Puerto Rico
Map of Puerto Rico
We spent some time in the towns (circled in yellow). The yellow lines were our approximate journeys during our 6 days PR trip
Here is a list of encounters I deem interesting when traveling around Puerto Rico:
1. Margaritas in Mexican restaurants are strong. Carole would say it's pretty much tequila and lime
2. Buildings are painted in bright colors
The following are pictures of classic PR food. Plantain, rice and beans are never strangers in this nation's cuisine.
The gang in Fort San Felipe del Morro :)
Stuffed fried plantain with chicken rice
3. Mavi, pina colada, fruit juices and Medalla light beer are common drinks
Breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon and local flat bread- toasted and generously buttered
Pina colada and papaya juice
4. PR food consists of fried and deep fried food. To name a few, tostones (deep fried plantains), fried sweet plaintains and sorullos de Maiz (fried corn sticks). There is a big difference between good and bad PR food
Mofongo Relleno de Langosta aka Lobster mofongo
Tostones with a sweet dipping sauce
5. Fresh fruits are in abundant. Coconuts, bananas, papayas, pineapples and mangos are plentiful. I saw my first avocado tree and tried a brown round fruit called Mamey
6. Fruit fly-like flies linger by the beach, come out in the evening and sting like h*ll
7. Bioluminescent waters are cool
8. Zip-lining through a fog, over rainforest tree tops, in the rain and lightning across 800+ feet can be scary!
9. Ask for discounts. We got half price for snorkeling gear and kayaks
10. Cab drivers can be friendly and crazy at the same time. We rode in a van filled with 15 people without a single safety belt in sight and a stick in the middle of the van to hold a falling ceiling
11. Smartphones work
12. You can own about anything- boat, horse, mountain, mansion, etc
13. Conversing in Spanish helps to get around
14. Conch salad is pretty delicious
15. Swimming by the mangroves is prefectly OK
16. Boat guide can find starfish
17. I have never seen so many sea urchins in one spot in my life
18. The cliff near a lighthouse somewhere south west of the island is where they shot a scene from Pirates of the Caribbean
19. Pigeons are overfed and not afraid of humans if you have food
20. Piraguas is another name for shaved ice with fruit syrups
21. Beware of wild horses' poop on the beach
22. People ride bareback on horses as means of transportation
23. Roads are tiny in most of the streets
24. Local guide knows the best spots on the islands
Sausage rice (top) and churrasco (bottom) with plantain, rice and beans as complementary dishes
Octopus salad... very yummy!
Clear blue waters by the beach in Cab0 Rojo
25. If you wonder why the cobbled streets in old San Juan are blue, it is because the Spanish incorporated sea shells that give out the blue hue
26. Sun block and aloe vera lotion are necessities! Shades and hats are encouraged
27. Don't be surprise to see a reggaeton band playing in an Irish pub
28. Electric cables run on roof tops in old San Juan
29. Most food are served on plastic or styrofoam plates accompanied with plastic forks and knives. Unless you eat in nicer restaurants. Reason is this reduces cleaning costs
Desserts are pretty small: flan (top) and tres leche cake (bottom)
Date: 6/11/2011