Lady of Leisure Destination: Puerto Rico

Una noche en Puerto Rico. Besitos. ~Lady of Leisure

As some of you know I have taken to being a "lady of leisure" since returning from Zambia.  And wow what a much needed break it has been!  As a Lady of Leisure I "invited myself" on a five day vacation to Puerto Rico.  Valió la pena (it was worth it!)!  Puerto Rico has been a dream destination for me since I fell in love with salseros such as Frankie Ruiz, La India, Frankie Negron, Hector Lavoe and of course, Marc Antony! And mofongo.  I needed to dance sweat in the streets of Puerto Rico and eat mofongo. Finally, 22 years later I made it to the island! ... mainly because when my friend Aisha told me she was going with fellow educators I gave her doe eyes and invited myself on their vacation. A true friend (CAU!) she allowed me to me join in on the fun!

I knew we had limited time on the island and there is SO much to do! I put together a dream list of activities:

• A day in El Yunque
• Tour of Bacardi 
• Tour of Old San Juan
• Bio-luminescent Bay
• Dancing in a hot, sweaty club
• Spa time on the resort

The key to group vacations?  Be flexible!  I did not complete all of the bullets on my dream list but I did do new things on this vacation and honestly, I am grateful for those new experiences.  Keep reading to see why!

What did I do?

Tour of Casa Bacardi.  I made it to Bacardi!  I am a rum girl! It is my poison of choice so this was a MUST DO tour! At the beginning of the tour we were welcomed with a choice of an adult beverage made with Bacardi.  The tour was informative and interesting but the best part, of course, was the rum tasting!  We tasted five Bacardi varieties:  Bacardi Superior, Bacardi 8 year, Bacardi Limitada, Bacardi Legacy and Bacardi Reserve.  The last two are only available in Puerto Rico at the distillery.  Bicardi Limitada, a very high end rum, is available in the US for $100-$125. I came to Puerto Rico knowing I would be going home with 2-3 bottles of rum.  One of those bottles should be one I could ONLY find in Puerto Rico. Mission accomplished!  I would definitely recommend this tour!

Welcome to Casa Bacardi

These two are ONLY available at Casa Bacardi.  Cost:  $160.

Cuba libre!

Un sueno....

Glory ... Rum Glory

BEFORE the tasting

AFTER the tasting haha

As I said, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! This bottle was $160. I
filled the bottle, corked it, dipped it in wax and sealed it with the
iconic Bacardi bat!  I plan to open this bottle when I am 40 OR
when I am engaged.  Whatever come first! 

Walking Food Tour in Old San Juan.  Food,  Old San Juan.  Perfect weather. Perfection!  I absolutely recommend this tour!  At $90 it is a bit expensive but again ... vale la pena!  Not only do you have 4 glorious hours touring Old San Juan, hearing of its rich history but as you re-trace history walking on the old cobblestones, your group will make four stops to enjoy amazing local delicacies of Puerto Rico!  After the food tour, stay in town, keep walking!  We ended the day with souvenir shopping, margaritas and enjoying the sunset.

The only all open air restaurant in Old San Juan

The Rum Bar @ Princesa has rum that can substitute for ANY
alcohol! ANY ALCOHOL! That includes gin, tequila, brandy,
whiskey etc.  Try it! I am a believer!

Did you know the  piña colada was created in Puerto Rico?

La Casa Estrecha

...5 feet wide, goes back 36 feet and 2 stories!

Stop #2 is a restaurant and sells art made by local artists!

Alcapurrias de carne.  Oh yes!

Cerviche

Un vejigante 

This restaurant used to be a jail cell! (Stop #3)

On the tour we made our own mofongo de pollo!  Yes Yes Yes!
My favorite part of the tour!

Hecho en Casa.  Stop #4.

THE BEST FLAN I HAVE HAD IN LIFE! Hablando en
serio!  You MUST visit Hecho en Casa if ever in Old San Juan.

Sail, Snorkel and Beach!  OK now if you KNOW me.  Truly know ME ... you KNOW this is not something I would normally do.  Like ever! But this is where it is important to be open, flexible when touring with a group. So what was I to do but put on my cute swim romper, sunblock, lipgloss and be open to the experience!  So you have a deeper understanding, a couple of confessions: I hate the beach... Better said, I hate sand. Even better said, I hate sand in crevices. Secondly, I haven't owned, been seen in or shopped for a bathing suit as an adult. More accurately since under the age of 10. But this year I've decided to love and live my BEST life! I am so glad I had this experience! It honestly was the best day of the vacation!

Lady of Leisure

Naw ... I need to feel the earth under my feet ...

Sand under my feet, rum punch in hand.

Waves

Find the swim romper at Lane Bryant.

Enjoy your time away!  This year is "The Great 38" so when I booked my trip to Puerto Rico I decided to do every single thing I said I'd never do. For so many years I refused to wear a swimsuit. Not only am I not someone who needs to be IN or even NEAR the water but I was hard on myself and things that I saw as a flaw (e.g. cellulite on my thighs).  But as I said, THIS YEAR is MY YEAR. And that means the world was meant to be introduced to The Cellulite Celebrity!  F*ck it. I do not know these people and will more than likely not see them again.  What they see today is not what they would have seen 4 years ago.  Four years ago I was 67lbs heavier with an additional 23 inches. I am proud of what I have achieved and dammit how best to celebrate that with a two piece that shall be adorned in Puerto Rico!? haha

This two piece can be procured at Swimsuits for All.

I am in a pool!

"What has 2017 done with the Phoebe I know?!?!" It has handed me glitter and dammit I plan on shinin'!  

Clearly I did not do everything I wanted to do on my dream list but clearly it will not be the last time I am on the island!  I will absolutely return to Puerto Rico! Who is going next? Can I just invite myself now?? 😉

TIP:  Stay in San Juan or Old San Juan!  Taxis are expensive and you will save a lot of money by staying close to the city.  

If you want to do any of the tours I have mentioned on this entry, please book in advance at https://www.viator.com/.  Professional, reasonably priced and memories were created!

Finally, you should just start following me on snapchat (pmkenney79)!  Besides, tomorrow I am off to Cape Town.  You know you want to be part of the fun! Besitos! XO

Sunday Funday: SIR at SAX

What do my innocent eyes behold?

My friend Dana decided to treat me to a brunch event on Sunday and I.WAS.NOT.READY! Usually one thinks of good food, vibes and endless mimosas.  However, SIR Sundays at SAX in Washington DC is not for your Pastor's wife!

The restaurant was dark, lit by low ambiance lighting and chandeliers, velvet curtains and covered chairs decorated the corners, two levels of seating give the look of a small, quaint opera house. I noticed the decor for a second and then I noticed the entertainment.  Tall, chiseled, oiled down men wearing hardly anything with black timbs, elevated, dancing as the guests were all seated.

Upon being seated, I took my eye off of the dancing statuesque man as our server for the event made himself known.  He was also barely dressed, masculine body clearly moisturized with a huge smile, "Hi, I will be your server and part of the entertainment today." Well salutations Laurence! haha He points out the 4-course brunch menu as well as advises that once each bottle of bubbly is finished, simply turn it upside down and another will be provided for the table.  On the table were 2 carafes filled with orange and cranberry juice.  Finally, there was also a small ramekin filled with peach nectar.  Dana and I immediately filled up our champagne glasses, sipping as our attention returned to the dancing gods surrounding us.

My mimosa concoction:  bubbly, peach nectar, cranberry juice, then
slowly top with OJ for the layered look in the photo.

THE FOOD:
The food was ok.  It was not horrible but the table would have benefited from a salt and pepper shaker.

The brunch menu and potato leek soup.  The soup was hot,
great taste but needed salt and maybe a dash of pepper.

Pastrami Seasoned Smoked Salmon:  it was ok.  Not much
taste.  Again, where is the salt?

Cheese omelette with kale salad.  Um I do not eat eggs so
I did not partake.  However, I really enjoyed the salad! The
dried pineapple and smoked gouda went really well together.
The kale was fresh, crispy and the dressed was full of flavor!

Dark chocolate with pistachios.  Really good - decadent.
Perfect finish!

THE ENTERTAINMENT:
The entertainment was quite impressive! My favorite performances were the chain and ribbon aerial performances!

I also enjoyed the "Magic Mike" like synchronized dancing routines which happened in a stage above the bar. These parts of the show are made to make the guests feel, see, experience but only fantasize.

And finally, there are what I like to refer to as the "mayhem" parts of the experience.  If you know me, you know I actually do NOT like male strippers.  I have never understood the need to see half naked men swingin' their d*cks and doing back flips.  Naw.  However, this was quite different and I was entertained and even made it "sprinkle" a few dollas (by a few I mean $40)!  The music was great, the men were literally hopping, flipping, slidin' their way from table to table, entertaining the women for a minute or two and then boom, the next gladiator was at your table ready to entertain!

Shots, shots shots! 

We nicknamed him Emilio as he reminded us of Emilio
Estevez from his Young Guns days.  ha

The lights finally came on, back to reality, at about 1:15pm.  The fine gents stayed around, thanked all the guests (they shook our hands, smiled and thanked us for coming to the event) and then posed for photos.

All in all this is a really fun event!  Dana and I laughed, sipped, stared in awe, danced, objectified, ate and enjoyed SIR Sunday at SAX.  Interested?  Of course you are!  There are two shows every Sunday:  11am and 2pm.  You must buy your tickets in advance:  Sir Sundays at SAX tickets.  Tickets are $50-$100.  As a belated birthday gift, Dana purchased the VIP tickets at $65 and we were seated right on the main floor (oh the access!).

Tisk tisk tisk .. you could have seen everything I experienced if you had followed me on snapchat! Do not miss out on my shenanigans now that I am back in VA! Follow me on snapchat: pmkenney79. Until the next time, besitos!

Oh What a Night: Johannesburg, South Africa

Raining?  Solution:  hooded daishiki

Many of you know my obsession with Cape Town (how could one NOT be obsessed with Cape Town??) but one weekend a friend convinced me to skip Cape Town and experience the fun side of Johannesburg. 

I admit I was not easily convinced.  I have been traveling to Pretoria for work since 2010 and I thought I had seen much of what Johannesburg had to offer:  The Apartheid Museum, the former homes of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmund Tutu, a moment of silence at the Hector Pieterson museum, lunch at Sakhumzi, dinner at The Butcher Shop, shopping at Sandton ... what more could there be to do?

Plenty. There is plenty more to do in Johannesburg, especially after the sun sets in this city.

If you love a chill vibe, easy food, strong drinks, house/dance/electronic music and to dance the night away .. make your way to Kitchener's in Braamfontein (http://kitcheners.co.za/).  Opened in 1906 this is one of the oldest pubs in Johannesburg and still remains a legendary nightlife spot! (So much fun was had I neglected to take photos!!! This should tell you to GO TO KITCHENER'S if you are in Joburg!).

Another fun option:  book the Soweto Nightlife Tour!  My friend Ashlee booked the tour with MoAfrika tours (https://www.moafrikatours.com/tours/soweto-night-tour/) and while the tour does cost R1250 (approximately $96) it was worth it!

We were picked up from our hotel at 6pm and after we picked up the other passengers we were on our way to Soweto!

While I have been to Sakhumzi for lunch numerous times, it is very different by night!  This was the perfect first stop to get the night started!  We enjoyed drinks on the menu and our tour guide ordered one that was not on the menu - shake shake. Shake shake is a fermented medicinal beverage quite popular in South Africa.  For taste, think room temperature, flat beer.  But it is all about the experience!  So take the hallowed out gourd, swirl (or shake shake), gulp some down and pass!  This is a social experience so sharing is caring!

NOTE:  The tour price did include one drink of choice and the shake shake experience.

Shake shake, sip ...

...pass to a new friend on the tour!

After drinks and introductions we made our way to Chaf Pozi (http://chafpozi.co.za/).  This was the first time for me and I was excited! Located under the iconic water towers in Soweto, this is the perfect spot to have braai (all the grilled meats), side dishes known to South Africa (pap - think West African fufu and chakalaka - think ... just delicious, put it on your plate haha), a cold South African beer (I am quite fond of a very cold Black Label) and music!  At Chaf Pozi you find yourself eating but then jumping up to dance when your favorite South African tune comes on!  The food was delicious and the atmosphere puts you in the mood to hit the streets of Soweto!

NOTE:  The tour price did include dinner and one drink at Chaf Pozi.

Iconic water towers under the night sky in Soweto

Food.  Delicious food.

While it is not typical of the tour, the next stop on the tour, The Rock, was closed. However, this is a nightlife MUST in Soweto, a great vibe and place to have a drink so make your way there if you nearby!

Luckilly, we were with a fun, flexible group so we made our way to another popular nightlife spot in Soweto - The Establishment (http://www.theestablishment.co.za/).  For me the lights were a bit too bright, BUT the atmosphere was light, fun and the music was great!  If you are looking to dance, not the place for you.  But if you are looking to have a drink with friends, feel sexy, listen to great music and flirt a little -- go to The Establishment!

The tour group @ The Establishment

We stayed longer than the tour guide who was not able to get in as he was wearing shorts.  In the end, it was a really fun night!  I enjoyed Soweto by night as it allowed me to see the livelier side of the township.  I would not only encourage people to see the Mandela house and the home of Archbishop Desmond Tutu but to also see Soweto by night - dance, drink, laugh!  Would I do it again?  Oh what a night ... ABSOLUTELY!

My friend, Ashlee, also blogged about her experience.  Visit her blog to read her take on this experience:  Johannesburg By Night: Soweto Night Tour.  And don't forget you kinda could have been there!

Follow me on snapchat and don't miss a moment or an experience:  pmkenney79! XO