LIVING IN THE TROPICS...

Coming back home to my hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico after 30 years living in the

United States was daunting. I left San Juan for my college education and after graduation I decided to stay in Boston and start my professional career. The more time I spent working and living in the US the more it came clear to me that moving back to Puerto Rico was not going to be really an option.

In 2013, Aaron and I decided to leave New York City and opened our business in San Juan. It has been three and half years since we moved. I did not know what to expect, I had no idea how living back home would feel like. But I have never been afraid of living in different places or change.

I can actually tell you it has been the best decision we have ever made.

So how is it to live in the tropics?

Is beautiful, the sky is always light blue with just the right amount of white clouds moving in space. We don't have a change of seasons but our blue skies get more vivid in the summer. The sunrise or sunsets are an explosion of color that are very hard to describe. The vegetation is beyond an explanation, the trees are kelly green, the palm trees are alway in constant movement almost dancing from the breeze of the Atlantic Ocean. Our beaches are always changing colors from almost white sanded beaches to a deep emerald green; colors you can only experience in our waters. The Puerto Rican people are always happy, proud of our heritage and friendly. We love to dance and we can be pretty loud. You always get a good morning or a good evening from a complete stranger; is part of who we are. There is always something fun to do and the food is just beyond good. We love our first ever gold medalist in the Olympics, Monica Puig and of course the fact that Puerto Rico is one of the most successful competitors in the history of the Miss Universe pageant, having won five times. Marisol Malaret, Miss Puerto Rico 1970, was the first Puerto Rican to win the Miss Universe title. The four other Puerto Rican delegates who have won the Miss Universe title are Deborah Carthy-Deu (1985), Dayanara Torres (1993), Denise Quiñones (2001), and Zuleyka Rivera (2006). And of course, it goes with our saying our

Ricky Martin...

You take so much for granted when you live here. But when you get to experience a second chance to return home like I did at this point in my life... you cherish every moment and feel full of energy and positivism. In the tropics, it rains almost every day for five minutes, the clouds always pass by and the sun always comes out brighter than ever. There is so much heritage and a mix of Spanish, American and local Puerto Rican cultures. Old San Juan, is like stepping into a small town in Spain.

As owner of a company that depends of creativity, you are constantly inspired by the colors, the textures, sounds and the amazing smell of the ocean...

Puerto Rico has always been an amazing Island, full of outdoor experiences and adventures. To be back here has been such an amazing opportunity, specially to be closer with the most important thing for me... my family. That is just heaven.

I hope you enjoy the images of our tropical chic Island, the star of the Caribbean.