This afternoon, I was in Boston visiting my cousin, Andy, who is in the hospital, in the intensive care unit, battling for his life. Andy was diagnosed with leukemia last year and after undergoing massive chemo treatments it looked as though the bad cells were gone. But, the cancer came back.

After a week in the hospital, he was released last Thursday, and although he still had a long road ahead with more chemo treatments, things were looking up. But, our high hopes were met with yet another stumbling block, when Andy’s weakened immune system sent him back to the hospital with a severe infection. Two days ago, doctors in the ICU intubated & sedated Andy to help take some stress off his body as it struggles to fight the infection.

It has been an incredibly stressful time for his family. His wife Lorelee has been a beacon of strength and hope. I marvel at her, for I’m not sure I could be as strong if it was my Andy lying in that hospital bed hooked up to machines and fighting for his life. But, there she is….at his side every day, loving him, and encouraging him to fight, ever hopeful that her love will help him win this battle, so that together they may continue the long fight ahead.

Lorelee was there today, with my cousin, Marylee (Andy’s sister), who like Lorelee (and my Auntie Lee, Andy’s mom), has held vigil at her brother’s side. I brought fixings for hot fudge sundaes, in the lame attempt to lift spirits. Food…it’s all we Italians know how to do when there simply isn’t anything we can do.

Sitting in the family room in the ICU with strangers, who like us, were there waiting and hoping their loved ones would pull through, I couldn’t help but take notice of how fragile our lives are and how much we all need each other…family, friends, strangers…and how very, very important it is to be grateful for every moment we have together.

I’m a great believer in the power of positive thought, so tonight, as I lay in bed beside my Andy, I will think about the day, hopefully one day soon, when Lorelee will once again lay beside her Andy. And, if you believe in prayer and positive thoughts too, please spread the love and send some their way.

Love & hugs, Chris

Here’s a photo of Andy, Lorelee and their too-cute-for-words son, Andrew, at a family picnic a few years ago. We love you Andy….

UPDATE (June 5):

Thank you very much to all of you who have been sending positive thoughts and prayers to my cousin Andy. I think they’re working…so please keep ‘em coming!!

Andy is still heavily sedated and intubated, but things are looking up. This week his liver enzyme count was down and his body has started producing some low counts of white blood cells…both good signs. He’s still got a long road ahead and his family continues to take it one day at a time. But, we just wanted to thank you for caring!!! Please keep the love coming!!! xo

What do you get when you mix two sexy young singles and a steamy August evening in a crowded DC bar with no air conditioning? A close encounter of the hottest kind! (I couldn’t resist!)

Kara & TJs romance was indeed hot from the start, although TJ’s sister, Maura, who had worked with Kara, had tried to introduce them before their paths eventually crossed a year later in that DC bar.

Kara was living in DC and TJ was in town visiting friends from college when these two love birds first met. That was nearly 3 years ago and since then, their chance meeting has led to a life filled with much love, long walks with their dog Molly, Sunday night sushi and evenings spent cuddled on the couch, among other things.

When asked what makes their relationship work, TJ said, “Love, unconditional love. I hate to sound sappy, but no matter the fights or disagreements, I know without Kara in my life, I would be an empty man. I love her.” And Kara’s response, “Respect. We both have a lot of respect for each other. Whether it is respect for the careers we have chosen or respect for the other’s feelings and thouhts, we are very open and respectful of each other. We want to make each other happy.”

It is obvious seeing these two together, that their love and respect for one another run deep and that this is a relationship that will weather life’s challenges.

Later this summer, Kara & TJ will celebrate their love here on Cape Cod, surrounded by family & friends at the elegant New Seabury Country Club in Mashpee. We spent an afternoon in Falmouth with them last week, while they were in town visiting and getting some wedding business sorted. Here are a few of our favorite photos from our love session together. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed hanging with Kara & TJ!

Bird’s eye view…

Cozying up at Falmouth Harbor…

I love this perspective and how they’re both totally cracking up…so fun!

We’re kind of purists when it comes to how we like our images to look, but this effect really seemed to compliment this image. I just love the old fashioned looking lampposts in the background and so we made the photo look old fashioned by changing the tone and adding just a touch of good ole’ film grain. What do you think?

As we were driving past a liquor store…of all places…we had to stop when we saw this gorgeous cherry tree shedding its beautiful pink petals beside the parking lot. It looks like pink snow falling and blanketing the ground, doesn’t it? And, an added bonus, Kara’s sweater matched perfectly! Don’t you just love when you find beauty in unexpected places? We do!!!

Another great find when walking around….this beat up rigging house with it’s classic Nantucket red finish. Love it!!

Do they look like models for Calvin Klein or what? Gorgeous!

After walking around town a little, we headed to the beach to get some sand between our toes…

I love these serene expressions on their faces in this next one….

A little smooch break…we all need those from time to time!

Here’s one for Mom….classic! You two are too darned cute!

And the perfect closer……SMOKIN’!!!

Kara & TJ, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy weekend back home to spend some time just goofing off with us! We had such a great time enjoying a perfect warm spring evening with you and we can’t wait for August, when we expect your love will once again sizzle sweetly!!! Big hugs, Christine & Andy

Ivy is one of those people who really does light up a room with her smile. Even when life gets hard or things are stressful she’s our little Miss Sunshine! And, that smile of hers….well, it’s always there.

When we posted Ivy & Ben’s engagement photos on our blog last fall, we got more comments (on the blog and just in conversations) from people about Ivy & her smile. Like us, everyone reacted to the joy so easily visible on her gorgeous face.

When it came time to pick a photo for a rather prominent spot in our new studio, Andy & I both gravitated to a picture of Ivy & Ben. It’s just hard not to feel good watching them together. So, you can imagine how excited we were when it came time to see these lovebirds say, “I do!” two weeks ago.

It was exactly as we imagined it would be. Ben was ridiculously happy, yet contained. Ivy was glowing…truly. She was calm, yet the excitement was bursting through the surface. And her smile….you couldn’t help but smile yourself when it was aimed in your direction.

Ivy & Ben got married at the elegant Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster. Theirs was only the second wedding ever to be held in Ocean Edge’s new mansion ballroom and it looked beautiful. The day started off rainy and it appeared we might not be able to do photos outside. But, as if on cue, the skies opened and the sun shone through just as Rev. Faith Lavender announced that our happy couple may now kiss.

All in all, it was an incredible celebration of love and we were honored to have been a part of that. Here are a few of our favorite moments from Ivy & Ben’s special day! Enjoy!

Ivy sneaks a peek as Jackie from Wedding Tresses puts the finishing touches on her wedding do. Gorgeous!

Ivy gets a little help from her friend & MOH Susanna. I just love the lines of their bodies in the shot on the left…so beautifully feminine!

Taaa Daaah! The million dollar smile!

Ivy & her girls…

Ben gets a little pre-wedding support from his brothers! Seriously, do their parents make ‘em adorable or what?!!!

Ivy’s very sweet Uncle Kurt did the honors of walking Ivy down the aisle.

Immediately after the ceremony, Ivy & Ben exchanged hugs with their friends. I just love this shot of Ben watching Ivy…..can’t you feel the joy?

Walking back from the ceremony to take a few family photos on the front lawn….

Can two people possibly smile any bigger? I think not!

“Celebrate good times…come on!”

We just loved the scattered magnolia flowers littering the ground…so pretty!

Down to the beach for a few photos…

Ivy’s adorable Manolos….

ga ga ga gorgeous…..

That winning smile we all love so much!!!

Big big thanks to Ivy & Ben for inviting us to be a part of such an incredible time in their lives. You two are amazing people and an inspirational couple! Your love is so sweet and so special….just like both of you! Thank you for inviting us in with such open arms and open hearts! We adore you guys!!!

Big hugs & lots of love, Christine & Andy xoxo

Last week, we drove up to Boston to meet Grace & Silas. We were excited as it was our first meeting with Silas. We had met Grace last September, when she first contacted us about their wedding. We instantly bonded with Grace. She is a talented architect with killer style, an infectious laugh and a sweet openness that instantly puts those around her at ease!

After meeting Grace, we had a feeling that meeting Silas would go equally as well…And, we were right. Silas is totally chilled out, sweet, funny, and smart…really smart (he’s working on his PhD in neuro biology at Harvard). He’s also clearly devoted to Grace, which we love about him.

This adorable pair met nearly 10 years ago after a mutual friend introduced them at a club in Manhattan. “I was totally attracted to her at once, but she was dealing with a break up, and so, I took it slow at first,” Silas told us. “In fact, I was pretty sure she was trying to put me in the ‘friend zone’ for the first several months we knew each other.”

But, a year later, Grace called Silas from a vacation in Vermont with friends. Silas was away at the time with friends and this was the sign he had been waiting for. “The fact that she would call me when we were both on vacation totally made me so happy. I figured I’d been on her mind, so I took it as a sign that she was interested,” he said. And she was!

We had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with Grace & Silas in Harvard Square, which is where Silas grew up, and together they spend a lot of time just chilling in the square and around the campus.

Here are a few of our favorite photos from our time together…Enjoy!

It’s the way Grace leans on Silas’ shoulder and the look in her eyes that really pull at my heart strings in this next photo. So sweet!

Oh the joy…and could they be any more intertwined? LOVE it!!

Can’t you feel the contentment? We actually asked this really sweet girl, who looked awfully comfy, if she’d mind giving up her corner seat for this shot. She generously agreed. Thanks, girl!

I LOVE how lit up Grace’s face in this next one. When we’re able to capture this kind of real emotion in our couples, well, it’s why we do what we do!!! It’s a gift they give us, and one we give right back to them with photos like this! Awesome!

Because of Silas’s affiliation with Harvard, and his & Grace’s love of Boston, we decided to spend most of our session walking around Harvard Square and through portions of the campus. This next one was taken on the steps of university Hall.

I thought this next one was kind of funny given why we were taking photos…no more bachelors here.

Rrrrrrooooooarrr! Sexy!

And some snuggle time from a slightly different perspective.

A trip to Harvard Square wouldn’t be complete without a bookstore visit…

Another one of our favorite gut-busting laughing moments. These moments are actually hard to capture because we’re usually cracking up just watching them laugh like this…it really is infectious!

And from a different, but equally joyful perspective….Can Grace’s smile light up a room or what???

Ahhhhhh….wrapped up with the one you love. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times…there is no better place in the world to be!

Hanging out on the walking bridge over the river….Apparently, Silas’s brother, another smarty-pants, used to live in the building seen behind them when he was at Harvard.

And, our session with Grace & Silas wouldn’t have been complete without an appearance by Short-stack, aka Shorty, their adorable and very friendly pooch. Way to work the runway Shorty!

Big, heart-felt thanks to Grace & Silas for meeting us in the city for a great time! We had such fun getting to know you both better. You guys really fit together so perfectly, in every way! It’s obvious that your love has grown deep over the past 9+ years and we have a feeling that love is going to be met with much celebration when you walk down the aisle later this summer here on the Cape. We can’t wait to be there with you, recording all of the love-filled moments sure to surround you!!

With big hugs & warmest wishes, Christine & Andy xo

Even before Liz & Brendan’s love session just over a week ago, we knew that we liked them and that their love was based on deep respect and genuine friendship, having had a great first meeting with them last summer. But, watching Brendan hold the car door open for Liz as we arrived at the beach where he proposed, seeing the way he looked at her and the loving looks she returned to him, and the way they made each other laugh, we knew for certain that these two have a special kind of love, where joy is found in the little things.

This sweet couple first met more than seven years ago at a college party, just before graduation. “It was nothing more than a hello,” said Liz. And, even when they met again a few months later, while each vacationing on the Cape with their families, neither Liz nor Brendan knew what the future had in store for them.

“I really never thought I’d see him again,” said Liz. “I was living in New Jersey and working in New York City, never dreaming of moving to Boston.”

But, as fate would have it, Liz did move to Boston and she & Brendan reconnected. Fast forward a few years, and Liz found herself on Nauset Beach with Brendan on one knee asking her to spend the rest of her life with him. Yes, yes, yes!

This summer, surrounded by family & friends, Liz & Brendan will say, “I do,” at the ocean side Wychmere Harbor Club. In anticipation of their big day, we got together with Liz & Brendan for their love session. Here are a few of our favorites from our time together:

These two really do know how to make each other laugh, in that you-gotta-stop-my-stomach-hurts kind of way. They were smiling and cracking each other up throughout our entire 2 hours together…so fun!

A little snuggle time…

Love really is found in the little things…like being completely silly with your best friend.

This little beach-side restaurant by Rock Harbor made a great shabby-chic backdrop for a few photos. We’re definitely going to check it out when it opens later this summer…it oozes with character, and something tells me the fried clams are to die for.

The funny thing about this next image is that Liz, like me, claims to be the funny one in the relationship. Yet, Brendan is totally cracking HER up. Love the perspective.

I like how Liz is sandwiched between two Brendans in this next shot. Again….still smiling! You just gotta love these two!

Hey cuties…

Magic hour…

Buoyed by Love….I know, totally corny, but I couldn’t resist!

Ahhh….complete contentment!

Sunset snog (snog is British slang for a smooch)

A great big thank you Liz & Brendan for being so much fun to be with. We really enjoyed our warm April night together. You two are lovely and we’re so excited to be there with you this summer when your seven-year story begins a new chapter! Big hugs, Christine & Andy xo

Old San Juan was great…a perfect intro to Puerto Rico! We loved walking around the old town, lined with its blue cobblestone streets and brightly colored buildings. Like any city, the air is thick with excitement, movement and the promise of undiscovered opportunities. Young and old, residents and visitors all mingle together while life moves on at a hustling pace.

Alternatively, life on the tiny island of Vieques, just off the south eastern coast of Puerto Rico, is more languid, but in the best kick-off-your-flipflops-and-have-a-mojito kind of way.

Before the US Navy landed on the island in 1941 to build Camp Garcia, sugar production was the main source of income for the island people. But, the Navy took over nearly two-thirds of the total land from the island’s residents, including most of the land used for farming. Initially, the Navy brought new jobs, mainly in construction of the base. When the sugar was gone and construction complete, many of the island’s residents left. The Puerto Rican government tried between 1945 and the 1960s to re-establish an agricultural economy, but its efforts failed.

In the 10 years that followed, the economy shifted to manufacturing, with the opening of a General Electric plant being the most consistent source of employment. The plant is still in operation.

In May 2003, after more than 60 years of military operations, the US Navy closed Camp Garcia on Vieques after years of struggle over the target practice activies on the base. The final straw came in 1999, when a Navy jet missed its target and dropped two 500-pound bombs close to a Navy observation post, killing a civilian security guard and wounding others.

A few of the Navy’s old ships, rusted and abandoned can still be found in the waters around Vieques and although access to some of the former base is still restricted, visitors can see what’s left of the old bunkers.

The population of Vieques has not changed much through the decades and still remains close to 10,000. However, unemployement runs high. Tourism has gained a foothold on the island, with small hotels and restaurants popping up in Isabella Segunda, the capital located on the north side of the island, and in Esperanza, the island’s southern beach community.

The W Hotels is in the process of completing a mega resort on the island. Its completion will likely bring more tourists with money to spend.

Right now, most of the restaurants and hotels in the small village of Esperanza, where we stayed, were small, unpretentious guest houses owned by expats who’d come on holiday and never left, tempted by the warm aqua-colored water, cool breezes, and the tranquillo lifestyle.

We spent 6 nights in Esperanza, filling our days primarily with card playing, snorkeling, beach glass hunting, reading, and swimming….oh and the occasional Medalla or two (that’s the local beer). We met some really lovely people while there, including Kim & Stefan, a Scituate couple who call Vieques their home away from home. Kim has spent the past 20+ years coming to Vieques for her annual vacation. She knows the island and many of the its inhabitants well. Kim & Stefan were kind enough to take us under their wings and show us some of their favorite spots. We had a blast and expect to see them again.

We also met Ura, aka Michael, a junior in high school, with his boyish good looks, an infectious personality and, we discovered, a soft spot for balding English guys who can do really funny Russian accents. We spent an afternoon with him, talking and playing Rummy 500, while practicing our Spanish and learning a little about life growing up on Vieques.

We hitchhiked one night to and from a local cultural festival, which was held at an old fort in the town of Islabella Segunda. Eli, a young local guy in a suped-up sports car, picked us up and happily drove out of his way before heading to work at the GE plant to take us safely to the festival. And, later that night, a family of 4 picked us up and drove us back to Esperanza. Everyone we met on Vieques was lovely, which speaks volumes of the character of the people of Vieques, given the US Navy’s mistreatment of them and their beautiful island.

Here are some snapshots from our brief, but thoroughly enjoyable visit taken with our little Canon point & shoot camera. Enjoy!

On the ferry ride to Vieques from San Juan we spotted this sunken fishing boat resting on a sandbar (or reef, not sure which)…

Me showing off a giant starfish Andy found while snorkeling.

A shell resting on the shore at Secret Beach, which as we discovered on our second visit, isn’t so secret. But, man, is is BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Kim & Stefan led us on an early morning hike to visit one of their favorite spots on the island, an old abandoned light house, where we watched the sunrise. Ahhhh, vacation bliss!!!

Andy grabbed this fun shot of all of us in Stefan’s sunglasses….

The view from El Malecon, the boardwalk that lines the main street in Vieques….not too shabby, eh?

A view of the other end of the Malecon…

This photo just epitomizes the speed of life on the island. This old guy parked his plastic chair in this spot every day and spent most of the day there watching the world walk by…sweet, eh?

Colorful umbrellas kept iguana poop from hitting us while enjoying breakfast at our favorite (okay, the ONLY) breakfast spot in Esperanza. We spent most mornings lounging here for a couple of hours playing cards and munching on eggs & bacon or pancakes. One morning I narrowly escaped being hit by a defficating iguana hanging out in the trees above…and fyi, their poop isn’t small!

On our second visit to Not-So-Secret Beach, we stumbled across these turtle tracks leading to (tracks branching slightly to the right) and from (straight ahead) a nesting spot, under a mangrove bush on the beach….very cool!!! Sadly, we missed our little missus by minutes! Rats!

Andy decided to take a nap by the water and I couldn’t resist making a little sand sculpture out of him. The sand here was perfect for the drippy kind of sand castles I used to love to build as a kid. And, well, two is sometimes better than one. LOL!

An evening in Esperanza wouldn’t be complete without an icy cold Medalla enjoyed on the back deck at La Nasa, overlooking the Caribbean.

Andy waiting for La Nasa to open….

Here we are on the puddle-jumper heading back to San Juan. It was a really fun flight. Strangely, this is the only photo Andy & I have of us together in Puerto Rico….hysterically, he’s looking away, I look crazed and the curious guy behind us seems mildly amused. Priceless! The two guys behind him, Chris & Todd, a fun-looking couple from Chicago, were supposed to meet up with us later that night at the Nuyorican, but we ended up crashing early and never made it….bummer!

I’m not really sure what prompted this next photo, except Andy & I really enjoyed the flight and were being total goofballs. After our quick 20-minute flight, Andy decided he wanted a photo of me getting off the plane, looking like I’d just landed in my private jet. He, of course, lay down on the ground, as he so often does for photos, and here’s how I worked it…..Really? Sadly, I think I’m way more funny than I actually am!

Well, that’s it folks….that’s our Puerto Rican vacation. We hope you enjoyed a look into our holiday almost as much as we enjoyed ourselves! Thanks so much for visiting and for your continued support!!! And as always, keep spreading the love! xo Chris & Andy

The colors were so great in Old San Juan it was hard to not take lots of detail shots. So, here’s just a few more from our 3 days in old town. We hope you enjoy them!

Here’s the hotel we stayed at right in the heart of town…Da House (you can see photos of our room on the site….first room with an outdoor terrace & blue bedspread..although it was a white down comforter when we were there…very cozy). It was a cool place, with a real backpacker’s vibe, although way more chic….very much up our alley. And, starting on Wednesday nights through the weekend, San Juan’s night scene came alive downstairs at the Nuyorican Cafe, a local hot spot for salsa dancing and live music. Things didn’t get jumping until 10 or 11PM, and didn’t stop until nearly 3AM….Arriba!! Here’s the lobby at Da House. And sitting at reception is the very sweet & funny Eduardo. Hola amigo!

The hotel’s cool marble & wrought iron staircase….we were on the 4th floor and got a nice little work out each day, though probably not as much as the housekeeping staff.

There’s nothing terribly special about this next car, and honestly, Andy thought it was kind of a boring photo. But, I just love the light in the image and the contrast between the complimenting colors of the car and the building behind…it just felt very Miami to me. And, with the light, I thought the car looked so shiny…like it could be in an ad. The only thing I would change is to move the car more squarely in front of the pink house, so you don’t see the plywood covering their neighbor’s windows.

An itsy bitsy gecko cautiously watches us while perched on a peace lily.

More great Puerto Rico colors…And I love the contrast of the two signs in different languages. It is indicative of life on the island. Children are taught to speak English beginning in the first grade, so everyone we met, except the cab driver on our way to the airport, spoke perfect English. Kind of ironic that the only time we really got to practice our pitiful Spanish was leaving this lovely country.

A great way to start the morning….lounging on the terrace and watching the world walk by.

I wish we had a neighborhood on the Cape like this…Brightly colored buildings and blue cobblestone streets! Gorgeous!

A different perspective from the same corner…

Back at Pigeon Park, this young woman anticipated a less aggressive feeding experience. There was a lot of screaming involved.

Mornings were often started with a fresh brewed cup of deliciously smooth coffee from the hip Puerto Rico Cafe Cola’o, which had a vibe very similar to our favorite coffee connection here on the Cape, Coffee Obsession in Falmouth. Mmmmm! Puerto Rican coffee has a unique flavor and is one of the countries proud exports. Here’s a link to a cool article about Cafe Cola’o coffee lovers might find interesting.

Now this is a cool car….And I just love the door and wall colors behind.

A male gecko tries to attract the attention of a nearby female….”Hey there hot stuff get a load of my stretchy neck!”

And, tomorrow, for our final installment from our excellent Puerto Rican adventure, we will feature photos from our stay on the delightful island of Vieques. Thanks for visiting! And, if you like what you saw, let us know about it! Warmest wishes, Chris & Andy

The week before we left for Puerto Rico we got together with Kirsten & Dennis for their love session in Cotuit. We had a blast and through chatting, we discovered that Kirsten, an interior designer, had worked on a project at the upscale hotel & casino - Condado Plaza in Puerto Rico. But, she left the firm she had been working at to move to Spain with Dennis, so she never got to see the finished product.

We were planning to spend a couple of days mainly touring Old San Juan, but we couldn’t let this opportunity to get some photos for Kirsten pass by, so we jumped on a publico (public bus) to check out the fruits of Kirsten’s labor. We were blown away. Kirsten said she had designed the lobby’s killer glass-lighted mosiac tile display, and several sitting areas and lounge on the first floor. It’s a very modern, stylized space and we just loved it….almost as much as we love Kirsten & Dennis! (no, not quite…but it’s very cool!)

Check it out….

Kirsten also designed this mural on the hotel’s exterior. It was designed to match the mosiac tile mural in the lobby (next photo). The design also carried through to other areas of the hotel, including the marble floor tile in one of the hotel’s function rooms (below).

The registration desk and the glass tile mosiac. There are lights behind the tiles that make the mosiac a true work of art…cool right? The registration desk itself is also lit from within and the color changes to match various colors in the mosiac. (Check out Where’s Waldo in the photo…sniper boy is at it again!)

I just happened to be wearing all white the day we visited Condado (to show off the paltry tan I had finally acquired after 2 years without having had a proper day at the beach….crazy considering we live 5 minutes from the beach). And, my all white ensemble really fit in well in the ultra modern space….oh so chic! Below is me trying to look aloof for the photo….I’m embarrassed to tell you how many times we tried this before I didn’t look completely ridiculous. I’m still not sure I pulled it off! lol

I’ll just hang out here by this wall while I wait for my mojito….total goofball! But, we had a blast doing our mini modeling session. I think the hotel manager thought we were un poco loco! He came up to us to ask if we needed any assistance and we explained why we were there. He mentioned that the hotel was having a party the following night for some swanky Puerto Rico magazine….I couldn’t tell if he was telling us about it in the hopes that we might come photograph it or what. Had we planned to still be there, we might have come back to rub shoulders with Puerto Rico’s fabulous people.

Part of the lobby

A cool bar off the lobby, although it wasn’t opened. This is where the hotel manager stopped us. I think he said this was where the party would be. Sounds like it’s not a public bar so much as it is available for private functions….but I’m not sure. Very cool looking though! And those glass windows on the right look out over the water, with seating outside.

The other end of the bar.

And finally, a cool little lounge area off the main lobby.

We had fun visiting the hotel….we only wish they had a rooftop bar to hang out at and soak in more of the uber cool vibe. Way to go Kirsten!!! Now, we can’t wait to see what you put together for your wedding…it will no doubt be a stylish soiree, peppered with fabulous personal touches and oozing with the love you & Dennis so obviously share with each other and with those closest to you! See you both again soon!!! Thanks for inspiring a fun vacation detour!

We’ll be posting a few more Old San Juan photos tomorow and our final installment on Monday will feature some shots from our stay on Vieques.

Here are some more photos from our recent vacation to Puerto Rico taken around El Castillo de San Cristobal, a fort built in stages by the Spaniards over nearly 200 years to protect against land-based attacks on the city of San Juan.

When it was finished in 1783, the fort covered about 27 acres of land, basically wrapping the city of San Juan. Entry to the city was sealed by San Cristobal’s double gates. In 1897, after nearly 100 years of relative peace in the area, part of the fort (about a third) was demolished to ease the flow of traffic in and out of the walled city.

Here’s an aerial view we shot from the 8-seater puddle jumper we took from Vieques on our way back to San Juan:

Just outside the fort wall is the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery, the final resting placing of many of Puerto Rico’s most prominent natives and residents.

Andy grabbing a photo of me grabbing a photo of him! But, what I love about this photo is the light on the great yellow peeling wall.

And here’s the man…

This 2-foot long iguana (not including his tail) watches us wearily from the rocks surrounding the fort.

It was particularly windy at the fort, which seemed to attract lots of visitors and their kites. The trees on the back side of the fort were littered with lost kites and miles of kite string.

A visitor leaves the fort.

One of the many sentry boxes, or guerites, dotting the fort’s perimeter. These guerites provided soldiers with a view of ships entering the waters around San Juan.

A different view of the cemetery.

Some more sentry boxes.

Tomorrow, we’ll have some photos of the Condado Plaza in the Condado area of San Juan. The hotel’s lobby & much of the first floor was designed by one of our very talented brides, Kirsten, who is getting married later this summer in Cotuit. We photographed Kirsten’s love session with fiance, Dennis, right before we left for our trip. So, when we heard about the hotel she designed, we had to go see it. Stay tuned!