeling from the sun even though I am still technically white and sure, my bank account has taken a hit, but I’m sure I’ll live.
I try to stay away from all things cheesy (except when they actually are cheesy, yum.) but lately I’ve just been feeling like I have so much to take in from life (besides new work information, of course). Sure, I stress about things all the time, that’s just how I work. Who knows? This may be the nice weather talking, but life is good right now. Long gone are the days of miserable weather complaints and in are the sunny, sweaty walks to work. Ah, sweaty summer bliss.
But back to being corny,
Life is crazy, unpredictable and if you let it be, it can also be beautiful.
Speaking of beautiful, below are some pictures from La Isla del Encanto that I took during my last visit home (yes, I get to call paradise home). I always love giving out recommendations for travelers that wish to visit Puerto Rico, so feel free to shoot me a comment or tweet me any questions!
Yes, me and my boyfriend might have started a cheesy tradition of taking travel pictures with our feet #noshame – This was before our kayak tour at the bioluminescent bay in Fajardo. Tour started during the day, through the canals and into the bay to watch the sunset. Then, I was once again amazed by the beauty that is the bay’s natural glow. Third time doing it and it’s still worth the sore muscles!
Right before our journey! This picture has no filters, you can see how the sunset light glows in the water, giving it a nice natural tone.
Credit for this one goes to my dad (@josenogueraspr)
Hyatt Hacienda del Mar in Dorado, Puerto Rico
Basically, a little corner of heaven, right here.
It wouldn’t be complete without a food picture, wouldn’t it? For my boyfriend’s birthday I took him to a delicious restaurant in Dorado called El Ladrillo (The Brick) – I had been there when I was little and fine cuisine for me consisted of plain rice and chicken, coming back was absolutely amazing. Not only is the food really good and varied for all tastes, but the restaurant itself is beautiful. They have a true art collection within the space.
Be sure to follow my Instagram for more pictures that don’t make it to actual posts – @peaceloveanddietcoke
Main image credit – http://www.etmusiquepourtous.com/2012/11/07/16191/jpeg/
All other pictures taken by Cristina Nogueras © Do not copy or repost without attribution
“Sure, I would love a mansion to use only three months out of the year.” – My visit to Newport, RI
Have you heard of the Gilded Age? Call me ignorant or whatever, but I had not heard the official term until last month when I visited the astonishing mansions of Newport, Rhode Island.
In United States history, the Gilded Age is a period approximately spanning the final three decades of the nineteenth century; from the 1870s to 1900. The term was coined by writers Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner in The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873), satirizing what they believed to be an era of serious social problems disguised by a thin gold gilding.
Thank you Wikipedia, you’re the best.
Interesting where we stand right now, I want my life easier not more elaborated. Fancy dresses are uncomfortable and I can’t imagine having someone do every single thing for me, I actually enjoy cooking.
How did people live in such an age? I bet their attention span was intact and their knowledge of history was more maintained, with all the time they had in their hands I would not expect anything less. I bet if they come to our time now they would be beyond overwhelmed and wouldn’t know how to deal with it.
What’s next for people then? How can it get more intense, more technological or more progressive?
I think we are going back to basics in many aspects of life. Are we losing connection with ourselves? Are we going back to times we thought of as grand? Is that what every generation does? The Gilded Age line of thought was to replicate and bring back the grandeur of Europe, especially France. Are we always, in some way, looking back to the successes of the past? Will all of this Google glass technology mindsets collide with a simpler way of living?
I guess what I’m wondering is, what will future generations look back and see from our times? What are they going to want to replicate and what are they going to laugh about (besides Justin Bieber’s music)?
I’m going to let you think about that for a while.
On a lighter note, follow my Newport journey through my pictures below! 🙂
Walking around the ocean drive
This is just the backside of the Marble House. Mind you, this was supposed to be their summer house. Imagine where they lived all year.
This was their tea house. Tea house. A house for tea. I have a box for my tea bags, but these people had actual buildings for tea.
The front of the Marble House is even more amazing
Breakfast at Beech Tree Inn, such a nice stay!
This might not be the most flattering picture, but this dinner at The Mooring was absolutely delicious!
You have to drive by the ocean drive, it’s such a beautiful view… and this is not even summer!
I feel like I should remember this mansion’s name… potato, potato? There are so many mansions!
Cliff Walk -Some of it is still closed due to damage by Super Storm Sandy
Even when it’s not sumer, even if there’s a cold breeze, this walk was still worth it.
The Breakers, just your average American summer cottage. Seriously? This is basically a castle.
Going down the Forty Steps…
Beaches & Brie 
