On American Soil: Puerto Rico!
By: Leslie Dunbar
On American Soil: Puerto Rico!
Our friend Julie has a story to tell about her trip to Puerto Rico. We met when she and I were taking our little people to little people swimming lessons many years ago. She and I don’t see each other much but we do keep track of each other, mostly online, but isn’t that the way of our busy world?
She’s a yoga instructor now and seems to have quite a following. Here style is pretty relaxed and happy. You can check her out here, and if you are in the 757, maybe take a class!
We asked her some questions about her trip that may help anyone who is planning a trip to Puerto Rico anytime soon.
Did you meet any locals? What were they like?
“We met so many locals and I can’t express enough how friendly and fun everyone was that we came across.”
This is exactly what has been expressed from others that have visited PR, whether it be to a big city like San Juan, or in the smaller cities and beach towns. Hospitality seems to be abundant there.
Did you see mostly tourist attractions or go off the beaten path a bit?
“We checked out the popular tourist attraction San Felipe del Morro. I didn’t expect it, but the fort was one of my favorites to explore from a historical and architectural perspective. I’d consider it a must-see! We also paid a visit to the new industrial design museum of MADMI (Museum of Art and Design Miramar). I used to work as a graphic designer and this museum stop was a real highlight of the trip! It was a wonderful and full display of Puerto Rican art and design.”
This fort is a pretty well-known tourist attraction but still not crowded as you might see in other Caribbean locales. This fort was built by the Spanish in the 1500s and is just a short walk from the city of San Juan. It’s beautiful too, as it’s built into the cliffs towering over the blue seas surrounding PR.
Have any memorable meals?
“So many great eats in the area of Ocean Park/Santurce: La Cueva Del Mar Seafood – wonderful, fresh seafood — so, so good! Tresbé and Cafe C – ate there every day, all of it was amazing! and outdoors! Sabrina – a fine dining experience – fantastic!”
Food trucks and beach huts are common here, with selections that will excite any foodie. Standard fare here includes plantains (prepared in a myriad of ways!), roasted and grilled pork/chicken, rice with beans. The flavors are often subtle and not as spicy as some of the other islands in the Caribbean.
Where did you stay? Would you recommend it?
“We stayed at The Dreamcatcher in the gated beach neighborhood of Ocean Park, a subdivision of San Juan. The Dreamcatcher is a beautiful oasis in itself and filled to the brim with lush greenery and chic small touches. It’s located just a couple of blocks from a fabulous beach with clear waters, and within walking distance of a ton of shops, culture and great local eateries.”
Did you step out of your comfort zone? Food, activities, adventure?
“We mostly stayed within the urban limits, and made great use of the many local restaurants, shops, arts and museums. We were (needlessly) wary of traveling to more remote parts of the island due to damage sustained by Hurricane Maria. Limiting our island travel proved unnecessary — as the island and all of its natural glory is effectively back up and running. I would like to go back and explore more of the eco interests, including the rain forest, waterfalls and a few smaller islands offshore.”
One of the more popular attractions is the En Yunque National Forest. Around there you can find a lot of things to do like canopy touring, exploring waterfalls, and zip-lining through the rain forest: not your everyday hike!
Another thing that captures people’s attention is the area in PR called “bio-luminescent bay,” or
How did you get around?
“We walked. A lot. We also took Uber around the island, which was very pleasant and easy. (Lyft is not an option.)”
Puerto Rico lot of hills and streets that are narrow. Biking is also an option but you’d want to be aware of fast drivers on those narrow lanes!
Any regrets? Something you missed?
“We didn’t have time for it, but many locals suggested we travel by car and then take a ferry over to Isla Caja de Muertos. We’ll be back!”
Isla Caja de Muertos is an uninhabited island reserved for beach goers and hikers. It can be reached by ferry and is at least a half day adventure. It’s a protected area due to its sea turtle traffic so you may find some friends fighting you for space on the shore!
WELL?
We think that Puerto Rico sounds like it would be a great place to visit. Given the difficulties that the island faced due to hurricanes, it seems like there are many places that are mostly recovered. Tourism is a great money maker for the islands and, it’s American soil! Why not spend our travel money right here in the USA and help them rebuild!
There are plenty of cruise lines that make PR part of their itinerary. We can get you booked on Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean and more to get you to this island dream come true. BRB, going to check dates for 2021!