BIKING IN OLD SAN JUAN -- A JOY?

Milton, here for Kristy:

On a past visit to see Jennifer I borrowed Javier's bike to see  Puerto Rico and enjoy some fresh air. (The pictures included are from our bike ride today.)

It was raining in Old San Juan and I was bicycling alone through the cobbled stone streets enjoying a very scenic and historic ride. I didn't know the area very well and was riding on rain soaked roads to get back to Jennifer's condo.

I was cruisin' and then it happened.

Suddenly I was flying through the air and this was no airplane or trapeze and there was no soft places to land. I had hit the slicker than glass tiled sidewalks around a city park doing way too fast and not knowing my fate.

Bam! Bam! Bam! And more Bam! 

As my body tore into the wet tile. I am dying. I am going to heaven in a heap on a slick Peurto Rican tiled sidewalk! 

I landed in a mud puddle and my body was racked with pain. How many bones are broken I wondered? I checked by arms, my legs, my ribs, my hands and everyplace was hurting, but eventually I was able to stand again. 

Finally I recovered enough to start walking the bike toward Jennifer's condo which was a number of miles away. Then I rode and traveled another mile and it dawned on me that I had lost a very expensive pair of sun glasses my daughters had given me for Christmas.

I turned around and started flying back to see if they were still at the site of my big crash. Faster I peddled as I approached the other side of the park from where the accident occurred. Maybe I can find them. Maybe there still there. The girls warned my not to lose them for they said they had paid a lot for them.

Then it happened. 

It happened again! 

I can't believe it. I was flying through the air the second time. Still no trapeze with a net, or airplane or soft spot to land.

I was flying through the air sideways, and fast, very fast. Yet, it was happening in slow motion and I knew what is about to happen. It ain't gonna be pretty.

Bam! Bam! Bam! And more Bams! 

I was dying for the second time in less than 30 minutes. My obituary will read something about a stupid preacher wrecking his bike twice within minutes and not surviving the second crash.

Bam! Bam! 

Blood, Black, Blue

Those aren't nice colors for legs and arms, and ribs, or my backside. 

Bam! Bam!

How can an educated man do this twice within minutes?

Man, was I hurting. I lay there again feeling my arms, legs, head, ribs, ankles, pulse, heart, brain--no brain alive here! 

My brain must have been dead. It had to be dead. Surely I am smarter than this?

Thankfully there were no broken bones. 

People in passing buses were watching, smiling, grimacing. No one offered help.

I got up the second time and limped toward the condo again. 

Oh, I found the glasses. It wasn't worth it!

I visited a Catholic Church in Old San Juan on our bike ride. Kristy and I made frequent visits there too. We loved looking at beautiful old churches all over the world.

***

Did you ever eat Japanese in Sunny San Juan?

We did Wednesday night,  and the steak and Susi was super. The cook or whatever they call them fired up the grill and made flames and smoke and threw knifes and cooking utensils all around. 

Eggs were being tossed up and down and dark rice was getting darker

and veggies were heating up and the kiddies were banging the gong and we were all laughing and having a great time.

Spanish was the language of the table and I nodded and smiled and acted like I had a "little" idea of what was happening.

 When Kristy and I have visited here almost every year for the ten years, we have gotten with Javier's family for a meal. His mother, Lortis, and stepfather, Miguel, have made us feel welcome and special. It has been nice.

We missed Kristy. I showed them her blog and pictures of her on my new Iphone. 

I miss that gal. 

Oh, I miss that gal.