Tag: San Juan Puerto Rico

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July 31, 2026 by Cassandra Johnson

Paseo de Montejo proved to be my favorite street. When I could find an excuse to end up there, I would. For half of 2024, I often did.

Paseo de Montejo proved to be my favorite street. When I could find an excuse to end up there, I would. For half of 2024, I often did.

Also, notably, the reason could be just because and especially because.

I found myself doing what I wanted, even when I should have been doing what I didn’t want to do. Postponing my responsibilities or pretending they were a part of me exploring, wandering, and eating my favorite foods in the sun in Merida was my full-time job with work in between. My first year as a digital nomad arriving from mainly San Juan, Puerto Rico to this favorite street among many in Mexico was a test for my long freelancing weeks with random and/or no days off in between. I was sporadic but I had fun.

In between my pains.

I missed my family. I missed my friends. I missed my creature comforts. Friendships were hard to cultivate in the midst of so many travelers that I enjoyed getting to know but ultimately had to part with over and over again. Was Lord, Alfred Tennyson right? “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all”. Maybe? Not love in this instance, but bonding, nonetheless. Friendships, community partnerships and then I flew out or they flew out or I took an intra-country bus somewhere back and forth or one-way. On and on. When I think of it….

Down this street, I knew I also wanted my favorite agua fresca and sometimes freshly squeezed juice at the restaurant, perfectly snuggled between several more tasty Mexican spots and not far from the expat Irish bar, tempted into featuring some U.S. cuisine, as well.

Across the street, almost directly, was the spot where we had silly sang along with the now-relocated singer who spotlighted there regularly. This upscale restaurant and bar was just a few feet down the way from Marago Coffee where I liked to do some of my document translation work, while enjoying the pastries and a savory pizzetta, sitting comfortably, devices charging. The staff was always so accommodating to me and my friend.

Is a trip okay? Is a journey worth it?

When I think of it…

Yes, it was worth it.

All the moments. All the lessons. Temporary connections interwoven with permanent ones. All that is worth a lifetime of experiences and lessons, gratitude and appreciation for others and resources and my circumstances.

Eventually we say goodbye to the world too.

78 Dance Partners

July 29, 2024 by Cassandra Johnson

I was looking for live music. I was looking for DJs. I was looking for the occasional cocktail but mostly I was panning out for camaraderie and a chance to continue dancing.  Another part of the life plan decided: Dancing will continue to be my natural high, my ready escape and relaxed synchronicity between my mind, attitude and body.

Navigating my way back through Peru tells me what I need for a healthy life, or I guess, rather for a considerably healthier life. As noted here, I have reintroduced one element which comes through dancing. I really got to feel into this during college. Sometimes, I forget because of circumstances. I was last in DC before starting to travel again and there were times when everything added up: Right places, right music, right price and willing friends.

The combination was not as easy as it had been during university which seemed readily conducive to more divey bars/clubs and or upscale-like venues and dancing events. Still, there was definitely a time, in the middle of my DC life when a group of us were frequenting one neighborhood or another like U Street or Dupont Circle. I was in my element. Later on unfortunately, this was not so much. I could understand why. A lot of schedules, logistics and motivation (in which others additionally feel self-conscious while dancing) were present.

Then, coinciding with my first trip to Pisco, Peru, I unexpectedly found myself in the company of many people locally and from various countries who I would accompany to discos and bars on nights and weekends. Music and dance also permeated our volunteer home/headquarters.

As I started my third time back in Peru, I was not so sure about getting to enjoy music and connect with people. This time, I had picked up travel again in San Juan and then spent some time in Mexico. Notably, Puerto Rico was very satiating since there is a big dance scene, but I did not get this immediate fulfillment when I moved on to Merida, Mexico (though I love this place). Coincidentally, I had not danced much in Mexico, my time more so playing out with friends in places without ideal dance floors or music. (I like a variety but hanging out plus dancing was not coming to me).

Then, these last two weeks happened, and it was a mirror of my co-volunteer time back in Pisco and Cusco, but this time as a digital nomad trying out a much different lifestyle. Splitting my time between hostels, hotels and Airbnb apartments in various Peruvian neighborhoods played a good part. Getting time to regroup and switch up neighborhoods and go back to community in hostels helped me connect with more travelers and residents.

Having a bar upstairs in a hostel is particularly helpful. I met a few people from Peru along with a Colombian doctor. Though I have connected with various people while walking around and hanging out, considerable time would pass without me finding people who in addition to the fun treks and sight-seeing, also wanted to relax with music and dancing. This second to last hostel was one answer. Some people naturally have a way of making me feel at home: In addition to these four local people, I clicked with an Italian traveler and her friends, leading us to another ideal club, where we could dance with each other and others from Peru. The scene reminded me that I had also connected with an American guy and Venezuelan expats similarly, about a month prior to this.

Once I started college and imitated the dance moves I saw in pop culture and improvised with my own, I recalled how I had likewise done so in my childhood. During those previously shy phases, I would simply dance alone in my room, in our basement or when I was home alone.

There seems to be some added meditative element. There also seems to be a release like a sigh of relief and joy complementing the expression. My dancing inhibitions also come and go. I can very much understand motivation being based on mood and other elements. My wavering confidence has the potential to reappear.

What strikes me now is appreciation for my recent dance partners. There is also cause to appreciate all the partners that came before whether we were in a club, home, dorm room, restaurant, open space outside, etc. I am more pleased now to think back over a lifetime of so many meeting of the minds under good beats, soothing rhythms, shared smiles and connections in a multitude of glances.