Thursday, December 29, 2011

Puerto Rico To Vote On Political Status

The Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuño has approved a two-part referendum, that will help decide the political status of the island of Puerto Rico.  In the first part of the referendum, Puerto Ricans will vote on whether they want a change in political status or remain a U.S. Commonwealth.  In the second part, Puerto Ricans will vote on what political status they want for Puerto Rico.  Voters will have three options:  statehood, independence or sovereign free association.  Puerto Ricans will vote on the two-part referendum on November 6, 2012.


Approval by the U.S. Congress is required, if Puerto Rico gets a majority vote in favor of changing the current Commonwealth status.  Puerto Rico has held previous referendums in 1967, 1993 and 1998, but no majority for any status was attained.


                                                                

Thursday, December 22, 2011

First Look: 'Q'Viva! The Chosen' With Puerto Rican Jennifer Lopez And Marc Anthony

As Puerto Rico Is The Place had reported earlier, a new talent show, with Puerto Rican stars, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, is ready to air.  'Q'Viva! The Chosen' is a talent competition show, and it will document the transcontinental tour to find “The Chosen,” the best artists who will be brought back to the United States for a chance to be part of a spectacular live show.  'Q'Viva! The Chosen' will be a great celebration of Latin music and performance art.


Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, along with director, Jamie King, have been traveling throughout the Americas since October 2011, discovering the most outstanding singers, musicians, dancers and other amazing artists.  Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment, is producing the show.  


'Q'Viva! The Chosen' will premiere January 28, 2012 on Spanish network Univision in the U.S. and on  networks in 20 South and Central American countries.  Univision will air 12 one-hour weekly episodes of 'Q'Viva! The Chosen' every Saturday at 7 p.m. ET/PT (6 p.m. Central).  'Q'Viva!' is being filmed in English, Spanish and Portuguese.  Additional networks, including a major English-language U.S. broadcaster, will soon be announced.


Take a look at a trailer of 'Q'Viva! The Chosen':




                                                                  
                                                                 
 
   


  

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Feliz Navidad And A Happy New Year From Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Is The Place, will like to wish all of you a Feliz Navidad (Merry Christmas) and a Happy New Year!  If you are lucky to be in Puerto Rico for Christmas, have a wonderful time.


Many Puerto Ricans living on the mainland, flock to Puerto Rico for ChristmasPuerto Rico is very lively during Christmas, everyone is in a festive mood, and Puerto Ricans have parties with music, food, drinks, and the traditional parrandas.  Christmas celebrations continue through the middle of January.   


Take a look at a video of typical Christmas songs in Puerto Rico.  Christmas caroling Puerto Rican style!
Feliz Navidad and thanks for visiting Puerto Rico Is The Place.  Come back soon!


Video of Christmas songs in Puerto Rico:



              
                                                               
 

Sunday, December 18, 2011

JetBlue And Airtran Continue To Add Routes To Puerto Rico

JetBlue to fly to San Juan from Newark, and Palm Beach

JetBlue is adding daily flights from Newark, N.J., and Palm Beach, Fla. to San Juan, Puerto Rico.  During the last few years, JetBlue, has increased its presence in Puerto Rico, making it the largest airline carrier in Puerto Rico.


The flights are currently on sale.  Flights from Newark to Puerto Rico, start on April 25, 2012, and the flights between Palm Beach and San Juan will begin May 22, 2012.



AirTran adds flights from Fort Lauderdale to San Juan

AirTran Airways will add nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale and San Juan.  AirTran Airways  currently offers nonstop service to San Juan from Atlanta, Baltimore, Orlando and earlier this year, AirTran launched new daily nonstop service between Tampa and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, giving travelers more options for reaching the island of Puerto Rico.


Government approval is still pending, so tickets are not on sale yet.

UPDATE:  Service between Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, in Puerto Rico, and Fort Lauderdale will start Thursday, May 24, 2012.


                                                                    
 


                                                           

Friday, December 16, 2011

Punto Verde: Kids Eco Park In San Juan, Puerto Rico

Looking for a different experience for the whole family in Puerto Rico?  Try Punto Verde.  Punto Verde is an amusement park, with nature as the central theme.  In the center of the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the eco park Punto Verde, located on the north section of the Luis Muñoz Marin park.


The eco park is a place where fantasy and nature come together to create an experience of fun, learning and adventure.  At Punto Verde you can learn to take care of the environment in a fun way.  Guests can splash, climb and jump their way through exciting attractions.



In addition to enjoying the eco park, Punto Verde is a great place to celebrate birthdays, meetings, and private functions.  Go to Punto Verde to get the experience of being one with nature.


These are Punto Verde main attractions:


    1) Enchumbao point - water spray that dance to the rhythm of music.
    2) Sonoro point - a music park where all children are music experts.
    3) Chiquitines point - games for the young children.
    4) Encaramao point - only for the bravest, walk above the park using ropes.
    5) Suspendido point - giant springboards.
    6) En Barro point - if you always wanted to learn to work with mud this is your opportunity.
    7) Enredao point - a tree labyrinth.
    8) Embeleco point – craft making with recycle materials.


Take a look at this video of Punto Verde:





                                                                 
Puerto Rico Is The Place T-Shirt shirt
                                                                   

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Top Ten Places To Live In Puerto Rico

The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico offers a great variety of places to live, from the ocean to the mountains, the city and suburbs, and even islands off the main island.  If you are planning on moving to Puerto Rico, here is a list of the top ten best places to live in Puerto Rico:


1) Isla Verde:  Popular with tourists, Isla Verde has the best beach in the San Juan area.  There are many  resorts, hotels and condominiums that line up Isla Verde beach.

2) Condado:  One of the main tourist areas of San Juan.  Located between Isla Verde and Old San Juan.  Condado has many hotels, resorts, and condominiums.

3) Old San Juan:  The old city of San Juan surrounded by forts, narrow, blue cobblestone streets, and old colonial buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th century when Puerto Rico was a Spanish possession.  Old San Juan is a major tourist area with many restaurants, shops and a lot of history.  One of the Cruise ship terminals is located in Old San Juan, at the entrance of the San Juan Bay.

4) Guaynabo:  A San Juan suburb, Guaynabo, is preferred by upper-middle and high-income families.  There are many houses and residential condominiums in Guaynabo.

5) Culebra:  Is an island off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico.  Culebra is a popular weekend destination for Mainland Puerto Ricans and tourist from around the world.  Culebra has one of the best beaches in the world, Flamenco Beach.  There is very little commercial development on the island, because of its protective status. 

6) Vieques:  Isla de Vieques, is an island 8 miles to the east of the main island of Puerto Rico, and South of Culebra, another island of Puerto Rico.  Vieques, Puerto Rico, is a 30-minute flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Vieques has remained almost entirely undeveloped for tourism.  The rural charm and pristine deserted beaches, have made Vieques a popular destination. 

7) Humacao:  The city of Humacao is located in the eastern coast of Puerto Rico and west of Vieques Passage.  Palmas del Mar, the island's largest resort, is located here.  The resort has 20 tennis courts, two world-class golf courses, miles of beaches, restaurants and a world class riding center.

8) Fajardo:  A small city in Puerto Rico, Fajardo is located in the east region of Puerto Rico, and east of Luquillo.  Fajardo is known for recreational boating in Puerto Rico.  Fajardo has the largest Marina in the Caribbean,  Puerto del Rey, and is a popular launching port to Culebra, Vieques, and the American and British Virgin Islands.  The town has a number of hotels and inns.

9) Rincon:  A town in Puerto Rico, Rincon is popular with surfers.  Rincon is located in the West Coast of Puerto Rico, about 2 hours from San Juan.  Rincon, is the place with the best surfing beaches in Puerto Rico.

10) Cayey:  A mountain town in central Puerto Rico, Cayey is located on the Central Mountain range.   Cayey has a cooler climate compared to the lower-elevation areas of the island.
Cayey, has one of the University of Puerto Rico campuses, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey.

Bonus Place:

Dorado:  A small town in the northern coast of Puerto Rico, 15 miles west of San Juan, Dorado is known as a tourist destination with golf courses, hotels, and upscale neighborhoods.


Sunday, December 4, 2011

Vieques, Puerto Rico

Vieques or Isla de Vieques, is an island 8 miles to the east of the main island of Puerto Rico, and South of Culebra, another island of Puerto RicoVieques, Puerto Rico, is located in the northeastern Caribbean, and is approximately 21 miles long by 4 miles wide.  Vieques is a 30-minute flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico.  The two main towns of Vieques are Isabel Segunda, in the northern side of the island and Esperanza, located on the southern side.  The beaches of Vieques have always been very popular, and are among the top beaches in the Caribbean, for their clear blue waters and white sands.


For sixty years the United States Navy used the Eastern side of the island of Vieques for military exercises, including:  testing for bombs, missiles and other weapons.  In 2003, the Navy withdrew from Vieques, and much of the island was designated a National Wildlife Refuge under the control of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.  Vieques remained almost entirely undeveloped for tourism, and this has made the island of Vieques a big attraction.  The rural charm and pristine deserted beaches, have made Vieques a popular destination. 


A unique feature of Vieques is the pristine bioluminescent bay, Mosquito Bay.  Mosquito Bay, is the world's largest and brightest Bio Bay.  The luminescence is caused by micro-organisms (dinoflagellates) which glow whenever the water is disturbed, leaving a trail of neon blue.  Kayaking is permitted in the bay and can be arranged through local tour companies.  Vieques is also famous for its wild horses, which roam free over parts of the island.


The following are some places of interest in Vieques:

  •  Fortín Conde de Mirasol (Count Mirasol Fort), a fort built by the Spanish in the mid 19th century, now a museum  
     
  •  Playa Esperanza (Esperanza Beach)
  •  Faro Punta Mulas, built in 1896
  •  Sun Bay Beach
  •  The Bioluminescent Bay
  •  Puerto Ferro Archaeological Site
  •  Black Sand Beach
  •  Underground U.S. Navy Bunkers
  •  Wreckage of the World War II Navy Destroyer USS Killen (DD593)       


    Take a look at a video of Vieques:




                                                       
    Puerto Rico Is The Place Bag bag
                                                              


                                           









Sunday, November 20, 2011

Puerto Rico Video Tour

Take a video tour of Puerto Rico, discover the North, South, East and West coasts of the island of Puerto Rico.  This video is narrated by actress Rita Moreno.  Discover why Puerto Rico Is The Place.

Take a look at the video tour, and visit Puerto Rico:
 



Watch Visions of Puerto Rico on PBS. See more from VISIONS.


Sunday, November 13, 2011

Rental Property Accommodations In San Juan, Puerto Rico

Looking for alternative accommodations for your next visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico?  Do you prefer staying in a rental property instead of a hotel?  San Juan has many rental accommodations to fit your needs on your next vacation, from small apartments to homes, in the tourist areas of Condado and Isla Verde


San Juan Vacations is a real estate rental company in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that can help you find the property you need and are looking for.  San Juan Vacations is located in Isla Verde Avenue, in the heart of Isla Verde.  They have short and long term rentals available, in case you plan to extend your stay in Puerto Rico.


For more information and to check out what rentals are available contact San Juan Vacations: www.sanjuanvacations.com


Disclosure: Puerto Rico Is The Place has used San Juan Vacations services in the past.


Take a look at this video shot in Isla Verde Beach, in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, where you can find properties for rent:




                                                             


     

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Ritz Carlton To Open Reserve Property In Puerto Rico

There is more reason to say Puerto Rico Is The Place.  Luxury hotel chain Ritz Carlton will open its second "reserve" property in Puerto Rico.  The 114-room resort will be situated on Dorado Beach, and spread across 50 acres.  The resort will feature 100 guestrooms and 14 one-bedroom suites, all on the beachfront, along with a separate five-bedroom VIP residence situated in the original hacienda of the plantation, Su Casa.  Guests will have access to a five-acre botanical spa, and a hands-on eco-adventures around the reserve, called Wind and Waves Center, featuring Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program.



Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico, is a name many Caribbean-lovers will be familiar with, as the site of Laurance S Rockefeller's original eco-resort, launched in 1958 as the first of its type in the region.  The Ritz Carlton Reserve will be the centerpiece of the renovation of the Dorado Beach Resort set to open in December 2012.  Dorado Beach today is an amazing resort with four Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf courses, three miles of magnificent beaches, an 11-mile Rockefeller nature trail, The Watermill water park, and a new 8,000-square-foot Dorado Beach Fitness and Wellness Center.



This will be The Ritz Carlton first North American property.  The Ritz Carlton already operates Phulay Bay on the Thailand island of Krabi.


                                                                  

Thursday, November 3, 2011

El Yunque National Forest In Puerto Rico May Become One Of The New 7 Wonders Of Nature

There is only 7 days left to vote for El Yunque to become one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.  Voting for El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico, to become, one of the seven most unique natural attractions in the world, ends November 11, 2011. 


Each year, more than 600,000 people visit El Yunque National Forest, in Puero Rico.  Visitors to El Yunque get to enjoy the waterfalls, flora and El Yunque's natural beauty.  El Yunque's unique biodiversity is what makes it a place of natural wonder.  In El Yunque one can find a variety of ecological zones.  This eco-diversity is what sets El Yunque apart from other rain forests.  El Yunque is home to 150 types of ferns, 50 native orchids, and 240 native tree species of which 88 are found only in Puerto Rico.


El Yunque is currently one of the 28 finalists in the competition to become one of the seven most impressive and unique natural attractions in the world.  Some of the natural locations competing for a spot in the final 7 are the Galapagos in Ecuador, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the Igauzu Waterfalls between Argentina and Brazil, and the Vesuvius Volcano in Italy.


The voting results will be announced on November 11, 2011.  Each of the final seven locations will officially become a New Natural Wonder in a ceremony, where an engraved plaque will be presented,  recognizing the location as one of the final 7.  Then, the 7 winning natural sites, will officially become one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.  


Go to: http://www.new7wonders.com/vote-2 and vote for El Yunque to become one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!


                                                              


Puerto Rico Is The Place shirt
                                                           


    

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Puerto Rico Gets Highest Hotel Occupancy

Puerto Rico is the place.  The evidence points to Puerto Rico getting the highest hotel occupancy ever.   According to a new report by Smith Travel Research, Puerto Rico got the highest hotel occupancy rate among the Caribbean’s main destinations during the first eight months of 2011.  The report was presented during the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.


Puerto Rico got a 73.5 percent occupancy rate so far this year, ahead of competitors including the Dominican Republic, which was second at 69.8 percent, Aruba 66.5 percent, U.S. Virgin Islands, 64.5 percent, Barbados 63.1 percent and the Bahamas, 61 percent.


The Smith Travel Research report found, that the hotel occupancy rate in Puerto Rico rose 4.2 percent compared to the January-August 2010 period.  Revenue per room jumped to 6.8 percent.  The Puerto Rico Tourism Company shows a total of nearly 3.1 million hotel room nights sold so far for 2011, the highest amount ever for the island of Puerto Rico.  It looks like more people each day, are discovering that, Puerto Rico Is The Place!


                                                           
 

                                                                    

                                                         

                                                               

Sunday, October 23, 2011

WestJet Airlines Adding Flights To San Juan, JetBlue Expands In Puerto Rico

WestJet Adding Flights To San Juan, Puerto Rico


WestJet Airlines, the Canadian carrier is adding service to Puerto Rico.  WestJet is adding San Juan to its itinerary, The Calgary based airline, will introduce nonstop flights from Toronto, to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.  Puerto Rico is a new route for WestJet.


Starting November 5, 2011, WestJet will take you twice a week to experience the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico.  WestJet will launch new nonstop flights between Toronto and San Juan, twice weekly on Saturday and Sunday.  One-way fares begin at $189 plus taxes and fees.


WestJet is the third international carrier to enter the Puerto Rico market this year, following British Airways and Condor of Germany.



JetBlue Expands In Puerto Rico



JetBlue Airways plans to add nonstop service from San Juan to St. Thomas and St. Croix as the airline continues to expand in Puerto Rico.  The airline wants to add more options and more destinations for visitors and residents of Puerto Rico.



JetBlue will launch twice-daily flights between San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) and St. Thomas International Airport (STT), as well as once-daily flights between San Juan and St. Croix International Airport (STX) starting December 12, 2011.



JetBlue is now Puerto Rico's largest carrier.  It now offers more than 30 daily departures.
During this past year in Puerto Rico, JetBlue has grown 38 percent.  The New York based carrier has surpassed longtime local leader American Airlines as the biggest airline in Puerto Rico.


Later in the year JetBlue will increase service between San Juan, and Santo Domingo from three to five daily flights.


                                                                     
Puerto Rico Is The Place shirt
                                                                           
                                                                   
                                                                             

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Catch The Fever And Celebrate Puerto Rico In Style

The island of Puerto Rico is getting much deserved exposure, due to great amount of publicity, thanks to the upcoming movie premiere of "The Rum Diary", with actor Johnny Depp.  The Rum Diary is based on a novel "Rum Diary" written by the late Hunter S. Thompson in the late fifties.  During that time, Hunter S. Thompson worked as a journalist in Puerto Rico.  The Rum Diary was filmed entirely in Puerto Rico


Actor Johnny Depp, has talked publicly about the great experience he had while working in Puerto Rico and about the wonderful people in Puerto Rico.  It looks like Johnny Depp has discovered that Puerto Rico Is The Place.  Catch the fever of Puerto Rico, and be in style! 


Take a look at some of our store items and celebrate Puerto Rico in style:

                                                              


                                                                  



                                                                    



                                                                



                                                                    














     





                  

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Leatherback Sea Turtles In Puerto Rico

At least four of the seven species of marine turtles are found in the waters of Puerto Rico, or nest in the  beaches of Puerto Rico.  Those turtle species are: the Leatherback, the Hawksbill, the Green Turtle, and the Loggerhead.  The Hawksbill turtle and the Leatherback sea turtle, are critically endangered.  All coastal waters surrounding Culebra and Mona Island in Puerto Rico are designated as critical habitats by the federal government.



Leatherback turtles can be found primarily in the open ocean.  Leatherbacks follow their jellyfish prey throughout the day.  Its favored breeding beaches are mainland sites facing deep water and they seem to avoid those sites protected by coral reefs.  Leatherback turtles have the most hydrodynamic body design of any sea turtle, with a large, teardrop-shaped body.  A large pair of front flippers power the turtles through the water.  Like other sea turtles, the Leatherback's flattened forelimbs are adapted for swimming in the open ocean.



The coastal area from Ocean Park to Isla Verde, lined by condominium towers and hotels, has the most popular beach spots for tourists and locals in San Juan, Puerto Rico, bringing thousands of visitors on a daily basis.  Despite the crowds and development, this sandy stretch remains a prime nesting ground for sea turtles.  Beach goers in Puerto Rico, have been able to witness first hand the birth of Leatherback turtles.  An example of this happened along a crowded stretch of beach in Ocean Park, in the San Juan area.  Dozens of endangered sea turtles were born, emerging from their sandy nest after two months of incubation and headed straight to sea, to the delight of people on hand to see the spectacle.  The crowd of people at the beach helped the newborn turtles to the water, as they welcomed them to the world.  Most hatches take place at night, to protect the turtles from predators, so this was quite an experience for the crowd.



Some species of sea turtles, are believed to return to nest many years later, on the same stretch of coastline where they were born.  Pregnant sea turtles come out of the sea and lay their eggs into the sand.  Once hatched, the baby sea turtles emerge from the sand and quickly try to reach the sea.  Sea turtles face threats from predators and human intervention before they are even hatched.  Local environmental officials, activists and community members work to protect these nesting grounds.  Recently, a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources held a legislative hearing, on a bill introduced by Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, which would authorize the allocation of $5 million annually over each of the next six years to protect endangered sea turtles in Puerto Rico, other areas of the United States, and around the world.



Take a look at a video taken of a group of newborn Leatherback turtles making their way to the ocean:




                                                            

Friday, October 14, 2011

Actor Johnny Depp Talks About Puerto Rico And Puerto Ricans

It looks like Johnny Depp has discovered that Puerto Rico Is The Place.  In a recent interview, Depp talks about Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans.  Also, actor Johnny Depp talks about his experience working in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  


  
Depp was in Puerto Rico filming the movie "The Rum Diary."  During an interview for the promotion of the movie, The Rum Diary, Johnny Depp said, "The people of Puerto Rico are the sweetest people on earth." 


Take a look at a video of the interview:

           

Here is a video of Johnny Depp meeting fans in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico during the filming of The Rum Diary:



Video of a surprise birthday party for Johnny Depp in San Juan, Puerto Rico, while filming The Rum Diary:




The Rum Diary will be in theaters October 28, 2011.



                                                                     


                                                             

Sunday, October 9, 2011

The Puerto Rican Pastel

Puerto Rican Pasteles
The Puerto Rican "Pastel" is the gastronomical symbol of Puerto Rico.  Pastel is a dish which includes diced pork with olives, chicken, capers, raisins, chickpeas, spices, sweet peppers, sofrito, and garbanzo beans.  This mixture is centered in dough made mainly of green bananas with a small portion of plantain, yautía, and potato.  The dough is tinted with annatto oil.  It is wrapped in palm leaf, tied with string, boiled, and later served with arroz con gandules (yellow-rice with pigeon peas).



The boiling and tying of the "Pastel" is Taino, the plaintain dough is African, and the meat and raisins are Spanish.  This is the fusion of the three cultures of Puerto Rico.  Pasteles is the signature dish during Christmas in Puerto Rico.

                                                       

Puerto Rican Pastel


                              

                                                                            
 

                                                   

                                                   
                                        

                                                         

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Day Trip To Lago Dos Bocas, Utuado, Puerto Rico

After a friend returned from a trip to Lago Dos Bocas (Lake Dos Bocas) in Utuado, Puerto Rico, and told us how much she enjoyed it, we decided to make the trip ourselves.


From the San Juan area we took Route 22 (Autopista /Expressway) West to exit 75B, onto Route 10 South.  At KM 69.7, on Route 10, we turned left onto Road 621 toward Road 123, following the signs for Dos Bocas.  After approximately 10 minutes, we passed a Texaco gas station on our left.  Five minutes ahead we saw a sign to Lago Dos Bocas on our right.  We turned right onto Road 123, and continued until we made a left at the Embarcadero Sign (Wharf).  Be aware that, Road 123 is a small and winding road.


Once you park, you will be greeted by personnel of the different restaurants offering you their menu, and hoping that you choose their restaurant.  We had heard of the restaurant,"El Fogon de Abuela", a long time ago, so we asked for them and we were shown to the owner of the restaurant, who happened to be doing the greeting.  You have to take a motorboat to cross the lake, that is where all the restaurants are located.  Each restaurant has their own motorboat, and the government also provides free service.  It is a very enjoyable 10 or 15 minute ride and the view is breathtaking.


I ordered the "Asopao de Camarones" while on the boat and the owner phoned it in, as this dish takes a bit of time to prepare.  Once we arrived at the restaurant, we had a glass of the house red wine, which was excellent.  My friend ordered "Mofongo" and we also had "Sorullitos".  For desert we shared a "Flan de Coco" which was the perfect end to the meal.  Everything was well presented and extremely tasty.  The food is typical Puerto Rican cuisine, served on a covered terrace, where you can enjoy vistas of the lake and mountains.  It was a wonderful experience and so different from dining in San Juan.


"El Fogon de Abuela" is family owned and run, and they live up to the standards of "Abuela", who is now retired.  Her granddaughter is now the chef.  The service was a bit slow, but we were enjoying the wine and the view, so we did not mind.  We had more time to enjoy the surroundings and breathe in the fresh air.


Route 22 passes by an Outlet Mall In Barceloneta, so if you want to, you can stop and shop.  Just make sure you leave early, because the restaurants are only open until 6:00 PM.  The restaurants are only open on the weekend and certain holidays.


If you wish to extend your togetherness with nature experience, stay the night at Casa Grande  Mountain Retreat, which was named Green Inn of the year by the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association.  It is a short drive away on mountain roads.  Cabins have no television, radios, or air conditioning, so you can enjoy nature and the sound of the Coqui, the little frog native only to Puerto Rico, as well as birds and a owl or two.



Lago Dos Bocas, Puerto Rico
Lago Dos Bocas, Utuado, Puerto Rico
Lago Dos Bocas, Utuado, Puerto Rico
Lago Dos Bocas, Utuado, Puerto Rico
Lago Dos Bocas, Utuado, Puerto Rico
El Fogon De Abuela Restaurant Lago Dos Bocas, Puerto Rico
El Fogon De Abuela, Restaurant, Lago Dos Bocas, Puerto Rico
Sorullitos, El Fogon De Abuela, Lago Dos Bocas, Puerto Rico
Mofongo, El Fogon De Abuela, Lago Dos Bocas, Puerto Rico
Asopao de Camarones, Lago Dos Bocas, Puerto Rico
Lago Dos Bocas, Puerto Rico
Flan De Coco, El Fogon De Abuela, Lago Dos Bocas, Puerto Rico
Lago Dos Bocas, Utuado, Puerto Rico
From there you can visit The Caguana Indian Ceremonial Park, The Arecibo Observatory, or take in some ziplining at Batey Zipline Adventures.  Give Lago Dos Bocas a try and reconnect with nature! 


                                                                      
 


                                                                        



    





                                                                


        

                                                       
                              
 


                                                          


                                                                 

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Puerto Rico Board Game Goes To Ipad

The Puerto Rico board game, one of the most popular board games on Board Game Geek for the past ten years, now offers a digital version for your iPad.  Puerto Rico HD is a 2-5 person game that sends you back in time to colonial Puerto Rico as a prospector with hopes of becoming the most powerful governor of the newly discovered land.  Players put their entrepreneurial skills to the test, as they take on roles of Captain, Settler,  Builder, Mayor, and Craftsmen.  The object of the game is to build up your empire by digging for gold, planting crops, and building up your economy.  You win the game by accumulating the most victory points.


You can play against the computer, pass your iPad around to different players or connect via the local network.  The app brings a new energy to the Puerto Rico game, and allows Puerto Rico fans to share their experiences all over the world.  Puerto Rico HD 1.0 is $7.99 and is available worldwide through the App Store.  Puerto Rico HD is compatible with iPad; requires iOS 3.2 or later; 16.0 MB.


Have fun playing Puerto Rico HD!


                                                                        

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Puerto Rico May Be A Launch Site For Future Spacecraft


Puerto Rico is being eyed as a potential new launch site location for the next generation of spacecraft. California-based SpaceX tells MSNBC, that it is considering Puerto Rico for a space base as it expands its operations.  SpaceX’s main launch facility is at Cape Canaveral in Florida and the company is in the process of developing a second launch facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.  The third facility could be in Puerto Rico, but Puerto Rico has some competition because Hawaii, Texas and Florida are also in the running. This third facility for SpaceX will be a commercial launch site.  Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg are Air Force bases.


With the space shuttle fleet retired, NASA is depending on private companies like SpaceX to handle space station supply runs and transportation for the astronauts.  SpaceX has reached an agreement with NASA to launch its next Dragon space capsule atop its Falcon 9 rocket.  SpaceX will launch cargo-carrying rockets to resupply the International Space Station.  For now, NASA is SpaceX's prime customer.  SpaceX anticipates flying four resupply missions to the space station during 2012.

Puerto Rico would be a great location.  It would be a great addition to the Arecibo Observatory, a radio telescope, the largest single-aperture telescope ever constructed.  The Arecibo Observatory is used for research in the areas of radio astronomy, aeronomy, and radar astronomy.

                                                                             



  

 

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Flights Start From Puerto Rico To Cuba

Fight service has resumed between Puerto Rico and Cuba.  It has been almost 50 years since flight service was stopped, between Puerto Rico and Cuba, due to the political situation in Cuba.


The inaugural flight, an American Eagle charter flight from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Antonio Maceo Airport (SCU) in Santiago, Cuba, had two dozen passengers including travel agency owners.  The passengers on the fully-booked flight, were reported to be, Puerto Rico residents of Cuban origin visiting relatives back home.  The flight, arranged by Cuba Travel Services, believes the demand is there, with the large Cuban population in Puerto Rico.


Cuban Travel Services acquired permission from the Cuban government to operate charter flights from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) and Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to authorized airports in Cuba.  Cuba Travel Services expects to launch a set schedule of weekly flights to Santiago, Cuba, in November, and then add the Havana route. Ticket prices have not been set, but are likely to be in the $500-$600 range.  Another company,  C&T Charters, will begin offering San Juan-Havana flights as early as this month.  C&T Charters, a charter service based in Coral Gables, Florida, is one of two companies that told the Puerto Rico Ports Authority it wanted to start charters to Cuba.


Earlier this year, U.S. Customs & Border Protection officials announced, that Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport had been given federal permission to schedule charter flights to and from Cuba.  Previously, Miami, New York and Los Angeles had been the only U.S. cities providing service to Cuba . The U.S. embargo has prohibited most American citizens from traveling to Cuba since the 1960s.  Cuban-Americans can now make unlimited family visits.  Last January, the Obama administration approved loosening the embargo, allowing for cultural, religious and academic groups to travel to Cuba.


The United States still prohibits regular commercial flights to Cuba and does not allow American tourists to vacation on the Communist Caribbean island.

                                                                                        

Sunday, August 28, 2011

First Look: "The Rum Diary" Filmed In Puerto Rico

The movie "The Rum Diary," has released its first trailer.  The Rum Diary, stars Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart and Amber Heard.  The movie is about a freelance journalist who finds himself at a critical turning point in his life, while writing for a run-down newspaper in the Caribbean.  The journalist is played by Johnny Depp.  The Run Diary was filmed in Puerto Rico, and it is based on a novel "Rum Diary" written by the late Hunter S. Thompson in the late fifties.



On the trailer you can spot many locations in Puerto Rico.  The Rum Diary appears to be another hit for movie star Johnny Depp.  It has been previously reported that Depp, enjoyed making the film in Puerto Rico.  Johnny Depp also spent time in Puerto Rico, while he was shooting the movie Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.  The Rum Diary hits theaters on October 28, 2011.   


Take a look at the official trailer: