WEDDING IN RINCON

The first reaction of almost all the bride's and groom's relatives, when we heard about the plans for their wedding in Rincon, Puerto Rico, was "Why in Rincon?"  They live in Washington, DC, and the rest of us live in various cities of the United States, far from Puerto Rico.  We all had to fly to San Juan and rent a car there to take us to Rincon, just 93 miles away (but it takes more than three hours to get there because of the traffic jams and so many lights crossing the little towns).  After finally arriving at our destination and examining the premises, we all agreed to the answer to "why in Rincon?  And it was a unanimous "WHY NOT?"

If Rincon is not paradise, it sure is very close to it. I'm sure that Adam and Eve didn't have it any better.  The Rincon Ocean Villa, the big mansion where we stayed, is a marvelous edifice with all the amenities of a five star hotel.  The colonial style villa underwent a luxurious remodeling in 2008 and it is now an amazing building.  The ample bedrooms with 10-ft ceilings are very comfortable, all with their own patios or balconies; the bathroom floors and walls are tiled with marble; the grand staircase in the front is a photographer's delight and the square open courtyard in the center of the building, with its beautiful fountain, is just the perfect spot for a romantic wedding.  There is a tall tower that can be reached by a spiral stairway where you can enjoy a fascinating 360 degree panorama, with the blue ocean to the west and the green mountains to the east. On top of that, the building is maintained by the friendliest staff you could ever meet.  The 65-ft pool with Jacuzzi is located between the back side of the building and the beach.  And what can we say about the beach with its golden sand, smooth waves and all shaded with coconut and almond trees?
The town of Rincon is located at the most western point of Puerto Rico and it was founded in 1771 by Don Luis Añasco. Although it has a population of just 17,000 people, it is the third richest municipality on the island, after Carolina and San Juan.  The tiny village was not on the map until the 1968 World Surfing Championship, which was held at the Domes Beach, just north of town.  Since then, surfers from all over the world have been visiting Rincon in search of that perfect wave.  In 2007, another competition took place there and a local surfer by the name of Juan Ashton won first place in the masters division.  Dubbed as "the Caribbean Pipeline", winter waves can reach up to 25 feet in height, equaling those at Oahu's North Shore.
This little town is known as "Puerto Rico's best beach town" and also as "la ciudad de los bellos atardeceres" (the city of beautiful sunsets) a title that we could testify to.  Like most of the towns in Puerto Rico, it is very clean and the buildings are kept well painted and maintained.  A little farther north we found a lighthouse, called "Faro de Punta Higüero", which was built in 1892.  It was destroyed by a hurricane in 1918 and rebuilt three years latter.  It has been in continued operation since then.
The wedding of Sal Velazquez and Julia Bright was an inspiring ceremony, officiated by Pastor Kirk Ballin, from the church that Julia and her family used to attend in Roanoke, Va.  It was witnessed by 35 relatives and friends.  Some couldn't hold the tears, including the groom.  But it was a very thrilling occasion and I, for one, felt much honored to have attended it.  After the idyllic ceremony, a succulent dinner was served around the pool and afterward we all danced to the rhythm of a lively local salsa group.

We wish Sal and Julia eternal happiness and that God continue to shed his blessings upon them...and their many future children.

A wedding in Rincon?...WHY NOT!