mookie1995
there's a good buck in that racket.
well where are you spending most of your time and doing?
have certain neighborhoods piqued your interest from reading up any?
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Travel 4: All Around the World Same Song
- Thread starter St. Clown
- Start date
well where are you spending most of your time and doing?
have certain neighborhoods piqued your interest from reading up any?
MichVandal
Well-known member
Where are you going on the island? Besides San Juan....
And make sure you try some DonQ rum- it's real Puerto Rican rum- Bacardi came from Cuba. DonQ Gran Anejo is great sipping rum.
dxmnkd316
Lucia Apologist
lol. It was $21 for a panini.
I’ll be SSE of San Juan, just inside the edge of the rainforest, a town called Rio Grande.
I can’t drink anymore, so the rum options are out for me. My MIL might be interested to know that info, so thank you on her behalf.
I’m interested in seeing the bioluminescent blooms around there, my wife wants me o go snorkeling at some place, and we are scheduling a fair amount of time to entertaining our daughter, who’ll have recently turned 4yo before the trip.
I’ve never really heard much about Puerto Rican food, so I’m curious to explore those options, too.
mookie1995
there's a good buck in that racket.
Preach on brother!! Booze enough to sleep before liftoff ;-/
Transplanted Tiger Fan
"Let's Roll" - Todd Beamer, 9/11/01
Admittedly, I haven’t been there in almost 20 years and a lot may have certainly changed in that time. The manufacturing facility in my prior life was in Cayey, and as the an all-inclusive Engineer I spent a lot of time on that island, mainly in the mountains near Caguas & Cayey, but also stayed in San Juan often.
As for rum, I strongly suggest Palo Viejo (Oro or Ano). I was introduced to that on one of my first trips by colleagues there (now friends), and I am saddened by the fact that I cannot find it easily in the states.
Food - Of course, Rice and Beans. It’s the equivalent of French Fries in Puerto Rican cuisine, and I miss a good Rice and Beans side SO MUCH! Fried plantains is another popular side you may enjoy, often served with a tangy red sauce to spice it up a bit.
Main dishes, without question be sure to get Mofungo. I have encountered many variations of how Mofungo is served/presented, and I have my preferences, but I don’t think you will be disappointed. It can be made with a variety of proteins, but I almost always get the pork option.
Another item I truly miss is Ascerola juice. Yes, just a simple juice! The Ascerola ‘cherry’ grows on a bush and looks like a crabapple, but it has something like 700% of your daily vitamin C needs. They are loaded with vitamin C and the juice is very tasty. Going constantly in-and-out between air conditioning and tropical weather, I NEVER got a cold in all my years there, and I credit that to the Ascerola juice… sometimes with Palo Viejo rum (of course!). :0)
Natively-grown Puerto Rican coffee is also good, and definitely something to bring home with you, so pack accordingly and leave space when heading-out.
While you’re not staying in San Juan, you will still be in a ‘tourisy’ area with one of the more-popular beaches (Liquillo Beach) close by. It is a nice beach, but again… popular. Preferring the mountains over the beaches, I suggest a few excursions into not only El Yunque, but off the beaten path into the central mountains.
Safe travels, enjoy, and may the beautiful song of the Coqui ring in your ears forever.
MichVandal
Well-known member
There is a bio bay near you in Fajardo, very cool to do that, and hope you can find one that lets you swim in the ocean. It's pretty freaky to swim and come out covered in glowing stuff. Hiking in El Yunque is pretty awesome, and expect it to rain- it is a rain forest afterall. We did some hiking up the mountain, and much if that seemed like hiking up a river.
Also near Rio Grande is Luquillo Beach (as was mentioned)- where there are a ton of food vendors. One of the biggest food shack areas on the island. Regardless that it's a popular beach, it's also off season for Puerto Ricans.
If you can swing a trip out to Culebra, we found the snorkeling out there pretty amazing- Playa Carlos Rosario- it's bordered by some really nice coral reefs. But it's a good day trip out there. The ferry from Fajardo was cheap the last time we went out there.
More about the food- I'm very much not a fish person, but really love the seafood. I'll always get a red fish fillet with garlic sauce with tostones.
Presumably, you are at a resort in Rio Grande- we stayed at one and had a good time. But that was for an event there before heading to my in-laws on the other side of the island. Certainly ask where a close place to snorkel is.
MichVandal
Well-known member
One other "suggestion" to get into the mood and groove of the island- listen to 93.7 or 93.3 (it's the same station)- it's an all Salsa station, and they play some great music.
Repost from months ago. Fam (Mrs. + 3 30ish daughters and partners) looking at a 5-6-day retreat in Maine--been looking at Airbnbs in Bar Harbor/Acadia area, though we're open. Some pretty serious cooks among them, and a bunch who like hiking. August, so time is running out. Suggestions re: activities/outings/places or alternatives to Bar Harbor?
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I live in Bar Harbor so I definitely have some thoughts. If you’re here late August, you might have a chance to do Acadia National Park’s most iconic hike: The Precipice. It’s my favorite trail, but not good for those with a fear of heights. Includes climbing iron rungs up cliff faces and walking along narrow ledges. It’s usually closed March through mid-August to protect Peregrine Falcons that nest on the cliffs.
August is crazy busy in Bar Harbor but the biggest crowds don’t stray too far from the pavement.
also, if you’re up for it I would recommend a half day of guided rock climbing at Otter Cliffs.
A sunset cruise on the schooner Margaret Todd is a good family activity
Farmer’s Market in the YMCA parking lot Sunday morning. There should be a woman there with an Italian accent selling lobsters and crabs. Your serious cooks should be able to put together a meal with all local and fresh ingredients to cook at your AirBnB.
PS, I hate AirBnBs because they totally destroyed entire neighborhoods that used to be full of year-round locals
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mookie1995
there's a good buck in that racket.
Kebo Valley golf club is awesome if you play.
up there in mookie’s youth a guy tried to pick mookie up. Mookie told him he wasn’t gay, but the dude was persistent. Offered mookie a beer, which mookie accepted. But again told him “I’ll take the beer, but I like chicks. Thanks”
up there in mookie’s youth a guy tried to pick mookie up. Mookie told him he wasn’t gay, but the dude was persistent. Offered mookie a beer, which mookie accepted. But again told him “I’ll take the beer, but I like chicks. Thanks”
Thx BassAle. If a group of 8 wishes to hang out someplace together for a week, what real alternatives to Airbnb are there?
yeah, I get it. I’m also a hypocrite because I occasionally use AirBnBs (not all the time, and I try to pick places that are in developments that seem purpose built for tourists/second homes). I’m going to Maui in a few weeks and am staying in an AirBnB condo so I contribute to the problem as well. As a penance I donate money to Island Housing Trust in Bar Harbor.
I have other some food and hiking recommendations but I want to type them from a computer and not my phone.
mookie1995
there's a good buck in that racket.
Tent
At one time, Mrs. and I would spend 4-5 weeks at a time on a motorcycle with a tent, cookstove, some clothes, and a camera. After kids we camped a lot with them. Those days are gone, I'm afraid.
Nothing beats cowboy coffee over a fire in the morning.
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French Rage
NICKERSON HAS [CENSORED]
Fun thing to find on the local highway:
Yup, about a mile or two from where my mom is. LCP goes right by her, so had to check exactly where it was.
Is it me or do the occasional plane landings on highways never have any fatalities and very few injuries? I guess drivers know to get the hell out of the way if they see a plane coming.