Flamboyan - Royal Poinciana Photo Album

I have to admit, this is the first time that I've been actively searching for a particular tree to photograph.

Fortunately, I didn't have to drive too far. This selfie picture with the tiny mini Flamboyan tree in the background is located outside my friend Triumph motorcycle repair shop near Combate Beach. Amazingly, the other images of Flamboyan trees are located not far from each other.

Some images of  Flamboyan trees are located in Las Marias, Isabela, Mayaguez and Cabo Rojo. 

Hopefully I can redirect my friends to this post if they are interested seeing some of the Flamboyan-Royal Poinciana trees I was able to photograph during this trip. Enjoy!

Holy Cow

Can you spot the cow in the middle of the river on the first two images? I am not sure if I posted these pictures before or not.

They were taken one day that I was driving deep in the mountains from Las Marias to visit a little town called Lares. I noticed the (Rio Blanco) River and stopped on the bridge to take a few pictures.

I wasn't happy with the images I took, and by the time I went back to the Jeep to change lenses, a cow appeared out of nowhere and walked to the big black rocks on the river to drink water, looking directly at me.

I wasn't expecting to see it there, but I was glad I caught the cow walking along the river. The timing was perfect because the cow added a unique perspective to the photograph. Enjoy!

Let It Rain

In my opinion, it can only get better from this point on. Got the GoPro action camera night settings down pat.

Despite the threat of a rainstorm and flash floods this afternoon, I went out on my Jeep Cherokee to try to capture a picture or two during the day using the GoPro car headrest mount.

The top picture is the best of the bunch of images taken today while driving on Puerto Rico Highway 100 in Cabo Rojo, PR, before the flood gates opened and a sudden downpour came down.

Enjoy!

Foto Friday

The number one reason why I returned to Philadelphia this week, was because I had a meeting with the IRS in Center City at 8:30am yesterday morning.

Since 2022, this IRS appointment had been rescheduled three times. No explanation as to why it needed to be canceled.

You are not going to believe this, but as of this writing, I have not yet received my IRS tax refund from 2022. Surprisingly, when I filed for my 2023 refund this year, it was mailed to me in three weeks.

The IRS claimed that they needed to confirm in person who I was, to prevent identity theft. When I asked them how come my 2023 refund was sent to me in three weeks, they didn't know how to respond.

At 8:30am, I was the first and only customer at the IRS office. I had with me the necessary documents they requested, and it took less than ten minutes to complete the transaction. I was in and out in a jiffy. Was told that the 2022 refund check should be mailed to me in 9 weeks.

Afterward, I wasn't in a rush, so I took the bus to get breakfast, instead of the elevated train. All in all, It was a good day.