I tell you what! This Midwestern gal loves a good adventure. And I’ve seen a LOT of places and have had a LOT of adventures. Anyone who wants an amazing Caribbean adventure should definitely go to Puerto Rico. Not only are there amazing winding backwood mountain roads, there are beaches: lush and beautiful, on each side of the island. On the north eastern side you see the Atlantic Ocean with huge crashing waves carving the rock and stone. To the southwest you have the beautiful calm turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea in Guanica and Ponce.
Forget your GPS. Our paper maps didn’t even work consistently. But isn’t getting lost half of the fun? It was for my rainforest mountain beach adventure in Puerto Rico. The first day we counted 14 rainbows. I knew I was in paradise.
Downtown Old San Juan is so beautiful with its hundreds-of-years-old brightly colored buildings and homes. The cobblestone streets covered in moss and the gorgeous patios are such a treat. Other than Old Town Alexandria (Virginia, that is, where I spent much of my childhood wandering and dreaming) Old Town San Juan might just be my new favorite place to take architectural photogs.
Mofongo is the national dish made with plantain and all kinds of other ingredients like crab or pork. I hadn’t eaten pork in nearly 15 years and I had to try the pork mofongo. Holy cow (pig?) it was good! Back in the States, I still don’t eat pork but I do dream about that mofongo.
Perhaps the most memorable part of my adventure in Puerto Rico was the midnight kayaking: under a new moon, through a mangrove forest. If that’s not magical enough for you, read on!
I drove into what seemed like uncharted areas (uncharted on our maps) east of El Yunque Rainforest. Into the twisty winding roads past tons of roadside food stands (coconut water is a must!) going deeper and deeper into a little mountain town near Fajardo to see the bioluminescent bays of Puerto Rico. These waters were so magical! If you ever wanted to believe in magic, the bioluminescent bays of PR is where you will see it. When you touch the water, it glows like blue fire. If you splash your body, you are suddenly covered in blue diamonds! This is all from little single-celled organisms (algae) that bioluminese when touched. Think of fireflies in the summer. Except blue. Gorgeous deep blue fire light. No exaggeration. It’s science. In fact, our kayak tour was led by marine biologists who study the organisms. It was so amazing. What’s more, my Spanish came back to me! Now that’s real magic!!
Have you ever been to Puerto Rico? What was your favorite place?
Kansas Love Bird 
I feel like we went on the same trip! I did all those things as well and had a blast! I was also very into taking photos of doors and did a blog post about them. Nice photos! This post made me miss Puerto Rico!
Thanks! Did you go to the bioluminescent bay? I loved loved loved PR. 🙂
I did go to the bioluminescent bay. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. We always say it seems like a dream, because we have no pictures of it and it was dark and dreamy. :]
We recently went on a Puerto Rico trip as well and absolutely loved it— our favorite was the bioluminescent bay in Vieques, too. Thanks for sharing some of your pictures! Brings it back…
Fantastic! I didn’t get to go to Vieques, next time for sure. 🙂 At first I was super disappointed about the fact we couldn’t swim in it, but then I respected it even more for the sake of the little algae!
Excellent story and photos! I’m a door and window snapper too! 😀
You’re right! It is dream-like. I wish I had photos if the bio bays!!
Your adventure looks and sounds absolutely magical — you’re truly blessed!
🙂
I am ready for that fresh coconut milk!!! beautiful photos!!
Thanks! Coco fria is the best on a hot tropical day!
sounds wonderful!!!!!
Sweetie, it’s coco frio. 😉
Ha ha! 😉 Thanks!
love these images capturing an essence of puerto rico!
xx
Thanks for stopping by!!
I absolutely love that tiny little island, I lived there for a year and that had to have been that greatest year of school ever. I am actually Puerto-Rican from my mother’s side and it felt so different to be in the place of my heritage. The village of Rio Blanco, Naguabbo was where I lived duing that time, creating my diet around the pastelillo de chapín and Coco Rico vendors that littered the town.
I need to visit again.
Sounds – and looks – like a great adventure to me!
Love the photos and your description of your adventure to my island of Puerto Rico! I miss the atmosphere of living there. Thanks for sharing your adventure!
Love the photos and your description of your adventure to my island of Puerto Rico! I miss the atmosphere of living there. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for having such a lovely island for land-locked people like me to visit! Btw, do you make mofongo? 😉
I have never made it myself, but love to eat it! 😉
I LOVE PR! I even adopted a dog from a shelter there – enzothesdato.com.
I’ve never done the midnight kayaking, will need to try it when I go back in October. I love your pics!
What a good deed! Isn’t PR amazing?
Great post & photos – makes me want to set sail now! Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Hoist those sails! 😉 Can’t wait to check out your blog.
Well envy me but I live in Puerto Rico…….about 35 mins from San Juan And 35 mins from Fajardo…….sorry !!!! jjejeejje
Lucky! lol 🙂
Yes, lucky! That’s where I took the picture of the coconut. 😉
Lovely description of a place I have not YET been too 🙂 It is going on my checklist.
Great!
I can’t believe that when i enter on the “freshly pressed” there is a post about my island ♥ thanks 🙂
A question: From where do you are? and when you came to PR?
regrettably, peoplef that live here, does not appreciate that beauty and do not worry about it. But thanks for liking Puerto RIco “La isla del Encanto” 🙂
You are blessed! Thanks for reading. More to come!!
thanks 🙂
As a Puerto Rican…great photos, great words….tell everyone to come on down to Puerto Rico….
Thank you thank you! I can’t wait to return.
Bioluminescent bay? Didn’t even know about that! Good excuse to go back I guess 🙂
It’s the best little-known secret. Can’t wait to check out your travels! 😉
This post brought back many many memories of being a little girl and visiting my family in Puerto Rico. Thanks for the post. xoxo
That is really sweet. I’m glad memories were remembered.
If you have some question about Puerto Rico, here i am ready to answer, im so proud of my island ♥ 😉
I want to visit Puerto Rico too!!!, and I love the mofongo, how do they make it, recipe anyone??? I love Puerto Rican food…
You’re right. I need to post a good recipe from PR. Perhaps VV can help!
Hi, recently i posted a recipe 😉 it’s easy. click the link to see the post. Every one can see it and do its own mofongo 🙂 http://thinkanalizetalkworkonit.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/mofongo/
thanks!!!, yep it’s rico!!!!
My husband and I are flying to San Juan this Sunday so seeing your pictures and reading your words got me all the more excited about our trip. I’m a midwest girl too, by the way–from Kansas City, Missouri before I moved to New England–so I’m looking forward to following your blog and being reminded of life back home :]
Ha! (816) represent! 😉 I’m on the other side of state line, but it’s okay. Enjoy PR! Looking forward to checking out your blog as well!
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed, Ashley! You deserve to be recognized.
Awwww….You were my first follower! love ya!
I love the colour and the mess…what a delectable combination.
I’m so glad you appreciate it!! I surround myself in a culture that embraces street art, and I found that graffiti door intoxicating.
These are beautiful. I lived there for 3 years and still have family there so this brings back some warm memories.
you are so lucky! I’m so glad to know that you have warm memories of PR and that my post helped bring them back.
Recently had the very same issue with roads and maps in Ecuador. A driving adventure, to say the least.
Ha! Did you have white-knucle sheer cliff-hanger midnight rainstorms? Those are the worst/best.
wow beautiful pictures !♥
Thank you very much!
Gorgeous Photos!
Katie
Thank you Miss Raspberry!!!!
Next time you visit us, hit the Culebra and Vieques islands on the east. And try to visit on christmas, so you’ll have the whole culinary and festivities experience.
I will for sure. I really want to do some diving and snorkeling. I hear those are the places to go. 😉
I live in Louisiana now, but I am from Puerto Rico and I am very, very happy that someone wrote a post about Puerto Rico. I born in Ponce in the south of Puerto Rico. It is one of the most beautiful city of Puerto Rico. You can find in the south a real castle ( Yes! in the Caribbean), that is El Castillo Serrallés. We have a Japanese Garden, Parks Indians ( Place where the Taíno indians lived, a beautiful beach located in “Caja de Muertos” that is a islet of Puerto Rico in the south and you can find there a warm and clear water. We have in the south in a city called Coamo Natural thermal water. We have caves in a city of Camuy. We have two bioluminescent bay ,one in the East (in Vieques) that the light is red and the other in the south ( Cabo Rojo) that the ligh is green.
And many others things to offer to the tourist. And we are very friendly and happy people. I am very proud of having been born in Puerto Rico. We are small in our dimensions but very big in our culture and in our heart.
I hope you all enjoy visit my Puerto Rico.
Thank You Ashey
Yay!!!!
Thank you thank you!!!! I forgot about Caja de Muertos. I really wanted to go. Next time, I will. I hear its simply amazing!!! Ponce was awesome! I think there were at least 8 rainbows in Ponce. AND, I can’t wait to check out your painting blog. 🙂
Very nice photographs! T
I’m so glad you liked them! More to come…
Nice! They are really great photographs. I look forward to seeing more.
Gorgeous photos. Kudos to you for ditching the map–seems to have worked out beautifully!
Ha!! Yes, sometimes mapless is the only way. I’m a huge fan of studying maps prior to a visit since my inner compass is terrible. But sometimes a little moxy and a lot of heart is all you need!!!
I’ve never been to Puerto Rico but I definitely want to after reading your post. Your photos are so captivating. It truly does sound like a magical place from how you’ve described it.
Make sure you see the bio bays! And go visit the southern cities too. 🙂
Fellow Kansan here – just wanted to say that I love your pictures and I love Old San Juan! Didn’t get to go to Bioluminescent Bay last time, but definitely will next time I’m in PR 🙂
Stay tuned for more Midwest awesomeness!
So nice to read your blog as I have plans to visit Puerto Rico the coming week. I was having mixed feelings while going through the reviews of the place as many said there were problems regarding security,transportation is never as per schedule and so on!
The only “security” issue I had was that the airport snatched my Caribbean Guava Jelly (seriously?? it even had a bow on it, I mean, really) and I was sure pouty about that one. Please update about your travels!!
I didn’t get a chance to go to bio bay when I was in Puerto Rico (even though I was there for 6 weeks two summers ago!). I absolutely love the people in Ponce.
Oh man! Next time, bio bay. Ponce rocked my world!
This post brought my childhood memories back. Beautiful pictures. Thanks for share.
I am honored!!! I loved Puerto Rico so much!
I am planning a Puerto Rican vacation this summer as we speak! Thanks for your perspective!
My wife and I drove from rio grande to Ponce, which was a dead town when we visited, but on the way we found this restaurant high up on a cliff in the middle of nowhere. I think we were the only tourists there. Sat up on a balcony overlooking the ocean and ate mofongo and king fish. very cool.
The mountains around Ponce and the beaches were so cool! I do wish I had seen that restaurant…
What is amazing are the colors in these places. I love the fact that people are not afraid of it. No neutral browns like here in the US
You know it! There was a whole mountain side of colorful houses. It really blew me away.
I loved your pictures! They were so different from the pictures I took while in Puerto Rico. We stayed in Rincon for the week, which pretty different than San Juan. I wanted to see San Juan while I was there, but didn’t make it, so I really enjoyed seeing your images. I’ve actually seen bioluminescent’s many times in strange places like, New Jersey and Florida. We stayed on the beach on the east coast of Florida overnight and the wet sand was even lit up from the bioluminescent’s. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. It’s pretty crazy to swim in them too. Thanks for sharing and congrats!
Wow! I didn’t know they were in New Jersey. I’ve seen something similar in Mobile Bay, but nothing since. I will check it out FOR SURE.
i love the pictures you posted!
Thank you!
You make my need to go to P.R. even greater…lol Love the pics.
It’s amazing, and I didn’t even post about the Piña Coladas!
Speaking of piñas coladas, do not believe for a second what a place in Old San Juan called Barrachina advertises…that it was the birth place of the piña colada in 1963. That is not correct. Piña colada was invented by a Caribe Hilton Hotel bartender called Ramón (Moncho) Marrero in 1954. It is too bad he never patented it and died penniless.
Nice photos
Congratulations for being freshly pressed. Enjoyed your witty but honest post. Again, congratulations!
I kayaked in Vieques! Enjoyed reading your blog.
I really enjoyed reading your blog. The bioluminescent bay was incredible. I kayaked in Vieques. Did you try the papas rellenas?
I did not! Do you have a recipe?
Just to get away, I have always liked jumping on the ferry and going out to Culebra. The beaches are great!
Adventure on!! Next time I will have to do that for sure. 🙂
Being a Puerto Rican native, your blog post served to send me down memory lane! Ah, mofongo, how much I miss thee! The Yunque is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen and I’ve traveled a lot! The beaches are spectacular and Old San Juan, what a feast of color! 🙂
Too true! The mofongo changed this Midwestern vegetarian!! Much love to PR! 🙂
hehe never been but I think we have a similar photo style (:
Cool! Old Town San Juan reminded me a lot of Old Town Alexandria, VA (except for the weather!). If you’re in that area, you should take some photogs there. 🙂
There’s nothing like an ice cold young coconut!
It means you are somewhere fabulously gorgeous! Full of electrolytes! The ultimate beverage.
Agreed 🙂
Very nice photos esp. the first one. I like the vintage look of it.
Thanks! It’s got a “few” years of patina on it – just the way I like it!! 🙂
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I was transported, reading your post! I caught just a glimpse of beautiful, Old San Juan, years back, while waiting to board a cruise ship. You definately make me wish to spend some time there. 🙂
If you’re landlocked like me here in the Midwest, and you long for the ocean, when you get it you never want to let go! 🙂 PR was dreamy!
I live in New England, and even though the ocean is close by, it doesn’t quench that longing you are describing. I crave to be near the sea; maybe have that salty mist in my blood. 😉 I hope you have occasion to return to PR soon!
Great review of my enchanted Island of Puerto Rico. I am glad that you enjoyed your trip.
It certainly IS enchanted. Can’t wait to go back!
I have been to PR a bunch of times when I was in the Navy. It’s awesome.
Nice post!
Thanks! And you’re right…it’s awwwwwesome. 😉
I went to PR back in 2008 and I’ve been trying to find my way back ever since. I absolutely LOVED it! The scenary, friendly people, and FOOD was amazing.
yah…………. i feel its adventure….
Beautiful photos! And your words were perfect, I felt like I had been there myself. Thanks for the trip 🙂
Thanks!! More to come, I promise!
Loved your post and photos! Really enjoyed the sense of excitement in your writing! . . . Know what you mean about Old Town Alexandria! Always a favorite spot when I lived in the D.C. area!
http://arabianmusings.wordpress.com/
Thanks!
Nice pic’s like it very much…
Puerto Rico is a amazing place, I came there two years ago, I agree with you that the most memorable part of adventure in Puerto Rico was the midnight kayaking….
hello nice blog – can u please tell me the camera model you used to capture these wonderful images plz?? how much does it cost ?
I use almost only Canon equipment (except my iphone) however, I use some Tamron as well. Don’t get wrapped up in the brand names, though. The best advice I ever got was to forget about the equipment, and learn the basics and essentials first. I shoot with a 5d Mark II for weddings, but I have no problem going back and using my Rebel! Good luck, and invest in GOOD lenses. My equipment costs anywhere from $99-$3,ooo.
I’ve found that any place that speaks Spanish is simply worth visiting. Full stop. Period.
Thank you so very much for speaking so beautiful of my island. Yes I am proud to be Puertorican and very few see the beautiful enchantment of our island. Did you know that there is another bioluminescent bays in the south part of the island in Ponce and that one lights up yellow. I am so happy you were not intimidated to try our cuisine, there are so many other things you should try. Up in the mountains there is a restaurant called El Platano Loco, everything is made of plantain bananas if you order a sandwich instead of bread is a fried banana. lol Well I hope this will not be your only trip for there is so many other things to see.
Thank you! I will return for sure. I’d love to spend more time in the mountains. 🙂
Looks fantastic. I hope to see many places in my life, I will definitely include Puerto Rico! It’s just daunting (and exciting) to go to a completely different culture
You are a brave person, I appreciate your efforts behind that. Wish I will have a trip to there too…
Your pictures are beautiful and I enjoyed seeing Puerto Rico through your eyes! Thanks for sharing. My hubby is Puerto Rican ❤
nice photos, i like the coconut
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wooww!! wooww!! and super wooww!! beautiful pictures, it looks like an amazing place 🙂
Awesome photographs! I really impressed.
Aaaaah Puerto Rico… Back in the 90’s this Liverpool lad used to dock there when I worked on cruise ships. We would pull into Old San Juan around nine at night, I can still remember how time seemed to go slow as it took forever for the great white metallic monolith to close the gap between port side and port.
It was our only over night stay so it was a chance to let our hair down and run wild in the bars and nightclubs, oh to be young again. I remember the humid night time air, alien to a Englishman more used to wool than warmth. The strolling friends, freed from the shackles of the ships spilling out like pennies from a broken jar, laughing and linking we made our way into the town with lazy slaps of the water on the harbour wall clapping us on our way like a crowd watching runners go past.
I remember the street cafes, the beeping of the car horns and the first cool beer of the night. The atmosphere heavy with a latin feel and the samba soundtrack booming from the cars, the beat making your heart want to dance.
Most of all I remember a night talking with a girl called Jasmine, long dark hair, olive skin and eyes the colour of a New England Fall. We sat on the harbour wall as the sun came up and her fingers traced circles in my palm as she told me about her home in the mountains she had left behind to work in a store in Condado, she told me how she missed her family and she rested her head on my shoulder, I can still smell her hair, all these years later.
Her lips tasted of lemons and after we kissed we just looked at each other for moment then smiled.
I often wonder what happened to Jasmine, I hope she is happy and that maybe she thinks of that Liverpool lad, thank you for making me think of her.
Tony
Wowza! Lips of LEMON.
Your post has made me add it to my “Places to visit before I die” list. 🙂
You MUST!
I honestly would love to. I love to travel. I think it may have to wait a while though since I have my first baby on the way. Perhaps when my little one is in high school we’ll take a family vacation there. Hopefully it won’t change too much between now and then. 🙂
No, I´ve never been to Puerto Rico…it´s far from here. But I´d love to go there! Nice photos!!//Hi from Sweden!
Hi from Kansas! Thanks for stopping by!!!
I`ve never been to Puerto Rico, it´s far from here…But I´d love to go there! Nice photos!
//Hi, from Sweden
Our map that we got from the car rental place showed a road on the south side of El Yunque. It went up about half-way and then just stopped(on the map) So we made the bold decision to get off the highway, try to find that road and hoped that it wouldn’t truly stop before reaching the mountain. Guided by pure instinct, we made several choices at intersections and continued to drive for about 45 minutes. Just as we came up to what appeared to be a dead-end, and the sinking feeling of failure was creeping in, I heard a beautiful sound, water falling. We parked the car and took a look around.
A group of locals were having a bbq on the other side of the bridge where the road ended. I told my wife to wait at the bottom of the mountain as I traversed the massive boulders in the stream. I’m talking rocks the size of dump-trucks. I climbed and climbed until I found a water-fall and a pool that to my eyes seemed to be right out of a Tarzan movie. I climbed back down the mountain, and with wife in-tow, began the climb back up. Once we reached the pool we chilled and had a swim. Some locals from the bbq, not to be out-done by some gringos, climbed up and joined us. One gentlemen said , “I’ve lived here all my life and never new this pool was here.” They eventually left, and we laid on our backs and gazed up at the rain-forest canopy and the butterflies flying around. It was indeed magical.
And don’t forget the coki frogs! That was a magical sound as well.
coh-kee,coh-kee,coh-kee..:)
nice!
Nice pictures.. I LOVE Coconut VERY MUCH.. thank
i’ve only ever spent the night on stop overs to get to the british virgin islands. i always want to stay in puerto rico though. after seeing this post i know i have to spend some time there! great pictures!
I haven’t been to PR yet but this is making me want to go.
You should try. My one regret…nope, no regrets. Although next time I will make diving and snorkeling priority.
I actually wrote my grad thesis on Puerto Rico! Yet I have never actually been there, sadly enough. It’s definitely on my list of places to visit! Thanks for the pictures!
Wow! What was your research about?
The “bilingual” situation in Puerto Rico–ie technically Puerto Rico is supposed to be a bilingual society even though the majority of people who live there don’t actually speak English. For over a 100 years, the government of PR has tried to remedy this by pushing the English language in the curriculum in the schools. And it’s mostly failed. Before 1949, the US govt. was involved but they finally gave up and now PR controls its own education. And the whole debate about PR being the 51st state and the language debate.
I’m not really sure why this interested me so much–maybe because I’ve been bilingual since I was young and the fact PR has pretty much resisted English for so long when it has been an American “territory” for over a 100 years.
So yeah kind of random, but I found the history of the language debate endlessly fascinating!
I love languages! I did find that in San Juan everyone spoke English, and when we went DEEP into the rainforest or mountains, no one spoke English, but what was cool for me was that I actually got by on my Spanish. How cool is that???
I lived in Puerto Rico for a year and really enjoyed this post! It is a beautiful, fabulous place. My favorite places were the off-the-beaten path beaches where you could purchase regional foods and really enjoy the local culture. I also enjoyed Old San Juan and the historical forts…..such a great place 🙂
I loved the forts! My favorite part was the dungeon where the captain (?) drew the pictures on the walls … awaiting fate!!! Yikes!
Wow, this makes me feel so proud to be a Puerto Rico Native. Having lived here and experienced these things almost on a daily basis I have unfortunately grown used to them and sort of taken them for granted, but thanks to your blog I’m reminded of the wonders of the beautiful island I live in.
Thanks! And Great post!
Lucky you! Have some crab mofongo today for me. I forgot what the word for “crab” is… Mmmm!! It is true, we take our everyday experiences for granted. Perhaps you will be just as enchanted with Kansas as I was with PR. 🙂 Check out the “Garden of Eden” if you are ever in the Midwest.
Well, it can translate as “Cangrejo” or “Huey”,but I think your referring to “Mofongo de Camaron” which would also be correct. Mmmm! Yes, I will take you up on that Idea too, it’s been a while since I had some myself :). And if I ever am in the Midwest i will make sure to go to the “Garden of Eden” 😉
Hello, thank you for your post I am so looking forward to my trip to Puerto Rico!
You are in for an adventure of grand proportions! Do everything!!! Rent a car, see the forts, walk to the public beaches, both Atlantic and Caribbean, and most of all, see the bio bays. Make sure it’s not cloudy and not a full moon. Enjoy paradise!
thanks so much!
Made my first trip to San Juan in late October …. Wonderful … Loved Old San Juan!
It’s wonderful!
14 rainbows 🙂 That sounds lovely. I can’t wait to go one day.
par-a-dise!
Wow, that sounds so exciting! I had heard that PR maybe wasn’t the safest place for non-natives…but I might add this to my bucket list. Those pictures are great!
We got stopped by the police once, but I never ever felt unsafe. 🙂 We were way off the beaten path as well.
I love Old San Juan and haven’t been there in a while – thanks for the pictures! Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Thanks for stopping by!!!
If you come back to the Island, you should go to the south area. There are many sea food dishes… with mofongo, of course. Try “mofongo con langosta al ajillo”. This is mofongo and lobster in garlic sauce… tasteful.
At Ponce there is a beach (La Guancha), and many turistic areas. Here you can visit Castillo Serralles (which in reality is kind of a mansion… historical building), Hacienda Buena Vista (a set of buildings for old-style coffee production), and the old Fire Station. It has many places more… of course.
I am glad that you enjoyed my Island. Definitely, Puerto Rico has so many beautiful places. I read your article and was delighted to know that you, and many others love Puerto Rico. As Puerto Rican, I am so proud of this place.
You are so lucky! We didn’t get to stay long in Ponce, but it was so beautiful.
Canchani, you forgot to mention that Ponce boasts (with good reason) probably the most exquisite arquitecture on the island! Some of the houses in the downtown area are just architectural jewels: las “casas señoriales” (“lordly houses”.) Many beautiful examples of Neo-Classical architecture are in Ponce (Ponce was founded in the early 17th century and was the capital of the Spanish colonies for a long time; it was in Ponce where the wealthiest creoles settled, which is why it has such impressive architecture. It became an important trading port not long after its foundation.). And Ponce houses an amazing art museum, whose building was designed by the same man who designed MoMA and Radio City Music Hall (and the Museum of Architecture, housed in a 100-yr old jewel of a building on Reina St.) I remember reading a very good article on Ponce written a few years back and published in the New York Times. Will try to find it and post it here for those of you who are curious about the urban Puerto Rico at its best. You see, Puerto Rico is not just about its breathtaking natural views, the warmth of its people, and its delicious cuisine! There’s so much more to see and enjoy! Best regards.
I’ve always wanted to go to Puerto Rico, but this makes me want to go even more! Great post!
This is on my bucket list and you’ve just made it go up to #1! Cheers!
There is so much MORE to PR than this too. 🙂 Thanks.
The graffiti on the ornate white door is both disturbing and beautiful.
I’m sure someone will paint over it. But I loved it! Thanks for looking, more to come!!
Great photos. Brings back memories.
Very great pictures Kansas. Its somehow so calm and peaceful.
Well, thank you so kindly! More to come, for sure.
Beautiful photos, and congrats for being on freshly pressed! I actually saw a movie with johnny depp yesterday and the set was in Puerto Rico, I didn’t understand it though.. 😛 But what a coincidence.
Gotta love Johnny Depp!
Did you see the movie “Fast Five” ? It is filmed in Rio de Janeiro on Brazil, but the bridge and many other places are in Puerto Rico.
wow, sounds like an amazing journey. Puerto Rico is on the list now. gracies 🙂
Off the beaten path is best!
Beautiful shots. I love Puerto Rican people…now I just need to get down there. Glad you had an amazing trip. Thanks for sharing this post with us.
I agree, getting lost is the best part of a trip. I love driving without any sense of direction and discovering jewels in their small town
Sing it, sister! I love a good road trip.
Ooh wee I would really really love to go there. And dance all night to reggaeton! Nice blog and pictures!
Wow looks amazing! I would love to go someday, great photos 🙂
It was amazing!
Puerto Rico is a great destination if you don’t want to travel far or spend a lot of cash! I stayed in Rincon which was on the opposite side of the island from San Juan, and it reminded me of home, literally: we even ran into people we knew, including my sister’s ex! Nice post!
Loved your post! So much that I’m dying to see the place myself! 🙂 Congratulations on being FP! 🙂
You really ought to go! It’s so special.
Im very proud to see Puerto Rico on the “Freshly Pressed” .Thanks very much. I live in Aguadilla PR. You can come back any time. If you come in Christmas, you will enjoy it a lot more than now 🙂
Aaaaah Puerto Rico… Back in the 90′s this Liverpool lad used to dock there when I worked on cruise ships. We would pull into Old San Juan around nine at night, I can still remember how time seemed to go slow as it took forever for the great white metallic monolith to close the gap between port side and port.
It was our only over night stay so it was a chance to let our hair down and run wild in the bars and nightclubs, oh to be young again. I remember the humid night time air, alien to a Englishman more used to wool than warmth. The strolling friends, freed from the shackles of the ships spilling out like pennies from a broken jar, laughing and linking we made our way into the town with lazy slaps of the water on the harbour wall clapping us on our way like a crowd watching runners go past.
I remember the street cafes, the beeping of the car horns and the first cool beer of the night. The atmosphere heavy with a latin feel and the samba soundtrack booming from the cars, the beat making your heart want to dance.
Most of all I remember a night talking with a girl called Jasmine, long dark hair, olive skin and eyes the colour of a New England Fall. We sat on the harbour wall as the sun came up and her fingers traced circles in my palm as she told me about her home in the mountains she had left behind to work in a store in Condado, she told me how she missed her family and she rested her head on my shoulder, I can still smell her hair, all these years later.
Her lips tasted of lemons and after we kissed we just looked at each other for moment then smiled.
I often wonder what happened to Jasmine, I hope she is happy and that maybe she thinks of that Liverpool lad, thank you for making me think of her.
Tony
Lemon! Wowza. 😉 my PR experience was more gastronomic and scientific! Heh heh
lol, I think it was left over from the lemons in her ice cold bacardi!
I’ve never been, but based on this post and the fabulous photos, I guess I must…soon! Congrats on being FP!
Thanks, I love PR.
Thanks for taking me there with a visual story and a narrative picture, beautiful blog to put in me in a travelling mood 🙂
Great! More to come, promise!
Loved your post on Puerto Rico and I am glad you had a great time in my home country. I was in awe the first time I took a drive through the Cordillera Central and from a spot there, I was able to see the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the South.
I really enjoyed reading your story. I am Puerto Rican and I Love Puerto Rico. Your pictures were incredible. My favorite one is of the coconut. I find that fresh coconut milk is refreshing but not sweet what was your reaction to drinking fresh coconut milk?
Thank you so much, and lucky you! Coco fria is one of my most treasured luxuries in life. Two reasons: 1. its tasty healthy deliciousness, and 2. it means I’m in that special latitude where coconuts grow. I’m becoming increasingly aware that I need to spend more time in these places. Ha! As a Puerto Rican, do you have any tips on mofongo recipes? If so, I’d love to know.
Hi in fact I do…I have to dust it off and post it for you.
Sold! Puerto Rico it is!
Definitely! Be sure to rent a car. A Jeep maybe.
i never heard of bioluminecent you really made me think of going there, its in my list now.
Reblogged this on Self Harmony and commented:
I never heard of bioluminescent ( hope I’m spelling it right) it made me wanna search about them and go to Puerto Rico. You know its strange it crossed my mind a few days ago and I was thinking ‘is it a nice place to visit?’ well I got my answer
Thanks for the nice words! I hope you get to enjoy it someday. 😉
lovely pictures!
Gracias!
Great shots, congrats on making it to freshly pressed by the way. Cheers to you! 🙂
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You mean Puerto Rico is more than just a place to catch a cruise ship? I will have to explore more….
Indeed! There’s much so see. Adventure!
Gorgeous photos! Congratulations on being freshly pressed! Lovely blog…and now I want to go to Puerto Rico! 🙂
Thank you so much! Home on the Range!? I can’t wait to check out your blog!
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Thanks for featuring Kansas Love Bird on your blog! What an honor, many, many thanks! Your blog is so nice!
This is a great read, glad I found it! Great inspiration for my next article, I made a blog with general topics just last night and I include a travel section which up to now only has a review on Milan so I am happy to have seen this different and positive style of writing an different places! Keep it up!
Wow! Thanks a bunch. Please come and visit again, I’ve got more in store. I’d love to read about Milan.
Outside of Paris and Tybee, Puerto Rico is one of my top favorite vacation spots. Great photos, great post.
Great to hear! I hope you enjoyed mofongo as much as I did!
Loved this post; being born and raised in Puerto Rico, it makes me utterly joyous that someone from abroad loves it like you do, Kansas Love Girl! I live abroad now, but my last home there 9 yrs ago was in Old San Juan (I visit at least twice a year, though! Most in my family actually live in OSJ). I just adore that old town, and I had the best neighbors ever, there. Safety in PR is relative: violence has increased, sadly, in recent years, but it’s mainly due to drug sell-points / gangs and domestic violence: tourists are usually very respected in PR and made feel welcome and comfortable. We are, indeed, very hospitable people and love it when visitors love their experience in our island! Never be afraid to ask for directions when lost; people will go the extra mile to help you (even when English can be a bit of a problem, they will try their best!) The island-town of Culebra (north of Vieques island, off of Fajardo—east coast) is a must; check out some YouTube vids and photos on Google and you’ll know what I mean (Puerto Rico is paradise, yes, but Culebra even more so!) The mofongo you were talking about is probably mofongo de jueyes, unless you’re talking about shrimp mofongo (mofongo de camarones, my fave!) Eating out is safe, pretty much everywhere (in terms of food poisoning: I hardly ever heard of anyone ever getting sick.) One of the best seafood spots in the island is Playa Joyuda, near Mayagüez, to the west. Traffic can be an issue, though, as PR has more cars per sq mile than probably anywhere in the world! Being stuck in rush hour traffic is a nightmare even to us! Especially during the hot summer months!! Good beaches are pretty much everywhere; apart from Flamenco, in Culebra (the most beautiful, in my books!) I’d recommend Mar Chiquita (north coast near Vega Alta), Isabela (Northwest) and Playa Sucia in Cabo Rojo (the views from the Cabo Rojo lighthouse are spectacular, by the way: another must-see!) But even Ocean Park (between the international airport and Old San Juan), or near-by Isla Verde and Piñones are absolutely great (Piñones has great mofongo and fritters stands, by the way! And there’s a place that is famous for its rice and crab (arroz con jueyes). THANKS for the post, and for such lovely photos of my dear Puerto Rico!!!! Perhaps one day our paths will cross on San Francisco, San Justo, or Luna Street, Old San Juan! 🙂 And congrats on your Freshly Pressed!
Many people say Culebra is a MUST. 🙂 Thanks for your expertise on PR!
You’re most welcome, Kansas Love Bird. And next time you visit, make a point of checking out Culebra. You won’t regret it! Here’s a useful link on how to get there: http://www.islaculebra.com/puerto-rico/transportation-to-culebra.html . Be sure to check out the whole website, as it has lots of info on the whats and the wheres! I guess I may be a bit biased when it comes to Culebra, because I hold such sweet memories of my college years there, when I used to camp at Flamenco beach with friends every time I had a chance! (And this is before camping facilities were put in place! It was just us, our tents, the sea, and the stars!) That was many, many moons ago…. I have not been to that sweet little island in many years now, because every time I visit PR (at least once a year since I live abroad—9 years now,) I spend most of my time with my family in Old San Juan (my parents are old and they—and my siblings and close friends—are my priority when I’m there!) One day soon I hope I can go back and visit my beloved Culebra!!! Take care and enjoy your next visit! I really feel happy someone from elsewhere, like you, can see, enjoy, and promote the beauty and value of dear Puerto Rico, my little “island-motherland”…
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
I’ve been wanting to go to Puerto Rico for years now! Your pictures and tales are amazing. The bioluminscent waters sound absolutely spectacular. I’ll definitely put the Bays on my to-see list for whenever I get a chance to go. Until then, thank you for the wonderful imagery! 🙂
You are very welcome. More to come, and thank you for reading.
Nice Shots
Thanks so much!
Reblogged this on 8BIT.
Thanks for sharing!!
I’m from Puerto Rico and I’ve lived here all my life! It’s as magical for me as it was for you… Proud to be Puerto Rican 🙂
Woo hoo!! That’s awsome.
My maternal ancestors are from Spain and Puerto Rico, but I’ve never visited. Thanks for your photos and praise of the island.
Well thank you for reading! Hopefully you can go one day.
Beautiful pictures! I’d love to see Puerto Rico.
beautiful
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
you are welcome
For those of you curious about urban Puerto Rico (and architectural jewels) here’s the link to the NYT article on Ponce (the “other” capital of Puerto Rico) that I promised to post in my comment above. Hope it makes you all want to visit! You won’t regret it…. http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/travel/17next.html
Great article!
Thank you for this post! I haven’t been to PR, but have been planning to go for a long time as its my mother’s family’s motherland. And your post strikes even more close to home because I just live five minutes away from Old Town Alexandria, where you dreamt and wandered in your childhood. Seems like its time to pack up those bags…sounds like an amazing place to visit!
Thanks for the kind words! You really ought to get over there and check it out.
http://thinkanalizetalkworkonit.wordpress.com/2012/06/03/where-to-travel/
More info about PR
;D
I returned to your post a second time. I would love some of that coconut water out of the shell. My mother grew up in Panama and that’s how they drank coconut water.
I am elated! Thanks for returning. It really means a lot. I will have to check out some of your novels and short stories. I had a short stint in Seattle. ; )
Thanks.
[…] more about me? I invite you to check out my About page for starters. Check out my other adventures: Puerto Rico and The Flint Hills. Recently I got caught up in Tropical Storm Debby, but not without my camera! […]