March 5th, 2014
Oh yes!! Still cold and snowy. Looking foward to daylight savings on Sunday!! Life’s simple pleasures like a short getaway to the island of Culebra. My last post is from the beautiful Flamenco Beach.
Culebra is very laid back; you disconnect from the ordinary.
Club Seabourne is located on Fulladoza Bay, with its own private dock in case you arrive by boat. It is a boutique hotel. Tel. 787-742-3169 Website? http://www.clubseabourne.com
Relaxing by the pool or bar…
The restaurant? Guava….Caribbean Creative Fusion under Chef Maira Isabel.
So now that I have given an excuse to get rid of your coats and boots….all you need in Culebra is your bathing suit and flip flops!!
April 13th, 2010
It has been 13 years since I last visited the island. I was visiting for serious personal reasons; not on holiday.
I flew from the Philadelphia airport. The airport was so quiet at that time of the morning; but not for long.
I heard noises coming from my gate; loud voices, kids screaming. Oh, how can I forget that some things never change!!
Latins are loud but Puerto Ricans have a Master’s Degree in Loud Speaking. I am including myself in this group. There have been times when I have had to tone myself down; just a few notches.
Spending almost 4 hours in an airplane will get you to meet the person next to you. I met Christina. Her parents were in the plane, as well. By the time I got to Puerto Rico, I knew her whole life story. I started to get a little worried when she asked for a bag in case she needed to throw up. She was pregnant and morning sickness was tugging at her. I just told her to please throw up to the other side. She was presented with a trash can bag. Can you imagine me landing in PR after all these years looking like, oh, well I am not getting into it.
Hey, I am kidding; I was ready to help her. She made out fine and full of happiness and with plenty of aspirations for the baby. She herself was one of 11 children from the same parents who were 47 and 53 years old. Yikes!! I wish her the best.
It was a smooth ride all the way until we hit San Juan; I missed the clapping upon arrival. I was surprised because it was a bit shaky.
I cannot imagine anyone contradicting me on the following. This airport has never been able to handle a smooth retrieval of luggage. Single file through just one revolving door for all the planes arriving that day. Then on to the actual waiting of luggage.
But, everything was forgotten as soon as I saw Sonia, Guiso and Margie; my welcoming committee.
I thought about leaving my blog quiet for those days but some time ago, when I started writing this blog, Roxana pointed out that Puerto Rico has beautiful beaches, as well. Therefore, I am taking this opportunity to write my experiences in La Isla del Encanto.
One thing Puerto Ricans do well is find the perfect places to eat. So lunch, drinks, catching up and a quick tour of my old stomping grounds; the Condado area, Ashford Ave., and on our way to Old San Juan; one of the oldest, most beautiful and romantic cities in this hemisphere.
I found some areas have remained untouched. Others, I wish they would have left them alone. This island is in economic chaos but building is still going on in Old San Juan. I love its cobblestones in the Old City and the narrow streets, the balconies, the vendors and the Port of San Juan.
Even though I have rated the Piraguas (snow cones) in PR as the best in the world, I did not have one. They really are the best.
The new Convention Center is strategically located taking advantage of its views towards Catano, home of the Bacardi Distillery.
Ahh…the sounds of the island; not the Coqui; that little green frog indigenous to Puerto Rico; but the horns, the loudspeakers on top of cars, announcing I don’t know what. I don’t think there is a political election yet.
The driving experience. Only when you go through it, you realize that it’s time to give thanks for being alive. Sonia went against the traffic, but who cares? Just another “Puertorriquenada.”
Finally, we arrived at “Hacienda Pellerano”, my home until Monday.
Hacienda Pellerano is in the city of Guaynabo, but you would think that it is in the middle of the rain forest. You can actually see, El Yunque (rain forest) from their house, at a distance, and on a clear day. My room was great. I had short and long robes embroidered with its name, slippers, candy and flowers.
Freshly squeezed juice every day, black espresso made by Mr. P; you were ready to face the day. The sounds of the parrots and the sights of the guacamayos passing by made you feel that you were certainly on an island. Iguanas and maybe an occasional monkey, as well.
The thing is that Hacienda Pellerano is private and by invitation only.
And, that’s how my stay began….
Talk to you later…
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