Christmas in Puerto Rico and Fireworks too
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I’m not exaggerating when I say the Season starts the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) and does not end until the day after Three Kings Day on January 6th. I have a small post I did about Black Friday too.. it’s as crazy here as it is on the mainland. Here’s a link to it.
The reason for the long celebration stems from the fact that as a predominantly Spanish speaking Catholic state, the main event was/is Three Kings Day. It has been celebrated in Puerto Rico since the beginning of Spanish rule. Children would leave food for camels (dried grass) in a box, under their beds at night and then wake… Continue reading
Merry Christmas One and All
This is a short post to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
I hope 2011 was as good to you as it was for us. I know it’s been a hard year for many. We look forward to the new year and all it brings.
I’ll be adding a couple more Category Pages to the site over the next year– One dedicated to Gardening in Puerto Rico for those that like to get their hands dirty. And one dedicated to Historical Images from the past with the back story to them. There are many untold stories here and I want tell a few of them.
Needless to say– Running the web site,… Continue reading
El Yunque Forest.. A Northwest Approach
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Most folks visit the El Yunque US National Forest via a formal tour and I highly recommend that. I took the half-day tour from San Juan on my first visit. 
There are links to half day and day trips in the Sidebar. That was great, but now I had an opportunity to see it from a different perspective.
The San Juan Photo MeetUp group was celebrating their 100th trip and chose this spot for their picnic. We caravanned from San Juan to the site since some of us had never been there. It’s a typical drive up into the mountains on paved, but narrow twisty roads. We took Highway 3, then 186 to 9966.
The road… Continue reading
Posted in Isla Mountain Central, Puerto Rico | 
Acai, Caribbean National Forest, El Yunque US National Forest, Facebook, Ferns, GoogleMaps, Highway 186, Highway 3, Highway 9966, Hip-Boots, Lizard, Macro, MeetUp, San Juan, San Juan Photo MeetUp, Tree Ferns, Tropical Rainforest, US Forest Service, US Military, Vibram FiveFingers | 
1 CommentThe 42nd Indigenous Festival of Jayuya, PR
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An event worth the trip, no matter where you live.
We were there on Saturday, but the festival was spread across 4 days, ending on Sunday.
Activities included a conference dedicated to La Flor de la Guasabara, lighting of the Taino Fire, a special presentation of indigenous music and dance, the presentation of a documentary dedicated to Taino Indians, 
crowning of the Indigenous Queen, music workshops, a variety of local contests and tons and tons of live music!
I’ve now made the run to Jayuya 3 times. The first time was on Palm Sunday to check out the town and the second was for the Tomato Festival.
On the drive… Continue reading
Posted in Isla Mountain Central, Puerto Rico | Artesano, Balloon Plant, Feliz Navidad, Hairy Balls Plant, indigenous dance, indigenous music, Indigenous Queen, Monarch caterpillars, Music Video, Palm Sunday, Pina Colada, Pine trees, Ruta Panoramica, Sylvia Rexach, Taino Indians, Tomato Festival, Trio Voces de la Tierra Alta, Turks Cap, VadoHD, Wax Mallow, Wild About Alaska | Leave a commentArroyo’s Tren del Sur– Train of the South
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A Puerto Rican attraction in need of resurrection..
Most printed travel guides speak of the ‘Tren del Sur’ in Arroyo as if it were only temporarily closed. It operated 4 miles of track from 1984 to 2005 when it was shut down for ‘maintenance’ and never reopened. Today, it appears to be all but abandoned… weeds and tall grass are starting to overtake it.
That’s truly a shame.
It’s typical of the kind of changes that have taken place, island wide.
Sugarcane has not been a cash crop here for decades. Yes, you can still see it in small plots, but that’s it. More of a novelty, really.
Puerto Rican Rum is made from imported sugar and molasses…
Not… Continue reading
University of Puerto Rico Botanical Gardens
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Another ‘Top 10″ attraction of PR and San Juan in particular.
Yes, the gardens on the grounds of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) had been on my original ‘hit-list’ of places to see. I’m a little ashamed I had not come to visit before now. The SJ Photo MeetUp Group decided to come back and check it out so that was all the 
excuse I needed.
Though some tropical plants flower year round, this is the tail end of the summertime flower explosion. There is something in bloom year round, but it was evident that many things had gone to seed or past that. The dry season starts in late December so most things go into a… Continue reading
Posted in Greater San Juan Metroplex, Old San Juan | Agricultural Experimental Station, Aquatic Garden, Association of Sugar Producers, Bamboo Chapel, Botanical Garden South, Bromeliad Garden, Caguas Botanical Gardens, Carambola, Ficus benjamina, Flor de Magna, Fountains, Highway 1, Highway 21, Highway 3, Hurricane Hugo, Medicinal Plant, Monet Garden, Sculpture Garden, SJ Photo MeetUp Group, Star Fruit, sugarcane, Tropical Agricultural Research Station of Mayaguez, UPR grounds | Leave a commentJuncos Meetup and Lunch on a Sunny Saturday
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A few weeks back, the Photography Enthusiasts Meetup Group (of San Juan, PR) made a run to Juncos. We all met at the Plaza and then preceded to work our way around the downtown area, shooting local color.
I made the drive to Juncos solo.. me First Mate stayed home.
Though I was a little apprehensive about it, I made all the ‘right’ turns and got there in record time.
Learning Spanish is going slowly, but I can get by in a pinch.
Can you say–
Pollo Asado,
Pincho, Cerveza, Pitorro, taza de Café, Baños,
Uno, Dos, Tres? And maybe Cuba Libre?
GOOD!
As I got near the plaza I… Continue reading
Posted in Isla Mountain Central, Puerto Rico | bamboo culms, Catholic church, cemetery, Cerro de Nandy, crypts, Deuce-and-a-Half, DSL, graffiti, graves, Home Style Puerto Rican, horse, HughesNet, Hwy 181, Juncos Alcaldia, mausoleums, Nandy, Paradise Tax, Photography Enthusiasts Meetup Group, Rabbit, Rio Valenciano, San Lorenzo, troop carrier | 1 Comment2nd Annual Coffee Expo of PR & Lunch too
Me First Mate and I had been looking very forward to the Coffee Expo.. it did not disappoint. When we got there at 10:30AM, the Expo had only been open a couple hours.
This was also an opportunity to check out the Dr. Pedro Rossello Convention Center of San Juan, built in 2005. It is yet another jewel in the crown of Greater San Juan. 
A beautifully designed, massive steel and glass structure. The surrounding grounds and reflection pool are also quite impressive. It stands as a grand tribute to artful, but functional architectural design.
It is located very near the Old San Juan district and Condado. We had to cross… Continue reading
Posted in Greater San Juan Metroplex, Old San Juan | Adjuntas, Aroma del Cielo, Cafe Don Pallo, Ciales, Coffee Expo, Condado, Dr. Pedro Rossello Convention Center of San Juan, Facebook, Guinness World Record, Gustos Espresso Bar, Hacienda Don Jose, Hacienda Monte Alto, Mi Madre Pique, Mia Dolce Passione, Microsoft Silverlight, Mofongo, Monin' Gourmet Coffee Flavorings, News is my Business, Old San Juan, Orcovis, pique, Pomarrosa Cafe, PR Tea, Sheraton Hotel, Starbucks, The Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico, Toro Verde | 1 CommentPuerto Rico Coffee Expo– October 8th & 9th
This is a short heads-up about the Coffee Expo this coming weekend in San Juan. I’ll be reporting on the experience in a couple weeks. Did I mention it’s free?
Details: Second annual event. Admission is free. Parking is $6 per vehicle. 9AM to 6PM both days. Over 100 exhibitors and live music. Web site is in Spanish or English. Centro de Convenciones de Puerto Rico, 100 Convention Blvd., San Juan Puerto Rico 00907
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PR Tours and Day Trips..
Ponce the Pearl City from San Juan
Price: $ 98.99
Ponce is a unique historical city with many museums and attractions; if you can’t spend a few days to see it all, you must take this tour. See Tibes Indian Ceremonial Park and Seralles Castle, with the city’s stately plazas and mansions, the famous red and black firehouse.
Zipline Canopy Eco-Adventure Tour from San Juan
A Memorable and Exhiliarating Experience!
Rio Camuy Cave Park and Arecibo Observatory from San Juan
Price: $ 101.65
From the depths of these dramatic caves to the stars above in one day!
Deep Sea Fishing Private Boat Charter in San Juan
Full Day or Half, sport fishing for dorado, wahoo, sailfish, tuna and blue marlin…
Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Half-Day Tour
Price: $ 54.99
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A Great Way to Make Coffee
Puerto Rican Flags and Banners
Fly Your Flag With Pride
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