Destination: Guavate

People always looked at me incredulously when they find out that I have never been to Guavate. Well, after nearly five years of moving back to Puerto Rico, I can finally say that I have been to the island's quintessential gastronomic mecca. Mention Guavate, and lechon (roast pork) is what automatically comes to mind. Located in the town of Cayey, Guavate is only about 30 to 40 minutes south of San Juan. It attracts hordes of people, especially on weekends, and it's best to get there before midday. As you take exit #32 off of highway #52, bear left and you'll immediately find a number restaurants. Continue on this road for another 20 minutes or so until you see Los Pinos, which a friend of mine swears has the best lechon in Guavate.

Just a little further away from Los Pinos is El Rancho Original, where we had lunch. Turns out this was also where the Travel Channel's Samantha Brown had lechon when she came to the island. Guavate is a wonderful place to experience Puerto Rican culture. Not only is this mountain town a great destination known for its delectable lechoneras, but practically all of them have live salsa and merengue bands. The ambiance is lively and fun. Just remember, when visiting Guavate, go hungry and be prepared to eat your heart out! Buen provecho.

Dominicans in Puerto Rico

While thousands of Puerto Ricans have emigrated to the mainland U.S the past few years, the Dominican population in the island quite possibly remained the same or increased slightly during the same time period. The exact number of Dominicans living in Puerto Rico is not known, as many are undocumented immigrants. However, some have estimated the Dominican population of legal immigrants to be at 82,344, while some put it at 300,000. The Dominican Republic is only 80 miles East of Puerto Rico on the Mona Passage. Dominican immigrants, both legal and illegal, play a crucial role in the local economy. Dominicans constitute the largest foreign-born population in Puerto Rico.

In Puerto Rico, just like in the mainland U.S, most of the low-paying, labor-intensive work is performed by illegal immigrants. Many work at restaurants, construction, housekeeping, amongst others. On the other hand, there are also many Dominican-owned colmados (small convenience stores) and small cafeterias. Most of these small businesses are located in the larger cities, such as San Juan. Dominicans have also left a mark on the local culture. The proliferation of bachata, a music genre serves as an example. There is an annual Dominican Parade held in the capital city.

The wave of Dominican immigration to Puerto Rico began many decades ago, as many abandoned their homeland in search for a better future. Many undocumented Dominican immigrants use Puerto Rico as a stepping stone to enter into the U.S. Dominicans and Puerto Ricans get along for the most part. However, there have been incidents in which Dominicans claim to have been victims of police brutality and discrimination. For the most part, there is no deep sense of animosity towards Dominicans, and no talk of passing a law similar to that of Arizona's SB 1070. Perhaps, most Puerto Ricans realize the importance of the Dominican community as a labor force and its contributions to the local economy.

(The image above was obtained from www.primerahora.com)

Felicidades!

Just 12 days to go until Christmas, and many people have been enthusiastically greeting me with "felicidades!" This is the most common expression used by Puerto Ricans when greeting and wishing each other a happy holiday season. Being on the island during this time of the year involves eating lechón (roast pig), pastel, arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas) drinking coquitos (which is made of coconut and rum), and having arroz con leche (rice pudding) or tembleque (coconut pudding) for dessert. As with most parties, there will also be dancing and singing of some traditional holiday songs. Puerto Ricans definitely know how to party!

There's just something special with the way this island's music, people and its food all come together. These three elements were present at a party which I attended last night.
I find spending the holiday season a lot more intimate and joyous in Puerto Rico. I enjoyed watching people singing and doing the bomba and plena. The music and the atmosphere kicked me into holiday spirit gear. Today, I went to a nursery to pick up poinsettias! Hopefully, I'll get around to putting up lights and decorating the house tomorrow. Felicidades a todos! (Happy holidays to all!)

Hacienda San Pedro

Two weekends ago, a group of us went to Jayuya, a mountain town known for its numerous coffee plantations. From San Juan, the trip took nearly two hours, since it was full of hairpin turns. For those who suffer from car sickness, please take a motion-sickness pill. Although it wasn't an easy journey, it was absolutely worth the effort. The countryside was very lush and green, and the air was very crisp. We even came across several horses in the middle of the road when we reached the center of Jayuya. It felt great to get out of San Juan.

The purpose of our trip was to visit Hacienda San Pedro, which offers tours on Sundays at 10AM and 3PM. Unfortunately, we missed the morning tour but we were able to enjoy our cappuccinos, which were excellent! The cafe, which has a great menu, had a very cozy and inviting ambiance. You can purchase their coffee at the shop. There's also a small exhibition on the second-level providing visitors information about the plantation's history. To our pleasant surprise, we were given a brief tour of the facilities by a gentleman named Roberto, who turned out to be the proprietor of Hacienda San Pedro.

For coffee-lovers and those who are interested in learning more about Puerto Rican coffee, I would definitely recommend visiting this lovely plantation. If going from San Juan, I suggest going through Ponce, since the roads are much easier to navigate. Do call in advance if you're planning on visiting. We also came across several other coffee plantations, such as Hacienda Patricia and Hacienda Ana, along the way. Since my camera's batteries died, I couldn't take any pictures. I'm definitely planning on going back to Hacienda San Pedro though! In the meantime, I did find a photostream on Flickr with some great shots.

Salsa in Puerto Rico

Last week, I went salsa dancing with some friends and great times were had. I'm not the best salsa dancer but after some alcoholic beverages, it certainly helped me ease into it. Earlier this year, I took a salsa class with a friend and what I learned slowly came back to me. Unfortunately, like a friend of mine was lamenting, salsa is no longer very popular on the island. Nowadays, most clubs play reggaetón music, which I'm not a fan of. Unfortunately, I've only come across a few places in which you can dance to salsa, like The Marriot Courtyard Hotel in Isla Verde (on Saturday nights), Punto Fijo (in the basement of El Centro de Bellas Artes in Santurce) and Nuyorican Cafe (in Old San Juan).

One of the things I enjoy about salsa is the music. Of the places I mentioned above, Nuyorican Cafe had the best band playing. If you've never tried dancing to salsa, do give it a try. It's a lot of fun and it can be a great way to get some exercise! Believe me, after a while, you'll start sweating. Every summer, Puerto Rico plays host to the International Salsa Congress. For more information on salsa-related event, someone recommended me Salsa Crazy as a resource. I never thought salsa was such a huge international phenomenon until I recently danced with a Danish gentleman. To my surprise, he learned how to dance salsa in Denmark!

Destination: La Placita de Santurce

A few weeks back, I stumbled upon La Placita de Santurce, a farmer's market known more for its bars than its produce. La Placita is not a place where most tourists go, as it's not located near the beach or any of the tourist areas. Surprisingly, the Puerto Rican Toursim Bureau hasn't really promoted this extremely popular local hangout spot. This is a great place for those who are looking for cheap drinks and interested in mingling with the locals. There are also live salsa bands! During happy hour on Thursday and Friday nights, from what I've been told, La Placita is packed to the gills.

On Sundays, as in most parts of Puerto Rico, nothing much happens in La Placita. We got there at around 1PM and it was already closed. There were a few bars and one restaurant open though. Unfortunately, I don't know what the exact opening hours are for the marketplace. Like most farmers' markets though, it's best to go early. From Mondays through Fridays, they are open during lunchtime. If you'd like to eat some authentic, and affordable, comida criolla (Puerto Rican food), La Placita is your perfect destination.

Check out this great New York Times article on La Placita de Santurce.

English, please...

Earlier this year, the mayor of Guaynabo decided to start putting up traffic signs in English. According to the mayor, this is to help people familiarize themselves with the English, which also happens to be the island's other official language (in addition to Spanish, of course). Such a move caused quite a stir, as practically all the island's traffic signs are in Spanish. There are also political and socio-cultural aspects to this debate though. The mayor of Guaynabo is from the blue party (PNP) which is pro-statehood. By the same token, we've also seen other mayors from this party implement this measure. For example, Guayama has also decided to switch to English traffic signs.

Ironically, the Websites of both the municipality of Guaynabo and the Puerto Rican government are available in Spanish only. The local tax department (el departamento de hacienda), does have an English option though. Although English is also the official language of the island, Spanish is what people speak in Puerto Rico. Most schools on the island, especially not those in the public education system, do not introduce English into its curriculums until much later. However, those who attend some of the elite private schools on the island have a much higher chance of being introduced to the English language at a younger age. There are several of them which teach in English only.

Traveling throughout the island, the majority of traffic signs will not be in English. Oddly enough, in areas like Condado and Isla Verde, where tourists abound, I believe most traffic signs are still in Spanish. This makes no sense at all, consistent with so many other things on this island. In the meantime, for English-only speakers, here's a list which you might want to be learn:

"Solo"=only
"Pare"=stop
"No entre"=do not enter
"Velocidad Maxima=Max. Speed
"Salida"=exit
"Proxima Salida"=next exit
"Carril"=traffic lane
"Zona Escolar"=school zone
"Parada"=bus stop
"Cambio"=change (you'll usually you'll see a "C" above certain pay tolls on the highways, this is the lane for those who do not have exact change)

The 48th Artisans Festival of Barranquitas

Unlike many other Latin American countries, Puerto Rico is not known to have large open-air markets, like those you would see in Chichicastenango, Guatemala. Nowadays, Puerto Ricans prefer the large American-style malls, like Plaza Las Americas. Yesterday was certainly an exception. We headed to Barranquitas for the 48th Artisans Festival, or the 48va Feria Nacional de Artesanía de Barranquitas. There were many people browsing through the different kiosks, drinking beer, and eating. There was also a salsa band playing. The atmosphere was great! The festival began last Friday and ends today, Monday. During my previous trip to Barranquitas, the plaza was desolate.

The only other event which I've attended in Puerto Rico, where I found even more artisan work, was the San Sebastian Festival, which is held every January. Artisans in Puerto Rico actually have to register themselves with the Instituto de Cultura Puertoriqueña (the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture), and they'll usually display their registration at their kiosk. Unfortunately, visitors to the island will not normally find a lot of local hand-made artifacts in the most popular tourist areas, such as Old San Juan. The island's biggest shopping mall, Plaza Las Americas, is often the gathering place for most artisans to display their work.

Puerto Rican Tourism

The Yunque Rainforest, which is one Puerto Rico's most popular tourist attractions, is being nominated as one of the New 7 Wonders of nature. The Puerto Rican Tourist Company (PRTC)has been enthusiastically promoting El Yunque by launching a marketing campaign to garner more votes. As with most Caribbean islands, the tourism industry is extremely important to Puerto Rico's economy. A few months ago, when Pres. Obama decided to loosen travel restrictions for those wishing to travel to Cuba, many in Puerto Rico saw it as a threat to the island's tourism sector.

Over 80% of tourists who travel to the island, according to one of the local papers, come from the U.S. Unlike Cuba and the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico has failed miserably to attract visitors from Europe. I suppose many Americans come here because a U.S passport is not required when visiting. Ironically, many Puerto Ricans themselves travel to the Dominican Republic because it's simply a lot cheaper. In recent years, this neighbor island has actually received more visitors than Puerto Rico itself. There are actually many areas in which this island needs to work on if it wishes to remain competitive in the tourism industry.

Service is one of the issues which Puerto Rico needs to address. For example, ferry service to Vieques and Culebra is atrocious, to say the very least. One of the areas which I believe the PRTC has also neglected are the smaller villages and towns. I am a huge fan of Spanish colonial cities and it saddens me to see the slow decay of so many of Puerto Rico's plazas. Last Sunday, we visited San Germán, an incredibly quaint, cozy and pretty town on the Southwestern part of the island. Unsurprisingly, the local tourism office was closed and there weren't many people walking around at all. Puerto Rico has so much potential to develop itself as a major international tourist destination, but it will certainly require much initiative and effort.

Feliz 4 de Julio

Happy 4th to everyone! One of the things which I miss about living in the mainland U.S is the 4th of July celebration. When I lived in the Big Apple, I was able to see the Macy's fireworks from my window. As a kid, and even as an adult, I was always in awe when I saw and heard the huge displays of colors exploding into the air. Although the 4th is officially a holiday here on the island, it's just not celebrated with the same fervor as you'd see on the mainland. This, of course, is no surprise. Just ask any Puerto Rican on the island if they're American and they'll most likely say: "Yo soy Boricua, papa!" (translation: "I'm Puerto Rican."). On a side note, "papa" is an affectionate way to refer to another male.

Anyway, it is a long wikén for many people here and most will be heading to the beaches. There are some festivities planned at the Hiram Bithorn stadium, where some local politicians are scheduled to appear. American flags, which one would usually see in any Federal building or infrastructure constructed with Federal funds, are not normally seen around the island. To most Puerto Ricans, the 4th of July is also observed along party lines. Most from the blue party (aka Partido Nuevo Progresista) who are pro-U.S will most likely attend tonight's festivities. Unfortunately, like most every issue on the island, the celebration of the 4th is a politicized one as well.

La Noche de San Juan

Huge masses of people will be heading to the beaches tomorrow night in celebration of "La Noche de San Juan," which literallly means "The Night of San Juan." At the stroke of midnight, people will throw their backs into the water for good luck, and to chase away bad omens and spirits. Some people take three, seven and up to twelve plunges. This annual ritual is observed on June 23rd, and is held in honor of the patron saint John the Baptist, who was born on June 24th. Spain, Portugal, and Venezuela, amongst other countries, also celebrate it with their own traditions and customs.

Here on the island, La Noche de San Juan is an immensely popular event, especially since the capital city is named after its namesake patron saint. Tomorrow night, there will be fireworks, concerts and cultural events held not just in San Juan, but also throughout the island. It also marks the arrival of the summer solstice, the start of the Summer season. Unfortunately, tomorrow night will also be a busy night for the police though. During La Noche de San Juan, people tend to get just a bit carried away with alcohol consumption.

Puerto Rican Coffee

Can you guess which are the top three coffee exporting countries in the world? Well, according to the U.S National Coffee Association, it's Brazil, Colombia and Indonesia. Unsurprisingly, Puerto Rico doesn't even make it to the top 10. The island's coffee growing region is located in the mountainous central region, the Cordillera Central, in the towns of Adjuntas, Ciales, Yauco, just to name a few. Coffee was introduced to the island back in the 18th Century and it was once a major coffee exporter, the sixth largest, during the late 19th Century. Nowadays, Puerto Rico actually has to import coffee since demand exceeds supply.

Shortage of labor and the general lack of interest in the agricultural sector are two of the main reasons why the island does not produce enough coffee. If you've never tried Puerto Rican coffee, you should. It's quite mild and smooth, and many coffee connoisseurs consider it to be of really good quality. Yaucono, Café Rico and Café Crema are the major brands, but there are also many smaller roasters, such as Finca Cialitos and Café Real. When visiting the island, unless you're at a Starbucks, don't expect to find flavored coffee. Puerto Ricans drink cortaditos and café con leche. FYI: the photo above was taken at Hacienda Buena Vista in Ponce, a former coffee plantation. Look closely and you'll actually see unripe coffee beans, which are green.

La Ruta del Corazón Criollo

Yesterday, we stumbled upon the very quaint Centro Musical Criollo in Caguas, a city which lies just 20 miles south of San Juan. Caguas is very suburban, it has the typical shopping mall, Wal-Mart and it's filled with all the major fast food chains, such as Popeyes and Krispy Kreme. We stayed away from the strip malls and hung out at the charming plaza, where we enjoyed the sounds of a salsa band and saw a bunch of antique cars. Caguas is not a large city, and it is certainly not considered a tourist destination. However, with the creation of La Ruta del Corazón Criollo, the city of Caguas is trying to change that.

La Ruta del Corazón Criollo literally means the route to the heart of Puerto Rico. In this case, criollo is defined as the evolution of the Puerto Rican culture. This route begins at the visitors center, or the Oficina del Turismo, and is clearly marked by arrows. There are 10 points of interest along the way. Unfortunately, we only had enough time to visit the freshly painted Centro Musical Criollo, built in 1908, which has a small exhibit on some of Puerto Rico's most famous composers, such as José Ignacio Quintón. There were also displays of various musical instruments commonly used in Puerto Rican music, such as plena, like the guitar, tres, cuatro and bordonua. To get to the heart and soul of Puerto Rico, I highly recommend visiting and exploring the smaller cities and towns, and taking a stroll along La Ruta del Corazón Criollo.

The Inglehart Values Map

According to the CIA World Factbook, an estimated 85% of Puerto Ricans are Catholic and some 15% are in the "Protestant or other" category. Puerto Ricans will commonly refer to God in many instances. For example, if you've made an appointment with someone and say: "nos veremos la semana que viene" (translation: "we'll see each other next week"), a common response will be: "si Dios quiere" (translation: "God willing"). This was something which I was not accustomed to, since I was raised in New York City, in secular surroundings.

When I came across the Inglehart Values Map, and found Puerto Rico all the way on bottom of the fourth quadrant (obtaining a little over 1 on self-expression and below -2.0 on traditional values), I found some aspects to be true. Based on this values map, Puerto Rican society has a very traditional outlook. In most cases, this is true as most Puerto Ricans have high levels of national pride, are family-oriented, religious, and against abortion. However, the divorce rate in Puerto Rico is quite high as extra-marital affairs are quite common.

As for the self expression value, which is more characteristic of post-industrialization societies, people place a greater emphasis on things like economic and political decision making, as well as quality of life. Puerto Rico is the only Latin American country scoring above 1 on the self expression spectrum. Although politics is certainly something which Puerto Ricans are extremely passionate about, I don't think most place a huge significance on other "self-expression" values such as environmental protection and tolerance for diversity. I certainly can't imagine Puerto Rico legalizing same-sex marriages. Unfortunately, recycling is still not taking place on a grand scale either.

(Image obtained from www.worldsvaluesurvey.com)

Destination: Barranquitas, Puerto Rico

Visiting the smaller towns in cities around Puerto Rico is something which I enjoy very much. It has been quite a while since our last roadtrip, and there are still many places in Puerto Rico which I have never been to. A family friend of ours had recommended a restaurant in a small town near Cayey, and so we decided to check it out for ourselves. As we were approaching the restaurant, I saw the sign Luis Muñoz Marin Ruta Panorámica. Curiosity took over me.

I had been on the panoramic route, which runs through the middle of the island, before but have never quite driven through much of it. After looking at a map, and seeing that Barranquitas was not too far away, I decided to just go. Although I was born in Puerto Rico, I was not educated here and I do not know much about Puerto Rican history. For this reason, I thought it would be an interesting place for me to visit, as it is the birthplace of one of Puerto Rico's most important political figures, Luis Muñoz Rivera. He helped negotiate the autonomy of Puerto Rico from Spain, and was subsequently elected the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico in 1909.

Luis Muñoz Rivera was also the father of Luis Muñoz Marin, the first democratically elected governor of Puerto Rico. Barranquitas certainly did not disappoint. In order to get there, we had to drive through a long series of winding roads. Once we got to Barranquitas, we quickly found ourselves in the town's pretty and charming plaza. We visited La Casa Luis Muñoz Rivera, the house which Muñoz Rivera grew up in, and the Luis Muñoz Rivera mausoleum, which was just two blocks away from the museum. Both were interesting places to visit. The former is a tiny little wooden house, which contains a small exhibition with information on Muñoz Rivera's life. The mausoleum is the burial site of Muñoz Rivera and his son, as well as their respective wives. Just beyond their resting places, is a small exhibition commemorating the lives of two of the most important political figures in Puerto Rico. Please note: both exhibitions are in Spanish only. If you're going on a Sunday, all the shops and eateries in and around the plaza will be closed. However, there are many restaurants and kiosks along the panoramic route which will be open.

Festival de La Calle San Sebastián

Every third week of January, Viejo San Juan ("Old San Juan") hosts La Festival de La Calle San Sebastián (San Sebastian Festival) for 4 days, from Thursday through Sunday. This is a festival held in honor of its patron saint, Sebastián, and starts at the street of its namesake. The festival attracts thousands of people every year. There are many cultural events and festivities organized for people to enjoy and participate. For me, someone who doesn't drink and avoids large crowds, going to the festival has never been something of particular interest. However, after my first "San Se" experience last Sunday, I stand corrected. The festival was a lot of fun and I had a wonderful time.

We saw the desfile de cabezudos (literally the parade of heads) on calle San Sebastian (San Sebastian Street), which was filled with music, people dancing and kiosks selling food. It was crowded but far from being unbearable. We went during the day, as I was told that drunken people dominate the streets at night. The courtyards of el Museo de Las Américas and el Museo de Arte y Historia San Juan were converted into large flea markets, filled with kiosks selling local crafts and artwork. We had never seen so many local artisans out in full force. It was absolutely fantastic!

Moving to Puerto Rico?

For those who have never been to Puerto Rico, and are interested in living or visiting the island, I have a bit of friendly advice. Please be patient, as you'll see, many things just simply don't make any sense here! Everything here takes place at a much slower pace. Although Puerto Rico is officially part of the U.S, it is not at all like the mainland. Look beyond the Wal-Marts, Walgreens, Best Buys, etc., and leave the glitz and glamour of the tourist areas, and you'll see how different life is.

First of all, Spanish is what most Puerto Ricans speak. You can get by with English, if you're in San Juan, but it's certainly to your benefit to learn how to speak Spanish if you plan on living here. Second, there is a lot of red tape here. For example, getting or renewing your license might almost take a whole day, depending on how many people are standing in line. In most cases, the local government has not given its citizens the option of using the Internet to make their lives easier. Third, the crime rate in Puerto Rico is high. You should always be aware of your surroundings, and use common sense, as you would anywhere else.

Below is a list of resources to help those who might be moving to Puerto Rico. As you'll see, most of the Websites, with the exception of the Taxation Department (of course!), are in Spanish.

The Fundamentals:

Departamento de Hacienda (the Tax Dept.): http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/
Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DMV & Transportation Dept)- in Spanish only: http://www.dtop.gov.pr/
Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica (Puerto Rico's public electricity company)- in Spanish only: http://www.aeepr.com/
Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (Puerto Rico's public water company)- in Spanish only: http://www.acueductospr.com/
Puerto Rico's Government Website (in Spanish only): http://www.gobierno.pr/gprportal/inicio
Puerto Rico Telephone: http://www.telefonicapr.com/es/index.jsp

Fun & Entertainment:

San Juan (Going Out) Guide: http://www.areasurbanguides.com/
Puerto Rico's Restaurant Guide: http://www.restaurantsinpr.com/index.php

Puerto Rico 101

Someone has inspired me to dedicate this entry entirely to educate those who have no clue what or where Puerto Rico is. I was providing this person, a customer service representative from the mainland U.S, my mailing address and I foolishly thought she knew how to spell "Puerto Rico." She was working from a drop-down menu of countries, and I knew she was struggling when she asked me if "P-E-R-U" was correct. Afterwards, she asked me if "P-A-R-A-G-U-A-Y" was correct. I had explain that Puerto Rico is in the Carribbean and that it's officially part of the U.S. I suppose she went to the state drop-down list after what I told her.

This incident is not the first time in which I've talked to someone who had no idea of the existence of the Island of Enchantment. My brother, who was traveling in Canada, had to present his driver's license to a security guard who actually couldn't find Puerto Rico in the list of countries. This is indeed a tiny island, a little dot on the map of the world. Unless you're a huge fan of Ricky Martin or have been exposed to the Puerto Rican culture, most people have probably never heard of or know very little about this island. So, here are some interesting facts about Puerto Rico:

Official Name: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico")

(Note: popularly known as "La Isla del Encanto"- The Island of Enchantment)

Location: Puerto Rico is located in the northeastern part of the Carribbean.

Population: 3.9 million inhabitants (2007 est.)

Political Status: since the end of the 20th Century, Puerto Rico has officially been a U.S territory, it is not a state, and its political status has been of major debate.

Citizenship: those born in Puerto Rico are automatically U.S citizens, according to the Jones-Shafroth Act (1917).

Historic Election: the first popularly elected governor Luis Muñoz Marín (San Juan's international airport was named after him), was elected in 1948.

Climate: year-round sunshine and warm temperatures!

Currency: US dollar

Official Languages: Spanish and English

(Note: most Puerto Ricans speak some English, especially those living in the bigger cities).

Travel Tip: when traveling to Puerto Rico, for U.S citizens, you do not need to bring a passport!

You Know You've Arrived in Puerto Rico....

when you're on an airplane, and people start clapping upon landing! This is almost guaranteed to happen, and it's a reminder of how much Puerto Ricans love their island. I think it's wonderful, because it reflects the boriqua spirit. As I was waiting for my brother to pick me up from the airport, I heard the sounds of the coquís, which can be heard especially at night. These frog-like creatures are entirely unique to Puerto Rico. You'll rarely see them, but they certainly make their presence known with their "coquí" sounds.

After a wonderful and fantastic month away from the Island of Enchantment, it's really nice to be back. It seems like I made good timing too, since temperatures throughout Europe dipped further down below zero degrees celsius! What a difference from Puerto Rico! The weather is very comfortable here right now. Visiting the island during the winter season is definitely a good idea, as it's not too hot or humid. The constant sunshine and warm temperatures may be boring for some, but I'll take that over the freezing cold!

Puerto Ricans on Bikes?

Just a few days ago, I rented a bike here in Rotterdam for only one day and it was so much fun! I'm ashamed to say this, but I haven't biked in over two years and I was just enjoying every second of it. Biking, unfortunately, is not something most ordinary Puerto Ricans do. Like most Americans, Puerto Ricans rely on cars to get around. There's at least one car per household in Puerto Rico. On the other hand, in the Netherlands, everyone here owns at least one bicycle. There are in fact over 18 million bikes in this country of over 16 million people. This means there are more bikes than people! Incredible, isn't?

You can basically travel throughout the Netherlands by bike. How I wish I can do this in Puerto Rico. I suppose this is like comparing apples and oranges. For starters, cycling is not part of the Puerto Rican culture. The landscape and terrain between the two countries are quite different as well. However, like the Netherlands, the population density in Puerto Rico is heavily concentrated around one predominant area, which is San Juan. Therefore, cycling does make sense, if only city planners did a better job of mapping out routes. Of course, there are cycling events in Puerto Rico. However, they're more for the serious cyclists.

During my one day of biking, we biked through villages, several different parks and Rotterdam. Since the bike lanes are clearly marked, it was quite easy to navigate. In general, motorists are quite respective of cyclists as well. I can now understand why the Dutch are in so much better shape than the average Puerto Rican and American. Biking is a terrific workout! There is hope though, as several cities in the U.S, such as New York City, are trying to encourage and promote cycling as a way of transportation. Perhaps, one day, we'll see more ordinary Puerto Ricans on bikes one day.... although I don't see it happening anytime in the near future.