Okay, perhaps some of you will remember I had a thread (ahem) not too long ago that was about my weight and how I wanted to hit a very specific target for myself, but also to be a kind of birthday present for my BF. (Please, lets not go into all that hullabaloo again. I believe there still is a thread pit open if you need to cast vitriol on me or what have you…Search on “Weighty Issues”.)
Okay, so he had his birthday, and no, i didn’t hit the exact weight I wanted to. But he and I both believe it’s possibly due to the fact that with my increased workouts, it may be a muscle vs. fat conversion, not an inability to hit weight. So, yay for me. Only 3 lbs off the mark.
ANYHOW…my birthday is next week. I will be thirty(mumble) - ah, screw it, I will be 36, and I look wonderful for my age. When BF and I were discussing what to do to celebrate my birthday, since I made efforts to make his so incredible on a number of fronts, he suggested a trip to LA, where I have never been, for some shopping of clothes for me. A 4 day outing, short but sweet, and likely expensive. Yippee! Sounded wonderful to me. Not that a night of sushi and a good movie wouldn’t have made me just as happy…
But a few days later, he’s looking at weather forecasts and LA looks to be somewhat iffy weather-wise, and there’s a conference we could go to in June that’s in LA and combine trips…so instead we’re going to - PUERTO RICO!!
Wow, I’ve never been to the Caribbean! I’ve never been on an island! (Manhattan doesn’t truly count. I lived there, I deem it so.) Well, Nantucket was an island but it was cold. Anyway - WHOO HOO!! PUERTO RICO!!
Can you see me doing my happy dance, can you see me?? There, didja see that - betcha didn’t think I could do THAT move in THESE shoes!!
Anyway, the plan (as it currently stands, and will be subject to intense renovation and change over the course of the next week or so…because BF is an anxious soul, bless him) is to stay in Old San Juan for a few days, and if the weather becomes nicer, to head to the other end of the island for a few days of snorkeling.
Has anyone been? Can you recommend things to check out or to avoid? I’d love to hear stories of other vacations or experiences in the area.
I am so excited I could spit. (Family saying.) I have to clean profusely before we leave for the pet sitter (it’s shedding season), and figure out what to pack…and diet hard-line before we go for that bathing-suit.
But BF and I have agreed that no dieting on vacation in PR. Fruity drinks with umbrellas - check. Mangoes - check. Whatever my heart desires - check. Just…remember it’s back to the grind when I return…who cares! It’s a vacation!
I could kiss the world. Oh, except for points surreptitiously ‘that’ wayhim.
Sounds like a plan, indeed. May I start with my endorsement for the idea of of getting out of SJ, which is my standard recommendation for any visitors. Old SJ is of course a must-see for the history/culture side (fortifications, churches, museums, govt. buildings), upscale shopping, and dining/nightlife; but if the chance is there to see something more, it must be taken. What you’d see/do elsewhere on the island depends on where you’ll go – it is a considerable piece of land; if by “the other end of the Island” you’re referring to the South side, that is the dry/sunny end so it would indeed be very appropriate to seek it out for beach/snorkel events. It also provides the chance to see some other nature sites and more “traditional” PR towns.
There was a similar question relatively recently so I’ll try and see if I can dig up what was the thread so we don’t have to repeat everything, but if you have specific Q’s about any parts of your plans just go right ahead, there are a few people here who either live here or have been here.
Oh, about the mangos: the season doesn’t really begin in earnest until mid/late May. But surely you will find them. Meanwhile may we interest you on some high pork content dishes? And drinks, of course. Parasol optional
And regarding things to watch out for: the traffic in and around SJ. Our vehicular situation and the attitude on the road manages to combine Manhattan with the LA Freeways in unholy union. Drink after you get where you’re going.
Completely unrelated to your OP, Ink a dink a dink, but I thought of you today.
I went to have a printer cartridge refilled, and I was thinking to myself that your nickname on here would be a better name for their business than the one they already have.
Re: traffic - good gracious. Sounds frightening. Although I must admit, a cab ride in London was almost enough to make me pass out from sheer panic attack.
I hope you can find the other thread. And I’m glad there will be some mangoes. And I lurve pork. Pork good. Seafood? Parasol drinks a must. I’m starting a collection.
SEND ME PARASOLS!!
Anyway, thanks for the suggestions so far. I hope to hear more!
Pork is good, and plantains are good, too. See how many dishes with plantains and bananas you can eat during your stay.
If you go to San Juan, that’s coastal and you shall find a restaurant with good seafood. If you go to the other side, either the west (Aguadilla), southwest (Cabo Rojo), or south (Ponce), all of them are good coastal towns with many seafood restaurants. Mmm… serenata… mofongo con pescado… chillo al ajillo… Good stuff…
Hey, during your time in England, did you eat black pudding? If so (and you didn’t hate it) try some morcillas…
Thanks for all the advice. And I have checkd out the other threads - great ideas.
Okay - plantins = banana-y looking thing? What’s it taste like? What’s it used for, a main dish or accent or…
I did try black pudding in England. Um. Not to my liking. But I did enjoy a good fry-up. And pub food is quite delicious.
I love pork, and love seafood. I suppose it being an island in the Carib and all, I should expect good seafood, yes? At this point, we’re soing Old San Juan for a couple of days and then I want to try to get in some beach/snorkle time on the caribbean side (the Atlantic side is too rough, I’ve been told?)
I’ve been informed to use a large number SPF by my docs (just had an incident of skin cancer) and will wear hats (cause I’m fasionable, and I turn purple and pass out). I’ve been told to wear light colored clothing, but I’ve also ween warned that it’s a little more conservative, fashion-wise, so short-short skirts are out, and to cover up a bathing-suit? Is this correct or legend?
We’re doing el Yunque one day (my dad advised that one, along with travel guides and BF) and may fly over to Culibre (sp) and Vieques one day as well. It’s a vacation, and I am not one who feels the need to pack a million things into one day, but it’s my first time there so I want to get a feel for things. I love history, so the forts will be something I want to do, and we’re staying at El Convento a few nights (ooh, a converted nunnery!) - any other must-see sights?
Travel books are all right, but for those who live there, you know what the best things are, so any recommendations would be helpful. Oh, and The Butterfly People - I want to see this store - looks lovely.
I’m not a hiker, so El Yunque will be liesurely, and snorkling will be relaxed as well - never done it “officially”, just mucking about in North Carolina. But BF has a lot of gear from past trips and former GFs and some of the equip fits so I am excited to try this. I feel comfortable in water, although watching “Open Water” has screwed me as much as Jaws did when I was younger.
So…I’ve never had to plan a vacation as much as I am now - BF is a little anal about such things; I’m more of a “let’s go and see” kind of person, and I’d like to be able to add to the discussion.
Thanks for all the advice so far!
Excitedly,
Inky
PS - BF, who just turned 54 a week or so ago, came home from a haircut with BLACK hair yesterday - he had no grey anyway, and was dark brown in the first place, but he’s experimenting, so…anything goes at this point. Should be fun. He’s actually loosening up! He calls it - remembering how to live.
Plantains, in Spanish, plátanos. Looks like a giant banana but is always eaten cooked. It is a major starch staple, right behind rice-and-beans. It can be cooked fresh-picked or after allowing to ripen yellow: when “green” it can be boiled, flattened-and-fried as tostones (looks like a latke, but a bazzilion times yummier), mashed into mofongo (w. or w/o pork, sometimes stuffed w. seafood), turned into balls for soup; when ripe it can be fried (“amarillos”) or stuffed and baked (“canoa”) and turned into the lining of pastelón, a sort of potpie. They are also a component in the batter for alcapurrias (a type of fritter) and “pasteles”, a variation on what is called a tamale in maize-based cuisines. Tostones and Mofongo are must-haves, though I must warn that a large helping of mofongo can sit quite heavily.
Yes, fish and other seafood will be good. Specially accompanied by the aforementioned tostones.
The North side does tend to be a bit too rough for the snorkeler – and a bit overdeveloped. The preferent locations for snorking are to the Northeast, off Fajardo; Culebra island; and in the Southwest Caribbean coast (Cabo Rojo-Lajas-Guánica). Quite obviously, all these locations are excelent for fresh seafood. And in all those locations you can be accommodated for beach/underwater/kayaking type of activities.
Well, we have been known to take mercy on people who have at least made some effort to not look like an archetypal tourist (). But yes, it is “conservative” in the sense that you are expected to be dressed in real clothes and not wear swimsuits as outerwear anywhere other than the actual beach, but light tropical-casual is OK. ( And if you do, you won’t be stoned but we’ll shake our heads and mutter things about gringos and taste, plus good luck getting a good deal at the shops ) In any case you don’t want to walk around in too-skimpy clothes just because the sun CAN be murderous… but as to short-short anything, it’s OK for nightclubbing in the evening in SJ… if you can pull it off
I guess part of the whole basis for the “conservative” thing is that Metro SJ is a major port/industrial/government center (metro urban area population 1.2 million).
From your interest in snorkeling/beaches Culebra would be an ideal pick for a day-trip, that would also provide your trip some more archetypal “small island” vibes that may be hard to get on the heavily developed Isla Grande of Puerto Rico. Vieques has potential but it is still really on a “now what” mode, trying to get itself squared away. You can do either island in a “sunrise to sundown” type of schedule, or arive later and make it an overnighter, returning to the IG in the morning.
Coming down from el Yunque you may wish to stop by the roadside kioscs at Luquillo (Hwy 3 a little beyond the El Yunque exit) or at Piñones (Rte. 187, the coast road, almost getting to San Juan) for fatty native fare (though interestingly, ever more often the operators are Dominican)
Ah, you’ll be in the very middle of OldSJ. Cathedral across the street, Governor’s residence down two blocks, all sorta museums and historic sites a decent (OK, maybe even a vigorous) walk away. And quite a lot of shopping and dining/nightlife options. You also can can always take the ferry across the harbor and do a tour of the Bacardi rum plant, if that’s among your interests…
I just realized I haven’t been there in over 10 years! Shows you how much of a social-scene type I am…
Very good idea. At the El Portal visitors’ center (at the entrance to El Yunque, run by the US Forest Service) you should be able to get advice from the Park Rangers as to a route that is not too taxing. In Fajardo/Culebra and/or Guánica/Lajas you should also be able to find snorkeling outfitters that will accommodate an “easygoing” agenda.
If the schedule allows it, specially if you’ll be doing the Lajas/Guánica sea sports thing, try to get in a good tour of Ponce, the major city in the South. Nowhere near as hustly-bustly as San Juan but it has an astounding Art Museum, some fine historic architecture with lotsa character, and if you can fit in the Tibes precolumbian site or the Hacienda Buena Vista plantation (this one’s by reservation only) you can get an extra dose of living history. If you will be in the Lajas/Guánica/Cabo Rojo zone, you can also take an evening to check out the Bioluminescent Bay (not as shiny as in the past, alas – pollution – but still a fascinating phenomenon).
For psychological vengeance, the word you will look for in the restaurant menu is “tiburón”
I don’t know what is the label of conservative they were thinking about, other than what JRD mentioned of not going to the bank or church dressed in swimsuits. You don’t dress like that in your hometown ( I would think), so there is no need to dress that way when you’re in the caribbean.
I don’t remember needing hiking equipment to walk to the top of El Yunque.
Plantains can be either a main dish or an appetizer, as JRD said.
Oooh, fried things, fried things… that’s Piñones! If I have time later (school and getting ready to walk my pup), I’ll try and find something about it for you.
There is also a museum in San Juan, relatively close to the area where you’re staying, called Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. The focus is mostly Puerto Rican artists, but they may have exhibitions of international works.
My Sister and Brother-in-law really enjoy Vieques, but they are nature people so enjoyed just laying on the beach, kayaking, snorkeling, etc. (Vieques has [a] way cool bioluminescent bay[s]).
Ah yes - Aricebo! That would be cool - have to mention it to BF, see if he has an interest. I’m a science/astronomy nerd, so I’d love that! Thanks for that suggestion.
For everyone - thanks so much! I’m making my list!!
Why thank you, Kytheria. No tan…well, unless it gets trohugh SPF50 which I found at REI (got my first Tevas yesterday!). Had a bout of skin cancer on the neck so my doctor said I could go to Puerto Rico on two conditions:
I wear the highest SPF I can find.
I bring him and Cecily (his wonderful assistant) with us.
Two out of three ain’t bad. I promised Cecily parasols from fruity drinks.
But photos - oh yes! We just bought an extra battery and memory stick for the camera and are bringing a small laptop to download them to daily so there’s no “whoopsies” in losing anything. I will post lots (although don’t you hate other people’s vacation photos? Always made me green with envy.) and a link when I return. My dad would always send me one photo via e-mail. Last time, it was no text, just an underwater pic of lese lusciously colored fish swarming before the camera and a fantastic coral background.
He got one line in return. “I hate you.”
Such is the humor in our family.
But sorry - off the subject - thank you for your kind wishes!! We got Caribbean clothes for me yesterday (I never realized my wardrobe contained so much BLACK before), aforementioned TEVAs, another piece of luggage to accomodate the snorkling equipment, and a trip to walgreens for - everything else under the sun. I hate shopping, but this was fun!
I’d bring you with me - new luggage is big enough, but then BF would wonder where the fins were…
We got behind a funeral procession on the outskirts of SJ. A ton of cars, some with big speakers attached to roof, blasting religious music.
I won $875 on one spin of roulette at a casino in SJ. Then we walked, like idiots, with the money in our pockets, for blocks until we found a place to eat. Sheesh!
I am green with envy. I am 35 mins from P.R. and haven’t been there in the last 2 1/2 years. For some reason we find it easier to cross the planet than visiting our neighbors. Anyways, Puerto Ricans are very warm and friendly (well, this is the Caribbean after all), they are also happy people. But to be honest one of the main reasons to visit the island is the food. Wonderful, delicious food.
Old San Juan is a great starting point, but do drive around and go out. Talk to the people, don’t go to McD’s and assorted franchises (of which there are entirely too many in the island). Remember to bring either tons of film (or memory cards).
And please don’t ask the *natives *if they know Ricky Martin. It gets old.
