Last week, Kevin and I traveled to Puerto Rico. We had four full days to explore around, and so, we picked the sites that would hit the spot for someone’s first trip to the Island. I was happy to play tour guide!
Day 1: OLD SAN JUAN
We took the guagua (bus) #53 from Ashford Avenue to Old San Juan. The first stop was the Casa Cortés Choco Bar for breakfast, but we meandered a bit around Plaza de Armas, since we got there a bit before 8am.
Once done with the chocoliciousness, we went to Paseo de la Princesa, Cárcel de la Princesa, San Juan Gate, Hotel El Covento for a short break with refreshments, La Rogativa, the gatos colony and on to El Morro. We also went to the Parque de las Palomas/Capilla del Cristo before going to La Fortaleza for a tour of the executive mansion. Afterwards, we had pizza with my parents.
DAY 2: RUM AND RAINFOREST
Since we had a rental car for two days, we went to the Bacardí Distillery (the largest rum distillery in the world) for a morning tour. Then, we headed east toward El Yunque, where we heard the coquí, saw waterfalls, and enjoyed the scenery.
DAY 3: THE SKY AND THE GROUND
On Thursday, March 20th, 2014, not only it was the equinox, but it was our much anticipated trip to the Arecibo Observatory, the site of the largest and most sensitive radio-telescope in the world! From the Observatory, we then ventured to the Río Camuy Cave System Park, where the third longest underground river in the world is found.
DAY 4: NATURAL SURROUNDINGS & MUSEUM
By 8am, we returned the car in Condado, and walked on Ashford Avenue to Ventana del Mar for another glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean. We then kept walking toward Santurce. As we were approaching Ponce de León Avenue, I showed Kevin where my dad, and where my mom used to work, and a block away, the school I attended when I was in first and second grade. We then stopped in front of Bellas Artes, just before De Diego Avenue, noticing how on the right, upon exiting the Minillas Tunnel, that hospital right there, Pavía, was where I was born. Walking toward the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, I pointed to the street that led to my grandma’s house, realizing how that area in Santurce was sort of “my daily bread” while growing up.
We went to the museum and thoroughly enjoyed it. For a quick lunch/snack, we walked to Libros AC (bookstore and bistro), where copies of my edition of Los hipócritas are on sale and prominently displayed.To return to Isla Verde, we took another guagua (the T5) to head back to the ESJ Towers.
The next morning, we flew back home to Milwaukee, already envisioning future travel. 🙂