February 13th, 2014
You cannot blame me for the continuation of my posts on the Island of Puerto Rico. Have you looked outside today? Delaware Beaches are getting rain but the tri-state area is getting snow. So, Puerto Rico, is a quick get-away for many. Only a few hours from major airports in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, and Philadelphia, PA. No passport needed. Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the U.S. English is spoken for the most part throughout the island.
One of my favorite cities in Puerto Rico is Old San Juan. Strolling through Old San Juan will set you back over 500 years. Gorgeous cobblestone streets, wear comfortable shoes. This walled city is so unique that the United Nations Educational Scientific & Cultural Organization, also known as UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. It is a 7 block museum, where people, live, shop, dine, and party.
A few months ago a friend stayed in Old San Juan with her husband. Both were so surprised to see and experience how Spanish the island is. Not Latin American but Spanish from Spain…food, buildings, and traditions.
I don’t have to think twice when someone asks me where to stay in Old San Juan. My answer is always the same: El Convento Hotel, located at 100 Cristo St. Tel. 787-723-9020. Website? http://www.elconvento.com.
Hotel Convento…the word convento is convent; it was a Carmelite Convent 356 years ago. In 1959, under Operation Bootstrap….Operation Bootstrap gave U.S. companies tax incentives to come to Puerto Rico. Hotels, Pharmaceutical companies and Oil companies came to the island looking for those benefits.
Robert Frederic Woolworth, heir to the Woolworth fortune, began converting the convent into the El Convento Hotel in 1959. Since then, other major renovations have taken place in the 1990s and in the 2000s. The hotel has 58 rooms, and several restaurants.
El Convento has a rooftop pool. Visiting the Island of Puerto Rico would not be complete if you do not visit its beaches, as well. El Convento has beach and pool privileges at La Concha Hotel located on Ashford Avenue in the Condado section of San Juan and in Isla Verde at the Marriott Hotel. These are both great beaches if you are in San Juan.
The forecast for the Delaware Beaches looks pretty good this week-end. Hard to believe that you think it is warm when the temperatures raise to 40 degrees!! Oh, well spring is around the corner.
See you,
February 10th, 2014
I think it probably was like 38 years ago when my husband and I attended a cockfight in San Juan at the Club Gallistico de Puerto Rico. Once was enough. Not into it and just like I don’t like bullfights…it is the same with cockfighting.
I heard today, February 10th, that a raid took place in New York State….called “Operation Angry Birds”. It was the largest cockfighting bust in the history of the state.
University of Delaware, where one of my sons graduated from, is one of the oldest universities in the U.S. Their mascot is the Fighting Blue Hens. That’s right, there is a lot of history why they became a symbol for the university. If you want to know more, please visit http://www.udel.edu/aboutus/history.html.
Gamecocks, gallos, fighting cocks are bred to fight. These fights can get very bloody. I was taking the ferry from Fajardo to Culebra, which is one of the islands owned by Puerto Rico. The other one is Vieques. These islands are between Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Beautiful and getting more popular every year.
The sound of the rooster….it was 5 p.m. Was he ready to go to sleep? So, I went down to see what all that racket was about. There I saw him. He was beautiful. I am sure he was coming from San Juan after a fight. He was probably a winner. The owners let me take their photo and told me they had 6 more in their cages going back to Culebra.
Puertoricans are used to de Peleas de Gallos or Cockfighting….it is part of a heritage. That does not mean that everyone goes or approves of it, but I think it is there to stay.
In the meantime roosters roam the islands too. They are free and continue to be part of the local color.
Talk to you later.
February 9th, 2014
Puerto Rico is pretty popular this year. Many visitors looking for the swaying palm trees and warm weather. Too cold and snowy this winter.
Visiting the island of Puerto Rico is not just basking in the warm sun…the island is full of history.
When I saw the man selling the guiro I had to take his picture. I was never an expert playing this percussion instrument, but I don’t think you need to. Just play it.
The guiro is a traditional Puertorican music instrument believed to have originated from the Tainos. It is a notched hollowed-out instrument.
It is made by carving the shell of the gourd and carving parallel fluting on its surface.
To play it hold it on your left hand with the thumb inserted into the back hole to keep it in place. The right hand holds the scraper and plays the instrument. Check the photo above.
The scraper is also called a “pua”. Scrape up ad down. The guiro is usually played by a singer. It is more for folk music than for salsa.
See you!!
February 1st, 2014
Morning at Hacienda Pellerano started with a little rain. That’s to be expected, you are in the islands.
But now the sun is coming out and we are getting ready to continue in La Ruta del Comelon, where today’s outs and abouts take us to La Ruta del Lechon, Guavate, in Cayey.
Breakfast at Hacienda Pellerano was light and delicious…..Crepes and Fruits!!
Stay tuned!! Buen Provecho.
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