Sunday, July 31, 2011

Taking A Ferry From Puerto Rico To The Dominican Republic

America Cruise Ferries has started a new passenger ferry going from Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic. America Cruise Ferries started its plans to launch a passenger service, between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, after securing certification from federal authorities to carry passengers. 


The Caribbean Fantasy, a 650-foot ferry, has seven decks, and 140 passenger cabins.  The ferry also has:  two restaurants, a casino, nightclub, piano bar, duty-free shop, beauty salon and swimming pool. The Caribbean Fantasy has a capacity for 1,100 passengers, 165 cargo containers and 70 cars and trucks. America Cruise Ferries also provides round trips cargo service, from the ports of San Juan and Mayagüez to Santo Domingo, three times a week.


The Caribbean Fantasy ferry is scheduled to sail from the Pan American terminal near the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan every Monday at 7 p.m.  Sailings from Mayagüez are scheduled for every Wednesday and Friday at 8 p.m.  Return trips from Santo Domingo dock at 8 a.m.  Introductory prices, including port fees, start at $169 per person round-trip from Mayagüez and $189 per person round-trip from San Juan.  Cabins are available starting at $48 and passengers can bring three pieces of luggage at no charge.


According to the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and other government officials, the ferry will be great for tourism and business opportunities on the island. The new service was expected to bring some 100 direct jobs and 300 indirect jobs in both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.


                                                                            
 



  
  
  

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Aquasol Water Park Opens In Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

A water park has opened at the Carolina Public Beach in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico.  The Aquasol Water park is 13,500-square-feet , and it has an 8-inch deep swimming pool and a geyser-like streams of water that shoot out from the floor in a synchronized sequence. The Aquasol Water park was built at a cost of $4million, and it has a capacity for 170 children.


Throughout the park, children up to age 12 will enjoy 30 interactive water toys and games, such as water pistols, cannons, hose and tilting bucket, and a pirate ship that has several water cannons and slides.  Advanced control systems and sensors, are used to operate The Aquasol Water Park.


Located in Isla Verde, a popular tourist area near San Juan, tourist and locals will be able to enjoy the water park.  Aquasol, also has public showers and restrooms, a rest area with umbrellas, and a couple of water fountains.  The water park is open: During high season (May 15- August 31) Tuesday to Sunday and holidays, from 9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.  During the rest of the year:  Saturday, Sunday and holidays, from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.   





                                                                    



Monday, July 18, 2011

People In Puerto Rico Will Have A Peek In The Sky Of The Space Shuttle Atlantis And The International Space Station

The Caribbean Astronomy Society says that the space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station should be visible to sky-watchers around the island of Puerto Rico early Wednesday morning. 


According to the Caribbean Astronomy Society, the best view of the historic spacecraft will be at dawn Wednesday, in Puerto Rico, between 5:06 a.m. and 5:14 a.m.  The space shuttle Atlantis will have the appearance, from Puerto Rico, to be followed by a brighter star, the International Space Station, as they both travel close to the moon.  So if you are an early riser and want to take a look at history, go outside and look up to the sky. 


This will be the last flight for the space shuttle Atlantis.  NASA is retiring its three space shuttles, and sending them to museums.


Puerto Rico is the place to see the space shuttle Atlantis!  Have fun taking a look at the space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station!


                                                                          

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Shopping In San Juan, Puerto Rico

Here is the news about shopping in Puerto Rico.  Puerto Rico is the place for shopping in the Caribbean.  Many people from neighboring islands, come to Puerto Rico to shop.  In San Juan, Puerto Rico there are many places to shop, and San Juan has the biggest indoor mall in the Caribbean, called Plaza Las Americas.   Plaza Las Americas, known to Puerto Ricans as Plaza, is located In Hato Rey, a section of San Juan.   Puerto Ricans like to shop, and Plaza is one of their favorite places.  You can visit Plaza any day of the week and you will find people shopping.   As a matter of fact, all stores in Puerto Rico are always busy.   I am not a shopper, but people in Puerto Rico love to shop, or perhaps, is a way of escaping the Caribbean heat.


Plaza is a large mall with over 250 stores , movie theaters and many places to eat.  Also, Plaza Las Americas has many entertainment activities throughout the year, for everyone to enjoy.  Therefore, if you are not a shopper, you can still enjoy Plaza.  Some of the stores at Plaza Las Americas are:  5-7-9,  Armani Exchange, Abercrombie & Fitch,  Aéropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Bebe, Caché, Façonnable, Forever 21, Gap, JCPenney, Lacoste, Macy’s, Sears, Wet Seal, and many more. 


Other areas to shop in San Juan are:  Old San Juan, Condado and Isla Verde.   In Old San Juan, you will find, high-end shops, small stores with more traditional items, and souvenirs from Puerto Rico.  In  Condado, there are various high-end stores along Ashford Avenue.  In Isla Verde, you will find high-end stores and various souvenir shops.


The latest news on shopping, is the construction of a new shopping complex, that will be located north of the Plaza Las Americas mall.  The complex will be called Plaza Internacional, a mixed-use development planned for the San José Lagoon waterfront, on the San Juan side of the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge.  Plaza Internacional is geared toward both the local and tourist markets.


The project consists of a regional commercial center and a hotel-casino built on 27 acres.  Plaza Internacional will have 558,600 sq. ft. of shopping mall space, and two 11-story office buildings.  Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue have plans to open stores at Plaza Internacional.  This will be the first store in Puerto Rico for both of these high-end department stores.  It was announced, the hotel will be a 264-room Crowne Plaza.  No date has been given as to when Plaza Internacional will be open.


UPDATE: Plaza Internacional will now be called The Mall of San JuanThe Mall of San Juan is expected to be completed in 2014.     


                                                                     
      





Saturday, July 16, 2011

Puerto Rican Power Couple Jennifer Lopez And Marc Anthony Decide To End Marriage

Sad news tonight for Puerto Rican power couple, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony.  According to People.com, Lopez and Anthony have decided to split.  The couple released a statement,"We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters."


Many people were caught by surprise by the news.  The couple from Puerto Rico, have been married for seven years and last year, on their wedding anniversary, Lopez and Anthony renewed their vows.  Lopez and Anthony, performed together last May, during the "American Idol" season finale, where they trilled viewers, and audience members, with a steamy live performance.


Lopez and Anthony were married at Jennifer Lopez's house in Beverly Hills in June 2004. This will be Jennifer Lopez's third divorce and Marc Anthony's second divorce. The couple has two children: 3-year-old twins.


We wish Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony all the best during this difficult time.

Take a look at their performance from last May:




                                                                        

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Puerto Rican Marc Anthony Sings The Star Spangled Banner

On this July 4th celebration of America's Independence, let's look and listen to one of the best renditions of The Star Spangled Banner, that I have heard.


During game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks, Puerto Rican singer, Marc Anthony, sang the national anthem of the United States of America, at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, on June 12, 2011.  Take a look at his beautiful interpretation:




Bravo!!  Happy Fourth of July!